I fished twice this week and thankful for that. Believe me I’m NOT WHINING but I’m still a little short on energy and stamina right now I’m good for 4 hours. Truthfully I’ve stayed pretty much with jigs and soft plastics-very few moving baits-at this point in my recovery from open heart that seems to work .In the 2 days we caught and released several smallmouth the size that Ken and my daughter-in-law Amanda  are holding. Just fun size.  Hope for better reports in the weeks to come.  I appreciate all the prayers and support. Rick

Fished Tim’s yesterday for 5 hours with long time friend Ken Jenkins. We knew when we left our homes that this was going to be a different weather day than what I had last week.  Today was a Cold front-blue bird skies and dead calm wind for most of the day. Not making excuses just giving you the facts.   I decided to stick with soft plastics and a VMC Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com again today-not going to push very hard yet chuck’n and wind’n at this point.  Working on my stamina which is getting better every week. Trying to get ready for winter Smallmouth Rapala crankbait weather. Water temp was 69 degrees and they had pulled the lake about 1  1/2 foot over night. To make a long story short we caught several small/short fish today and 1 good smallie.  The pics such as they are was our best.  I have my 6 year old grandson for a couple days next week on his fall break so we are going to spend those days together on the lake. I will post what we do . Have a great weekend Rick McFerrin www.tennessee bassguides.com

Rick Jr. and I fished Tim’s today and I have to say IT IS GOOD to be back on the water. It’s been a long 4 months but I’m thankful to be here writing this to you today. This was my first opportunity to use my new 13 Fishing  3.0 Axum Spinning reel loaded with Sufic 20 yellow braid and a 8lb test Sufix Fluorocarbon leader. VMC Weedless Finesse Jig and soft plastics did the trip. The reel is a 6:2;1 and very smooth.  You can view all these products that I just listed at www.rapala.com  I encourage you to check them out. More soon to come Lord willing. Thanks for visiting my site Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Just a quick update. I’m back on the water and thankful for that. I fished twice last week once with my son and daughter and with a local friend the end of the week.   I’m trying to  make sure all things are good to go before I venture out by myself. Finished my Cardiac Rehab at St Thomas the Monday and we will see how it go’s from here. Thanks for visiting my site. MYBE pictures soon. Rick

Just a brief update.  I started cardiac rehab at St Thomas in Murfreesboro . It’s a 12 week course 3 days per week-and being the early person I am I chose 6:30 am as my start time.  My blood pressure has been running exceptionally well and my cardiologist said that my sternum is healing as it should. I finally able to mow my own yard on my tractor-and pick up 10lbs. To quote my doc  I can go out on a boat “But no wave busting” and Im not to “resume casting” (Spinning or bait  cater) until after Thanksgiving. By that time my chest should be pretty much healed. Just in time for winter smallies! Other than bouts of boredom everything is moving along.  Everyone take care-and I appreciate all the calls and messages. Rick

It’s been 7 weeks since my by pass surgery and everything is going well. I had my first Surgeon appointment this past Monday-they took a chest  x ray – which showed that my chest was  healing normally  and that my lung capacity is much better than prior to the operation. I’m able to drive for the first time in 7 weeks-which is a blessing-some of the weight restrictions was changed from 8lbs total to 10lbs per arm. There was a little adjustment on my blood pressure meds and I am waiting to be enrolled in the Cardiac Rehab program at St Thomas in Murfreesboro as soon as possible. I’m still focused on being back on the water early fall.  All in all going great Praise The Lord!   I appreciate all the calls-and prayers. Rick

A couple times this past winter by the time that I go to the top of the ramp to load out  I had a “Tightness” in my chest. When I got to the truck I would take a couple aspirins and the tightness would go away.  The same thing happened walking up our stairway from down stairs.   I talked to my doctor about what was happening he set me up with a cardiologist from Vanderbilt and sure enough  “A Heart issue” On Saturday June 2nd I had a Open Heart 3 By-Pass surgery at Vandy. Back home on Wednesday the 5th and Praising The Lord that I am able to sit here at my desk and write this to you. Don’t guess I am 10 feet talk and bullet proof after all.

When the tightness happened I didn’t have any other “HEART PROBLEM SIGNS” that most of us look for–Take it from me don’t risk it.   Lord willing I’ll be back on the water this fall-Time will tell.  I’m so appreciative of all the Prayers that have been prayed-the calls that has been made and the concern from so many.  Rick

I made my annual trip to Hartwell to fish with old friend Tim White. We fished 1/2 day Monday Full days Tuesday and Wednesday and 1/2  day Thursday. We caught and released 76 Spots and 3 Largemouth. The pictures you see  will give you a good idea of the over all size that we caught.  The biggest spots were 2lb 9ounce and 2lb 2 ounces. We had alot of 1 1/2–1 3/4 size fish.  It rain and stormed on Monday and Tuesday–wind blew 15-20 on Wednesday and it was blue bird sky on Thursday. Everyday was different.   We both used a variety of Sufix Braid-mono and fluorocarbon www.sufix.com  VMC Weedless and Non Weedless Finesse jigs. www.vmchooks.com   My best soft plastics was the New Crush City BLT in Ghost Morning Dawn—Albino Pearl and Green Pumpkin Magic www.rapala.com  A few was caught on a variety of crankbaits and zero on top water of any kind.  Another fun trip with an old friend.  Thank you for visiting my site.  More to come Lord willing in the days and weeks to come.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Just want to bring your attention to some great $$$$ savings on all the Rapala items pictured above  from May 1 through May 15th. 20% off regular retail price. This is your opportunity to try some of the best new items that have hit the market this year. Crush City-OG Crankbaits-DT series baits The new PXR Mavrik -New Jigging Magnum Rap–Shad Raps-The New Red Line VMC Hooks-Sufix line and more. Check it out,,,Check out your nearest Bass Pro or Cabela’s. You can also research all of these items on the Rapala Web site. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Ken and I fished Center Hill yesterday morning from 8 until noon. WE didn’t have a lot of time so we stayed in Holmes Creek and moved around here and there. The 2 above was the best of 6.  VMC Weedless Finesse Jig and soft plastics www.vmchooks.com and Sufix Yellow Performance Braid with a Sufix fluorocarbon leader. Hope to have more next week.  Thanks for visiting my site Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com