Fished Tim’s for 4 hours today-I put in at Holiday and there is no problem getting in or out. All I did was throw a crankbait  and a Jerkbait. The 4 above hit a Luhr-Jensen Texas Red Speed Trap I also lost 1 on this same bait. You can view these baits on our Rapala site at www.rapala.com  6Lb test Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix www.sufix.com and a VMC Crankbait Snap www.vmchook.com that was was it.  I had one stuck on a Clown X Rap that just came undone that I didn’t see.  I’ve been battling some Blood Pressure problems and just haven’t felt good enough to get out-I think we are close to getting that taken care of.  Thanks for visiting my site.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I fished with Jared Hollandsworth today on Tim’s. Jared and my youngest son Daniel grew up together-so we have known one another for a long time but this was the 1st time we have fished together. Jared had his “Personal Best” 20 inch Smallmouth today and I was elated.   We fished hard for 7 hours and the ones above was our best for the day.  Sufix 20lb Yellow Performance Braid with a 8lb Sufix Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com VMC 1/8 ounce Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com and soft plastic.  Water temp 48 degrees and lake elevation 874.  No problem getting in at Lost Creek. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

For my out of state viewers, the Tennessee keeper length on Smallmouth is 18 inches which none of these made it. I just wanted to show 6 of the 8 that caught today and the baits I used. These were 12 to 16 inches.  First everything was caught on either the Lurh Jensen Texas Red Crystal Speed Trap (it looks brown in the pic) but it is very red www.luhrjensen.com  and a OG Tiny Coosa Special  crankbaits. www.rapala.com   All on Sufix 6lb test Clear Blue Pro mix Mono www.sufix.com and a VMC Crankbait Snap www.vmchooks.com  Water temp was 49 degrees and the fish were very shallow–3 to 5 feet at the deepest. I threw several different deeper bait like the DT6 and DT8 but no results.  Just a heads I wouldn’t use the State Park Ramp—Trailers are getting hung up.    Thanks for looking  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Best 3 of 7 today on Tim’s—There was 3 boats of us fishing today and everyone struggled.  I did have some 10- 12 inch Smallmouth on a OG Tiny Coosa Special  www.rapala.com  6lb Sufix Clear Blue Pro Mix  www.sufix.com  They would absolutely attack the Tiny–it’s going to be a good one for you crankbait enthusiast.  The 3 above came on Creek Minnows and a VMC Bait Keeper Hook www.vmc.com  6lb Pro mix as well.  More next week after the deep freeze go’s away. Water temp today 52-52 no problem getting in at the Park. Thanks for visiting my site Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Long time friend Tim White and I fished together on Tim’s and Normandy over these past 2 days. Tim lives on Lake Hartwell in Georgia- we trade trips 2 times a year. I will be on Lake Hartwell Lord willing for 3 days in April 2023.  To say it was tough over the past 2 days wouldn’t be saying enough, We started out on Tim’s Monday morning with a good cloud cover and had 6 in the first 45 minutes.  Sun broke out and everything died at least for us. I think we had 2 or maybe  3 in the next 5 hours. Yesterday we fished Normandy  and struggled around for a few hours until we got on a pattern around 1pm as the storm that was coming was bearing down on us.  What you see above was the best out of 24 that we caught in the 2 days. I was really surprised on the Smallmouth-just couldn’t locate any even on finesse stuff.  We used a variety of baits but the best for me was a Rapala DT8 Helsinki Shad-and a DT6 Parrot and a DT8 Red Craw www.rapala.com  6lb Test Sufix Pro Mix Clear Blue Mon www.sufix.com  Water temps on both lakes in the 54-55 range. More next week Lord willing. Thank you for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Got Ronnie out for a little while this morning (3 hours) -He’s been under the weather so it was good to spend a few hours with him doing what we like to do. We never left the ramp area in those 3 hours-trolling motor only until we put the boat on the trailer.   Everything on a Rapala DT6 or DT8 Red Craw or Helsinki Shad. www.rapala.com Sufix Pro Mix Clear Blue 6lb Mono www.sufix.com  Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I fished Center Hill from 6:45am until noon today. The bites were few and far between-I had 6 bites and put 4 in the boat including the Smallmouth pictured above . For those of you that are out of state our first real cold front for this year started last night.  There was a stout north wind that you just couldn’t seem to get away from. Air temp was 55 when I left. Every on 10lb Sufix Yellow Sufix Braid and 8lb Sufix Fluorocarbon–www.sufix.com and a VMC Weedless Jig www.vmchooks.com . I tossed a crankbait and spinner bait as well with no takers. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

This is a 2 day report. Ken Jenkins and I fished last Thursday and I fished today by myself. Both days gave up a bunch of short Smallmouth as well as what you see above.  Water temps still running 67-70 and I think they had dropped the water level a little since last week. The fish was a little deeper today (20ft) last Thursday more in the 10-15 range.All fish both days came on Sufix Yellow Performance Braid and Sufix 8lb Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com  VMC Weedless 3/32 Jig and soft plastics . www.vmchooks.com.  Thank you for visiting my Site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I fished the grass at Nick a Jack yesterday and had 7. One on a Terminator Buzz Bait www.terminatorlures.com and 6 on soft plastics rigged weightless 30lb Sufix Braid and 15lb Sufix Fluorocarbon www.sufix.com and a VMC Wide Gap Heavy Duty 4/0 Worm Hook www.vmchooks.com  Fished Tim’s today I caught 16 Smallmouth and 1 Spot.  Rapala Skitter Walk–Silver DT6-rapala.com and a 3/32  VMC Weedless Finesse Jig and soft plastics. Tims was 66 degrees at the ramp and 70 when I left.  A ton of 12-14 inch Smallies have moved up but I was able to catch a 3lb 9oz and a 3lb 3oz Smallmouth on “My Last Stop” —–one more cast!  Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Back at it—good to have the hot weather behind us. I can handle colder weather but not hot anymore.  Before I go any further I have had several people wanting up dates so I will show you some of what I had this week on Center Hill and Tim’s. There are no 18inch  keeper Smallmouth-all short. I had 13 today on Tim’s 5 on a New Rapala DT8 Red Craw and a Silver and Blue. www.rapala.com and Sufix 6lb Pro Mix Mono www.sufix.com and  the rest on a VMC Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com and soft plastics. Sufix 20lb Yellow Performance braid and a 8lb Sufix Fluorocarbon leader. 2 On a Rapala Skitter Walk on Center Hill and a couple on soft plastics. I could only fish 4 hours on Center Hill so I stayed almost within site of the ramp at Ragland. I hope this will be the start of my fall/winter up dates.  Hopefully I will have some larger fish. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com