I fished the Hill this morning by myself from 6:00am until 10:00am and had 5 total bites putting the 4 you see in the boat-THEN it got hot hot. I caught these on the following Rapala Skitter Walk-DT6 River Shad—DT10 River Shad www.rapala.com and soft plastic rigged on the new VMC Finesse Weedless Jig www.vmchooks.com I also used a drop shot and a spoon on 3 different schools with no takers. Sufix Clear Blue Promix 6 & 8lb test used on this trip. www.sufix.com  Can’t wait until the lake temps cool off-I’m ready for the fall and winter fishing season. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

On the water with Ronnie at 6:00am off at 9:30am back home by 10:45am to watch the eclipse—BUT there was a mix of  6 Spots and Largemouth that was willing in those 3 1/2 hour on the water. Big fish was right at 4lbs. Everything on soft plastics rigged on a new 3/16th ounce VMC Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com and 6lb test Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com What a great combination! I need to give you some info on these new VMC Finesse Weedless Jigs. They come in 4 weights from 3/32oz to 1/4oz and 2 colors Black and Grn Pumpkin. Hook sizes are either a 1/0 or a 2/0 depending on jig weight and are light wire with a super sharp  needle point and 2 stainless steel weed guards. If you are fishing a hollow back type bait they will snug right up to the head.  I like them—and the fish like them too!  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Just a so so week-everything (EVERYTHING) was caught on soft plastic rigged with either a VMC Wide Gap Worm Hook weightless  www.vmchooks.com or a “NEW” VMC Weed less Finesse jig.  Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono 8 & 10lb test www.sufix.com. That was it!  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Ronnie and I had a great morning on Tim’s today. We caught and released a mix of 17 Largemouth and Smallmouth caught on a variety of lures. (these are all separate fish by the way) It all started out with a Terminator Original Titanium 3/8oz White Buzz Bait www.terminator lures.com These buzz baits have a turned up nose that allows the bait to surface quickly even on slower retrieves. I threw this on Sufix 10lb test Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com  Rapala Skitter Walk www.rapala.com and soft plastics rigged weightless on Sufix 8lb Test Clear Blue Pro Mix Mono and a 3/0 VMV XL WideGap Worm Hook www.vmchooks.com  Water Temps 82 degrees and normal Tim’s color.  More next week Lord Willing Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

What’s the old saying? “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” That is certainly the case with Braxton Campbell. Braxton is the son of Jason Campbell and Grandson of Billy Campbell a well known tournament team here in middle Tennessee for many years. Billy was also the Vice President of All Pro Rods until he retired a few years ago.  Braxton has been raised in a bass boat with a rod in his hands and has paid keen attention to what Grandpa and Dad has taught him which is evident in the various techniques that he is already skilled in. Crankbait-spinnerbait-swimbait-jerkbait-drop shot-Alabama Rig-shaky head-spoon and more. Braxton is 13years old and in the 8th grade at Warren County Middle School. He is chopping at the bit to try out for the  high school team when he is in the 9th grade.   There may be a Jr. Team this year although nothing has been finalized. If there is I know he will be one of the first in line to try out. The 4 pictures above is just a very very  small  sample of the fish that  Braxton has caught this summer. But here is one of the primary reason that I like this kid-he’s polite and respectful which unfortunately is not always the case with many young people today. With young men like Braxton our sport has a bright future. I’m proud to be his first sponsor and I will keep you updated here on Tennessee Bass Guides through the year.   Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I had a decent day on Normandy today. I put in at 5:30am and left at 2:00pm-I caught and released 11 Largemouth-spot combo with the 6 above being my best. I also lost either 3  more that I just didn’t have stuck. Best baits was a Rapala DT10 and a DT6 both in the River Shad pattern www.rapala.com  and soft plastics rigged on a  VMC Fastgrip Wide Gap Worm Hook. www.vmc hooks.com This is one sharp hook-it has a 15% more penetrating power than conventional worm hooks and is 1X strong so there is no bending out when your hoisting a heavy fish out of cover. I used Sufix 8lb & 10lb Pro Mix mono today-once again Pro Mix is the strongest high tensile strength-low stretch-high shock mono that I have ever used even down into the 6lb test. Also it has very low memory and long distance if need on your cast. www.sufix.com  Try them you will like them-Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Best 10 of 16 for Ronnie and I on NAJ this morning. All were caught on a variety of Rapala Baits including DT6 River Shad—“NEW” BX Brat Blue Ghost—#8 Sliver XRap—Skitter Walk www.rapala.com  & the “NEW”VMC Finesse 3/16th Weedless Jig rigged with soft plastics. Everything fished on either Sufix 8lb or 10lb test mono www.sufix.com. We also lost 6 others on top water-they would hit “AT IT” not hit it-so we had them barely stuck. All in all a good day. More next week Lord willing.   Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com ***There was also 10 thousand may flies all over the water as well……..

When I was guiding Old Hickory full time a shallow crankbait was my go to money lure almost every trip.   I haven’t made the drive in a long time-Tim’s Normandy and Nick A Jack are all closer for me so I get over here a couple time a year now at best.  BUT when I received my first NEW RAPALA BX BRATS I knew right away where I was going to put them to the test.  I got to the ramp in Spencer Creek at 4:45am and right at daylight I headed to an old area of mine that I use to fish and BANG I immediately LOST-YES LOST 2 good fish in the first 5 minutes on the BX Brat Tamale (picture above) I just didn’t have them stuck.     20 minutes later I lost another good fish-I was aggravated at myself but then I settled down-SLOWED MY RETRIEVE DOWN and that was the key. As the sun got up I switched to the Blue Ghost (pictured above) kept moving to other areas all in Spencer Creek  that I use  to fish and caught and released 12 more. Folks even in Cannon County that adds up to 15 Largemouth by 9:30am all in water less than 5 feet deep and high 80 degree water temps. By that time I was HOT-HOT- so I loaded the boat and headed back to the ranch.  A long way for 4 1/2 hour s but I found out what I wanted to know. This is one fantastic square bill crankbait. The BX Brat comes in a 3 foot and a 6 foot bait and 12 different colors- These are made with a balsa core with a copolymer outer shell. They have a modified “V” Cut belly and fantastic action-equipped with 2  VMC # 6 round bend hooks.  Those of you that know me -know I have never lead you wrongin the past and that is still true today. The BX BRAT is a WINNER no doubt in my mind.   I’m not sure what the availability is at retail right now-just check with your favorite tackle shop and get a bunch of these you will be happy that you did.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com Next stop Nick A Jack.

This was one of those we should have stayed home mornings-because we had to dodge storms-lightening-heavy rains and winds all morning. We left at 10am the 5 above was our best of 7 total. Rapala Skitter Walk www.rapala.com on 10lb Sufix Pro Mix Mono www.sufix was the best. More next week Lord willing. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I had a good morning with Ronnie on Normandy-above is our best of 15 all caught on one short stretch on soft plastics and Sufix 8lb test Mono. www.sufix.com I like the clear blue pro mix and Ronnie was using the high vis yellow.  Every time we would cover the area we would caught 1 maybe 2 then we would turn around and do it all over again. This will be it for me until after the 4th—Maybe Nick A jack or Tim’s again-Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com