I have been having difficulty on and off with my server over the past several weeks——if you check and it’s gone—-it’s not really gone just server problems. I haven’t posted any new stuff for several weeks…………..BUT……will have some great pics from Lake Hartwell of Spots we caught this past week—54 Spots in 2 1/2 days////I will post as soon as I get the pic’s    Rick

Thankfully the 90 degrees and high humidity is gone and I can get back on the water for more than a couple hours at a time. Ronnie and I fished Tim’s on Monday had 9 on and put 7 Smallmouth in the boat (No 18 inch keepers) everything on soft plastics and a VMC Finness Weedless Jig www.vmchooks.com  and Sufix Braid with a Sufix Fluorocarbon leader. www.sufix.com today I fished Center Hill alone had 4 Smallmouth, 2 Largemouth and 4 Spots. (No 15 inch Largemouth or keeper Smallmouth) the 4 Spots were all in the 12 inch range.  2 of my 10 hit the NEW Green Gizzard Shad  DT6. Check the new colors out at Rapala.com Total for the week 17 in the boat no keepers. HOWEVER I’m thankful to be back on the water. Main Lake Water temp on Tim’s  and Center Hill  was 76. More Lord willing next week. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides

The pictures above are my best in recent trips I caught several smaller fish as well.. I know I told this before-but every since I had a heat stroke several years ago-high temps and humidity is a killer for me-I just don’t last long. So my trips are in the 3 hour range depending on the heat.  Most of what I have caught has been on a VMC Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com and soft plastics rigged on Sufix 20lb Braid with a 8lb Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com . I have also caught several Texas rigging a black trick worm on a VMC Finesse Keko hook with a VMC Tungsten bullet weight. I like the adjustable Fluorocarbon Keeper on these hooks-they work great.  I will have more post and info to post as the temps begin to decline-until then stay safe on the water a don’t think you 10 feet tall and bullet proff when it comes to getting to much sun. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I have a variety of soft and hard baits for sale. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY RAPALA-VMC-LUHRJENSEN-STORM-& TERMINATOR .  There is far more than I can list-so if your interested call me at 615-308-9936  or text me at rickm@dtccom.net and I will be happy to tell you what I have. Thanks Rick

Let me start off by saying I wish I was a better photographer-This is just 4 of the new items that we have coming from Rapala-VMC-Terminator-Sufix-Storm-Luhr-Jensen and Blue Fox this fall.

Let’s start in the upper left hand corner with the 2 1/2 inch 1/2oz Rap-V Blade which is a metal plastic combination that will be a great addition that likes to fish a blade type bait. It has 2 line tie positions that will allow a variety of retrieves. The Rap V Blade has instant vibration no matter if you are fishing it on a slow fall or swimming it back to the boat. 16 colors-double belly hook & a VMC round bend treble makes this a multi specie must have.

The next 2 pictures left to right is the new  Ott’s Garage Series OG Slim 6 which was designed and born in Ott Defoe’s Garage. The Rapala OG6 Slim is a balsa-flat sided bait with a medium wobble and tight side to side action. I hope you can see the light weight  circuit board lip is thin but delivers a great action upon retrieve. 2 3/4 inch long and 1/2oz in weight gives you the ability to make long casts and gives you great hook up’s with the VMC Black Nickle 1X strong Hybrid Trebles Hooks. 14 colors -these are going to be HOT!!!

The next 2 pictures are of the new VMC Crossover Pliers designed to help make rigging soft plastics and worms for Neko and Wacky easy easy! Made of lightweight durable plastic-has 2 compartments in the handle to store cross over rings. Simply slide the desired size ring in place, compress the plier handle to open jaws slide your bait in, release and your ready to add your favorite VMC Hook.. Can’t be any easier than that. Crossover Rings come in  5 sizes and in three colors-Black-Clear and Green Pumpkin.

The last picture is of the new Hybrid Swimbait Jig which comes in 5 weights from 3/16oz to 1/2oz each having a wider gap hook and bend for extra strength. 3d Holographic Eyes and WIDE DIA spring that hooks your swim bait on like glue.

All the new items are being shown at I CAST this year be on the look out for more info and BETTER PIC’S . Great great new additions for all of us this year.

Best 6 of 7 that Ronnie and I caught this morning between 5:00 and 8:30 on Normandy. Much slower day than yesterday.  Not much more to say. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Ronnie and I fished from 5:00 until 9:00 this morning catching 15 Largemouth &  Spot mix. The ones above was our best all caught on a 3/32oz VMC Weedless Finesse Jig and soft plastics  www.vmchooks.com. Best 5 almost 15lbs. We both use Sufix Mono -Braid and Fluorocarbon www.sufix.com .  Not much more to tell. Maybe more this week. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Ronnie and I had a good 5 hours on Normandy this morning from 5:15 until 10:30. Started out with a good top water bite and then soft plastics on a 3/32oz Weedless Finesse Jig www.vmchooks.com and a DT6 River Shad www.rapala.com . The 5 Largemouth and 1 Walleye  above was our best. Ronnie and I both lost  big Largemouth 2 at the boat and one that got us hung in brush and broke off.   The old “What Could Have Been”   We also caught 4 or 5 smaller Spots.  We both use Performance Braid with a Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com on our finesse jigs. The combination gives you great cast ability and unmatched sensitivity.   More the middle of next week. Have a safe and happy 4th. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I fished NAJ by myself Monday the 15th and found fish late on a Black Buzz bait www.terminator lures.com  as it was getting to hot for me to stay out. For those that might not know I had a heat stroke several years ago and I just don’t have the ability to battle the heat any more-so in the summer I just do what the heat allows me to do.  I had someone ask you mean you left them biting”? Yes. NO FISH is worth taking a chance any more for me! My body tells me when it’s enough the 4 I’m holding was my best that day. The 2 fish that Ronnie is holding was  on Thursday-the rest of the story is that we lost 3 other “Big fish” that was larger than the 2 that you see. We caught 10 total on a Fluke and soft plastics rigged on a Weedless FinessJig www.vmchooks.com  More next week Lord willing. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com