This is a 2 day report, yesterday Ronnie and I fished Normandy and had a tough 5 hours the top 3 pictures was it. A mixed bag of Crappie and Spots. Today we had a very good day on Tim’s throwing the new Rapala Shadow Rap www.rapala.com  in the SDR11 series which runs 2 to 4 feet deep. I caught all of mine on the Olive Green and Ronnie on the Ghost Shiner. We caught and released 25 or more mix of Hybrid’s, White Bass, Spots, Largemouth, Smallmouth and Walleye.  I threw these baits on my  old reliable 7′ Allpro Apx m/h www.allprorods.com  and 8lb test Sufix Elite Mono www.sufix.com. Ronnie was using 10lb test. We had a great 6 hours and left them biting. If you haven’t purchased the “New Shadow Rap” you missing out on a great new jerk bait that has it’s own distinctive wobble and motion as you retrieve and stop. Didn’t try any other colors-thankfully didn’t need to. More Thursday Lord willing. Rick McFerrin www.tennessbassguides.com

I met Ronnie at the ramp at 6:00am the lake is at summer pool-with a lot of trash still floating here and there. The wind got up to 20mph and we struggled to stay on the trees that have been giving up our best Crappie, but we still had a good day-one here and one there. We also had 1 Largemouth and 2 Spots on a floating worm. We found all of our Crappie in 8 feet of water or less. We both were throwing 1/32oz  jigs under a float.  I like the  VMC 1/32-1/16th and the 1/8th oz sizes depending how deep the Crappie are holding. VMC Neon Moon Eye jigs are a  aspirin head design with 3D Holographic Eyes, and of course they have a super sharp VMC hook www.vmchooks.com.  This year I’m using the Sufix 832  6/2 Yellow Braid for extra visibility (when not using a float)  and it’s strong enough to pull most of your jigs free when you get hung (which you will) and comes off the reel super smooth www.sufix.com. Ronnie was using a Black/Chartreuse grub and a Pearl  White. Most of mine came on the Pearl White. Trigger X has a great new line of soft plastic Pan Fish Baits in multiple sizes and colors.  You can get them pre rigged or in 8 and 10 packs. www.triggerx.com. When you combine them with the VMC Moon Eye Jig they make a great combination.  Go to our web sites and check them out-you will like what you see. Thanks for visiting my site.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Sorry for no pictures, we were going to take them at the end of the trip and it started raining big time so I passed.  We found all of our Crappie in 6 feet of water or less.  We had to catch more than 20 with 11 being NICE ones-full of eggs.  I didn’t weigh them but I’m guessing the 11 weighed 13 to 14 pounds maybe more.  We were throwing 1/32oz  jigs under a float and the jig  by themselves.  I was using the  VMC 1/32- VMC Neon Moon Eye jig which is a aspirin head design with 3D Holographic Eyes, and of course they have a super sharp VMC hook www.vmchooks.com.  More Crappie news hopefully this week. (WITH PICS) Rick

Ronnie Wooten and I met at the ramp on Normandy at 6:00am to do a Crappie Trip and we had a great time even with the wind blowing 15mph plus. We found all of our Crappie in 8 feet of water or less. The 14 that we caught weighed 12lbs plus we had 1 Largemouth and 3 Small Spots as well.  We both were throwing 1/32oz  jigs under a float.  I like the  VMC 1/32-1/16th and the 1/8th oz sizes depending how deep the Crappie are holding. VMC Neon Moon Eye jigs are a  aspirin head design with 3D Holographic Eyes, and of course they have a super sharp VMC hook www.vmchooks.com.  This year I’m using the Sufix 832  6/2 Yellow Braid for extra visibility (when not using a float)  and it’s strong enough to pull most of your jigs free when you get hung (which you will) and comes off the reel super smooth www.sufix.com. Ronnie was using a Black/Chartreuse grub and a Pearl White. Most of mine came on the Pearl White. Trigger X has a great new line of soft plastic Pan Fish Baits in multiple sizes and colors.  You can get them pre rigged or in 8 and 10 packs. www.triggerx.com. When you combine them with the VMC Moon Eye Jig they make a great combination.  Go to our web sites and check them out-you will like what you see. Thanks for visiting my site.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I met Ken Jenkins at the ramp on Old Hickory at 6:00 am this morning and we caught 4 on the New Shadow Rap (Ghost) fairly quickly.  www.rapala.com After that it became a hunt and peck procedure and the A Rig produced everything else that we put in the boat.  I was throwing the Terminator Stainless Rig www.terminator.com rigged with 1/8ounce  Pearl Storm WildEye Curl Tail Minnows www.storm.com Ken and I both use AllPro APX Rods to toss these rigs www.allprorods.com. I’m not sure what line Ken was using but I had  40/10 Sufix 832 Braid www.sufix.com . It felt good to be in the back of the boat-I have been nursing a back problem (wore my brace all day)  so I could slow down and watch Ken catch them……Good Job Ken!  Thanks for visiting my site.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I will apologize up front I left my camera at home in my office. But here’s the scoop. I had 9 Spots , 2 Short Smallmouth 1 3lb Largemouth and 1 Giant Crappie.  All on the Rapala Fat Rap Fire Tiger www.rapala.com  6lb Test Sufix Mono. That’s it!  Rick McFerrin www.tenesseebassguides.com

I meet Teresa and her 10 year old grandson Liam at the Turkey Creek Ramp at 9:30am this morning in the middle of a steady rain. They suited up and off we went looking for what ever might be interested in what we were offering. After a couple bluegill and a lengthy down time we happened up on the 2 Largemouth and 1 Spot (1 broken line) that “LIAM” caught on 4lb Test Suffix (YES 4lb) mono www.sufix.com AllPro  APX  Light Spinning rod www.allprorods.com a a TriggerX Glow Boot Tail Minnow www.triggerx.com  Liam is a very-very good fisherman already he listened and put into practice everything that I showed him to do with this light tackle, he handled these fish like he’s been doing it for years. It was a cool, windy and rainy but GREAT DAY with 2 very fine folks. We are going to do it again when the weather is a little more accommodating.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Felt good being back on the water, between cleaning up the damage that the ice storm created here on out property and having the flu I have been side lined for a while.  Ronnie Wooten and I had a great numbers day on Normandy today putting 28 in the boat with 4 others that we had on and lost. We had 2 Smallmouth, 3 Largemouth and the rest were spots. Every fish I caught was on a old bait that honestly I don’t throw as much as I use to,  (will again now) and the is the Rapala Fire Tiger Fat Rap www.rapala.com They would absolutely load up on this bait when you got it near them. I love throwing these on a All Pro APX 7′ M/L spinning rod www.allprorods.com and 6lb test Sufix Mono www.sufix.com.  Naturally the key was finding that 55 to 56 degree water and the right structure.  Every fish came off 3 small areas. More to come Lord willing. Thank you  for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Yesterday was the Cabin Fever Fix at Murfreesboro Out Doors and it was a huge success.  Just from a visual observation  the crowd was larger than any that we have had there in the past and the lines at the register was busy all day.  There just aren’t many independently owned stores like this in operation any more and we are fortunate to have MOD here in middle Tennessee.  At the Rapala booth the “NEW SHADOW RAP” was the center of attention. 9 out of 10 guy’s that we talked to came in looking for the Shadow Rap and we blew through all the stock we had early on in the day.  Sales of other Rapala sku’s was solid especially in the DT’s-X Rap’s and Shad Raps and the “BUY 3 Rapala Baits at regular price and get a FREE spool of Sufix Mono” was as popular this year as ever.  When you combine the free line PLUS a 20% discount at the register PLUS Randy feeding everyone that came in Jambalaya-BBQ-Hot Dogs-Chips-Cake-Cookies and drinks how could you loose? I need to thank Mark from Jones and Company for all his help and planning prior to this event. On my part it was good to talk with every one and catch up on all the big ones that have been caught this past year and even some that got away! Speaking for myself and Rapala we appreciate your support and have a safe-fun and productive year on the water.    Rick

David Honey and I put in below the dam at 7:00am and fish until noon. We marked several fish but there was no bait to be seen anywhere….but we still managed to put 20 White Bass in the boat and several of them were chunks. David and I both was using the ultra sensitive 7′ Med Allpro APX spinning rods www.allprorods.com and 6lb test Sufix mono www.sufix.com I know I’m a broken record but if you haven’t used Sufix you are missing one of the strongest, best casting line on the market bar none. Due to the process called G2 winding there is very  little memory and  comes off the spool like silk. I caught fish today on 3 different lures. 1st is the 4inch 3/16th Storm Shiner Wildeye Curl Tail Minnow. This bait has the needle sharp VMC Hooks already rigged in the bait and swims through the water like the real deal www.stormlures.com  2nd was a swim bait rigged on a 1/4 ounce VMC Flat Shad Jig Head These hooks are 1X stronger, has a hollowed out back so your swim bait will fit snug against the head and all 6 sizes have 3D Eyes. It has a little different swim to it that at times will make a big difference. www.vmchook.com 3rd was a Luhr-Jensen 1/4oz Live Image Holo Krocodile Spoon www.luhrjensen.com.  Good day catching some good fish on light tackle….Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com