Some great fish that Billy and Braxton caught on Center Hill last week. Not sure of the particulars but some mighty good fish. Way  to go Braxton.

This was a “Could Have Been Better” day. I lost 2 additional Smallmouth about the size of the one above and a Largemouth that was a clone  to the other 2 pictured above. I also caught and released 4 short Spots. 1 on top water the rest on soft plastics rigged with either a 3/0 VMC Wide Gap Hook or a 3/16th VMC Weedless Finesse Jig. www.vmchooks.com. Sufix Braid with a 100% Sufix  Fluorocarbon leader. 81 degree water & Everything came out of 8ft of water or less. Done for the week-the lakes will be like a zoo through Monday. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

These are all separate fish. The 2 that I’m holding I caught back to back so I took 1 out of the well and took the pic so I wouldn’t be carrying them in the live well. Water temp is still 79 and just too hot to keep them there. The other 2 were caught is 2 different locations. I had 4 Good Largemouth 8 Short Spots-2 Short Smallmouth a o 1  Black Nose. All 4  came on top water the biggest on a  Rapala Skiiter Walk www.rapala.com.  All the Spots and Smallmouth on soft plastics and a VMC Weed less Finesse Jig www.vmc hooks.com 10 lb Sufix Pro Mix Mono on the top water and 20lb Sufix Braid with a a 8lb Sufix fluorocarbon leader. www.sufix.com.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Please excuse the bad photography must be the camera. Billy and I started out exploring new areas that Billy hasn’t fished. Billy had a big one engulf his frog and snapped 20lb braid-that’s what he gets for not using Sufix. Wasn’t long before  I lost a good one -that’s what I get for getting anxious.  After our chances for 2 big fish got away from us we ventured out on the ledges and caught 7-6 pictured above on a drop shot. I  was using the VMC Spin Shot Hook and VMC Tungsten weights www.vmchooks.com. These were rigged on Sufix Braid with a Sufix Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com By that time it was very hot again-so we loaded out and headed home. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick www.tennesseebassguides.com

Not much to talk about-4 bites 3 in the boat 2 good ones. Rick

Billy, Braxton and I put in right at daylight this morning and had a good 4 1/2 hrs before it got to hot for 2 of us. (Guess which 2?)  Pictured are 10 of the 15 that we caught and released today most ledge fishing with a drop shot. Big fish for the day was 5lb 11oz. I was using Sufix 20lb Performance Braid and a Sufix 8lb 100% Fluorocarbon leader (always my choice) www.sufix.com and a VMC7119 Spinshot 2 hook. If you haven’t tried the spin shot it really helps eliminate line twist and helps keep your choice of plastics out straight www.vmchooks.com Braxton is back to school tomorrow and needless to say not real excited-How ever he is going to fish on the high school team this year-so it won’t be long before he will be cranked up again. Good day with 2 good friends. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

6 of 15 that Ken and I caught this morning on the Hill. Not an excuse by any means but there was zero “0”surface  activity on the lake (other than gar) and for most of the morning no wind. All of our fish came on 2 different baits. 1 was a swim bait and the other soft plastics.  I really like using Sufix Yellow Braid and with a long Sufix  Fluorocarbon leader on almost all my soft plastics.  The strength, sensitivity & visibility of the braid is fantastic. And the fluorocarbon leader is extremely abrasion resistant and also has superior strength. The combination of the 2 works well for me. Another plus on the Sufix Fluorocarbon  is the exclusive G2 winding system that Sufix has which virtually eliminates line memory. www.sufix.com Lot of fun with a good friend. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Ronnie and I had a decent day on NAJ. We are fishing an area that has been good to me over the past several years and has been holding fish for the past 2 trips. I lost 1 very big fish today-Boo! Sufix mono and braid for both of us www.sufix.com VMC Wide Gap 3/0 hooks www.vmchooks.com. If you are interested in some good looking Rapala Apparel go to www.rapala.com click on clothing and your good to go. Some great looking and functional shirts, hats sun block hoodies etc.. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

11 of 20 today on NAJ. We caught everything on 2 spots. Started out with 7 right at daylight then the remained by noon. Ronnie and I both use Sufix mono and braid of different weights on all our rods-it is very rare that we have our lines broken-and normally when we do it’s because we didn’t stop to retie. Even when fishing grass Sufix holds up time and time again. www.sufix.com.  Needle Sharp VMC Wide Gap 3/0 on the soft plastics www.vmchooks.com  Thanks for visiting my site Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Billy, Braxton and I made a unfortunate quick trip to Chickamauga this morning. Let me explain. We had been at the lake for a couple hours and Billy got a call that Frieda his wife had been taken to the emergency room in McMinnville so we loaded out and headed back. For those of you that believe in prayer I would ask that you do so for the family-she is a very sick lady. We had 9 total with 5 pictured above all but 2 on a drop shot. I was using. I was using Sufix 20/9 Hi Vis Yellow braid and a Sufix 6lb Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com a VMC #2 Spinshot Drop Shot Hook and VMC 3/8oz Tungsten Drop Shot Ball Weight  www.vmchook.com This is a great Drop Shot set up. The braid cast like  dream the spin shot is needle sharp and the tungsten weight give you a better feel for structure and light bites. Hope we get to go back soon-but even more for Billy, Frieda and the family. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com