By THOMAS P. WEAVER

CELINA-A good field of participants took to the water here at Pleasant Grove Recreation Area the first weekend of the month for two days of fishing during the First Annual Hayes Open, and the anglers didn’t disappoint when it came weigh-in time.

The tournament, recently renamed in honor of well-known local fallen angler James “Cobby” Hayes, was for the past five years formally known as the Dale Hollow Sportsman’s CITGO Harris Oil Fishing Tournament.

The name change was apparently good for fishing, because the top four finishers produced two-day totals exceeding the 20-pound mark, with the champions’ sack pushing nearly 30 pounds.

Tony Poore and Willie Piercy piled up a weekend catch of bass tipping the scales at a whopping 29.69 pounds–a two-day weight well above average for Dale Hollow.

Their total included a 6.15-pound lunker largemouth on Sunday, which handed them an additional $250 for the second-day big largemouth.  That money added to the $3,000 first-place prize handed them a significant payday.

“That’s one of the biggest bags we’ve ever had,” tournament director Stephen Headrick told the HORIZON Monday.  “The fishing was good, because most of the guys caught fish, but weighing in nearly 30 pounds doesn’t happen much here.

“Those guys (Poore and Piercy) put on a show.”

PHOTO ABOVE RIGHT

HAYES OPEN CHAMPS-Tony Poore and Willie Piercy used two catches like this to total almost 30 pounds on their way to winning over $3,000 and the inaugural event held in honor of the late James “Cobby” Hayes. See more photos below. (Photos courtesy dalehollowfishing.com)

Second place went to Robert Reagan and Marty Shelley.  They also put up big numbers to total over 25 pounds and win $1,400 for the runner-up spot. Their total of 25.42 pounds would have easily won many of the any-species, 5-fish-limit events held here on Dale Hollow, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the champs’ big bag.

Coming in third was John and Mike Devere with the third of four 20-pound sacks.  Their total of 21.51 pounds netted them $1,000.

Mark and Jeff Neal finished fourth with 20.83 pounds.  They were the final team to surpass the 20-pound mark and they carried home $700.

Fifth place went to John Carnes and Jason Corbin.  They used 19.97 pounds to win $500.

Dale and Myles Choate took sixth with 19.29 pounds to win $300, and, Todd and David Beaty finished seventh to pocket $250.

Taking the final paid position was local father-and-son team Huel and Bryan Boles.  They weighed in 18.49 pounds to claim a payday worth $150.

Other money given away included three other $250 prizes.

Seventh place finishers Beaty and Beaty took one of the awards with their first-day big smallmouth weighing 2.55 pounds; Mike Miller and Brandon Walker won with their first-day big largemouth weighing 4.41 pounds; and, Jeff and Tim Emerton pocketed the final amount with their final-day big smallmouth weighing 1.91 pounds.

“To see that many fish was awesome for the first one we had in honor of “Cobby” (Hayes).

“We’re already looking forward to next year,” Headrick said.  “With the continued support of CITGO and all of the other sponsors, this event will continue to be one of the good ones held here on the lake.

“Besides that, we have some of the best fishermen in the country right here around the lake, and that’s what makes this such a good tournament every year.”

RUNNERS UP-Robert Reagan–pictured accepting his check from tournament director Stephen Headrick, and Marty Shelley won $1,400 with 25.42 lbs.

3RD PLACE-John and Mike Devere, 21.51 lbs., $1,000.

4TH PLACE-Jeff and Mark Neal, 20.83 lbs., $700.

5TH PLACE-John Carnes and Jason Corbin, 19.97 lbs., $500.

6TH PLACE-Dale and Miles Choate, 19.29 lbs., $300.

7TH PLACE-Todd and David Beaty, 18.90 lbs., $250.

8TH PLACE-Bryan Boles accepts the $150 from Headrick that he and his father Huel won with 18.49 lbs.