Got back last night from Hartwell where I fished with long time friend Tim White who lives about 15 minutes from the lake. What you see above is a good representation of the 47 that we caught and released. We had 3 Spots that was right at 3lbs each and the rest varied from 14-15 inches and down. We caught fish on a Rapala DT6 Natural Shad-www.rapala.com A Storm Largo Swimbait www.stormlures.com Top Water and Soft Plastics (several kinds) rigged on a VMC Weedless Finesse Jig Head www.vmchooks.com Both Tim and I was using 20lb yellow Sufix Performance Braid with a 8lb Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon leader, www.sufix.com  We had 2 days Monday and Tuesday that we had a fog delay until almost 11:00am so we lost the early bite and yesterday the  predicted 10 mph wind  turn to 25-30mph which cut our day short. So out of the planned 4 days of fishing turned into 2 1/2 easily.  BUT!!! I had had good time as always with Tim-he is a great to fish with.  More next week Lord willing. Thanks for visiting my site Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I’ll start at the top. Ken Jenkins and I fished Normandy Monday and struggled. We had 5 total in the boat and Ken is holding our largest of the day. He was using one of the “NEW” DT 6 Rootbeer. The other fish came on a VMC Finesse Weedless Jig Head and soft plastics. www.vmchooks.com  I fished Tim’s Tuesday with Terry and we had a great numbers day (25) Smallmouth and Largemouth but most were short. We caught them on the same VMC Finesse Rig that I use all the time on Sufix 20lb Braid and 8lb Sufix Fluorocarbon leader and a #5 . Rapala  Shad Rap RS Shad Color. I throw all my crankbaits almost exclusively on Sufix 6 & 8 pound Pro Mix www.rapala.com We also caught  a 15lb Flat Head on the finesse rig as well. My youngest son Daniel and I fished below the Nick A Jack Dam from 8:30am until 1:30pm today caught 14 total. Today we used Creek Minnows on Sufix 20lb Braid and 12lb Fluorocarbon leader and a VMC 1/0 O Shaughnessy Live Bait Hook. Daniel had a great day and I “Was Happy To Be” a good net guy. I don’t have a chance to get my boys out very often-so it was a treat for me to see Daniel in action again. Been to long.  Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

The pictures above are from 3 different trips over the past week and a half.  This morning I had the 6 above on Tim’s  plus 4 other shorts fish and had 2 other good Smallmouth come off at the boat. Ronnie Wooten is holding 1 Largemouth and we had 5 other short fish on Normandy and Pastor Ron is hold 3 from Woods. Every thing on  VMC  #2 Worm Hook and a VMC 1/8 ounce Tungsten Worm Weight www.vmchooks.com  and soft plastics. Sufix 20lb Performance Braid and Sufix 10lb Advance Fluorocarbon.  More hopefully next week Lord willing. Thankd for visiting my site. Rick

Finally back on the water—been having considerable knee problems but it seems the meds that the Orthopedic Surgeon prescribed is working so far.    I certainly don’t want to have them replaced.  Ronnie and I decided to troll today for walleye—Caught the Crappie and Bass you see instead. Robert Reeser gave us the 2 Walleye that you see. We trolled a variety of baits  and  a Rapala #6 Shad rap was the best. www.rapala.com. 8lb Sufix  Advance Mono www.sufix.com. I’m planning on fishing tomorrow some where-and will update you then. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

This is my youngest son Daniel and my 36 month old Grandson Marshall. We took him to the pond this afternoon and he caught some blue gill on his new rod that his daddy bought him this week. Marshall is a 5th generation fisherman in the McFerrin family. His smile says it all. I  have 2 sons-2 daughter in laws-2 grand daughters-1 grand son and 1 great grand daughter. We love our family Rena and I are  blessed. Rick

I fished with Ronnie 2 times over the past week on Normandy and the 5 above was our best of the bunch. Everything On a VMC Finesse Weedless Jig and soft plastics. www.vmchooks.com www.vmchooks.com Sufix 20lb Yellow Performance Braid and a VMC Fluorocarbon leader. We thew everything but the sink at them-just very few bites for us.  www.sufix.com  I’ll update on my next trip. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Fished Woods twice this week with the ones above being the best of the bunch. Several 13-14 inch size fish and a couple decent ones. Long time friend (My Web Master) Jay Arnold and I fished Monday and I fished by myself for 4 hours this morning.  Everything on a VMC #2 Worm Hook 1/8oz VMC Tungsten weight www.vmchoof.com Sufix 20lb Yellow braid with a 10lb Sufix  Fluorocarbon leader www.sufix.com  and soft plastics. It’s been nice on the water this week-clouds-some light rain-not to hot.  More next week the Lord willing. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I appreciate all the e-mails checking on me over the past many weeks.  Hopefully I had my last therapy session on my back the first of the week-I’m 200% better than I was. I can even bend over enough to put my own socks on. Ha!  I decided I would test things out so I went to Woods yesterday-put in at 6:30 and fished until 10:30 and never left the sight of the ramp. The parking lot at Morris Ferry was already filling up.  Caught and released 5 Largemouth with the 3 above being my best. Everything on a 1/8 oz  VMC  Finesse Rugby Jig and soft plastics www.vmchooks.com  Sufix 20 yellow braid with a 10lb Sufix fluorocarbon www.sufix.com . Water temps rising quickly  and so was the temper of 2 guys trying to back in at the same time (Come on guys it’s just fishing)  First for ramp rage I have seen  this year.  Hope to have more for you next week Lord willing. Thanks again for checking in. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

I have had several messages asking about different lakes. I have been down in my back-I was having spasms when I would hit a wave. I’m going to a Sports Massage  Therapist and I think I’m turning the corner.  I hope to have some first hand info by the end of next week.  Have a safe weekend on the water—a lot of crazies out there that think they have brakes on the boats.   Rick

2nd day with good friend Tim White-The ones you see above was our best-we also had 5 not pictured. Rapala #8 X Rap www.rapala.com and a VMC Weedless Jig www.vmchooks.com rigged with soft plastics did the best for us today.  6-8lb test Sufix mono ans 10lb Sufix Braid with a 8lb Sufix Fluorocarbon leader. www.sufix.com  Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com