Llano County, TX - Newspapers: Fish story, "Uncle Jim" Cox Fridy, July 13, 2001 Submitted by: shirley@htcomp.net (Shirley Erickson) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** The following is among my collections of unknown Tow residents that must be related. Shirley Nobles Erickson From the Fort Worth Star Telegram, p. 54 -- Date Unknown [article found in the keepsakes of Elijah Johnnie & Velma Polly [Henderson] Nobles est. (1960-1970): caption under photo [Star Telegram photo by Dub McPhail]: "UNCLE JIM OF TOW VALLEY -- Known throughout the Lake Buchanan area as one of the best fishermen in those parts, Jim Cox put the crowning achievement on his reputation when he jumped into shallow water and brought out a 58-pound yellow cat that had just broken the hook and was on its way to freedom." article reads: " 'Uncle Jim' Refuses to Let Monster Catfish Get Away The Camp Tow slough on the upper part of Lake Buchanan is no very big body of water but if he had to fight a 58-pound yellow catfish all alone its banks for nearly an hour, most any fisherman might decide it's plenty big enough! . . . Jim Cox of Tow Valley -- "Uncle Jim" to all the old residents there -- knows just how bit that slough is. He and a big catfish measured it several times not too long ago and Uncle Jim had its size and the size of the catfish impressed on his mind! * * * Here's the story as the Tow Valley folks know it: Uncle Jim was fishing in his favorite spot just where a spring bubbles up into the lake water. It's also the favorite spot of many a big fish -- mostly carp or buffalo. Uncle Jim was taking no chances on the big one getting away. He was using his favorite rod and reel and a hundred yard line that had been labelled "100-pound test." He was a little nervous about the hook that was an off brand and might break under strain ... With everything ready, Uncle Jim made a big cast that put the hook right in the middle of the spring water. Almost immediately he felt a pull on the heavy tackle. He pulled right back and knew he was fast to a fairly good fish, probably a carp or buffalo weighing 35 or 40 pounds. Any way, that fish was not going to be landed easily and Uncle Jim knew it. The big fellow led him a merry chase up the slough and down the slough. Uncle Jim, a young man of only 79 years, was feeling the strain when the fish reached a sand bar and there the fisherman decided to bring him in ... When he got the fish within 15 or 20 feet of the bank, Uncle Jim discovered for the first time that it was a yellow cat on his hook. That made him nervous, but it also made him determined to get that fish. Maybe he hurried too much and pulled too hard. Any way, the hook broke! * * * Uncle Jim went into that water like a seal, Unlike a seal he jumped astride that fish, grabbed it by the gills, and proceeded to drag it onto land. Quite a crowd had gathered by this time and when the fish was weighed in at 58 pounds Uncle Jim's fame was secure . . . The story spread over the country and when it was told in a radio broadcast, it drew him a $100 prize for the best fishing yarn of the month. "Jest give that money to the cemetery, it needs it more than I do," said Uncle Jim. So the $100 went to help clean the burying ground. And Uncle Jim went back to fishing!" NOTE_ Uncle Jim's name and birth & death dates were: (according to his tombstone, in the Tow Cemetery) JAMES LAFETTE JEFFERSON "Uncle Jim" COX 9 June 1872 - 26 Oct. 1958