Category Archives: Fishing Reports

Center Hill 3-4-2016

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The 7 you see above is what I managed to put in the boat this morning in 5 1/2 hours….but should have been 11…..I couldn’t keep the stuck…many short hits even cranking about as slow as I could and still get the bait down. All On a Rapala DT6 River Shad www.rapala,com and 6lb Test Sufix High Vis Yellow…….More next week If the Lord allows. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Normandy 3-3-2016

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Ronnie and I fished Normandy for 6 hours this morning and caught and released 14 Largemouth and Spots. Of the 14 -8 were keepers with the big fish weighing 6lbs 6oz . Everything was caught on either a Rapala DT6 Red Craw or a Rapala #10 X Rap Clown www.rapala.com.  and 6 or 8lb Sufix Mono www.sufix.com  Water has great color and we found water as warm as 51 degrees-Here’s the catch-the fish were very isolated in very short sections of structure-Hunt and Peck at it’s best……Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Center Hill Humble Pie

Yesterday Ronnie Wooten and I fished Center Hill together. I’m not sure how far down they had pulled to water since last week but it was considerable and they were pulling hard while we were there. To make this short we pulled in on our 2nd stop and Ronnie caught a 2 lb Spot and a 3 1/2lb Largemouth on the Rapala DT6 River Shad and for us we never had another hit.  On the other hand another friend of mine was there and had 14 total and the best 5 went 17-18lbs. The basic same thing happened to Ken Jenkins and I a couple weeks ago which should have been fresh in my mind. But while I was trying to force feed the fish with the same baits and techniques that has worked so well lately-he when to a Carolina Rig and had a great day. You would think at my age and the 1000’s of hours on the water that I have logged in my life time  I would have–remembered–and  adjusted………………….BUT NO………..Never really like the taste of HUMBLE PIE but if I have to have it make my Pecan!   Rick

Center Hill 2-26-2016

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Wow!!! The very first fish I put in the boat was a 5lb 12oz Smallmouth,(on the digital scale)  what a beautiful fish. I kept looking in the live well at her on and off for an hour. Another 18-19 lb  5 fish day but this time mostly on the Rapala DT6 River Shad www.rapala.com The only fish that was real aggressive was the Smallie  the others would hit the River Shad and would just swim off to the side. That’s where at least for these old eyes where the Sufix High Vis Yellow  line comes into it’s own.  Had to leave to meet my wife in Murfreesboro and I left them biting. Thanks for visiting my site Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Center Hill 2-22-2016

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I had a good 6 hours on Center Hill  today. I caught and released 12 Largemouth and Spots all caught on a #7 Rapala Shad Rap River Shad pattern www.rapala.com and 6lb test Sufix High Vis Yellow Mono www.sufix.com.   I don’t’ believe that I caught a fish in more then 3 to 4feet of water at best. When I had my first 5 in the live well I stopped and took some pictures and weighted the 5. The 5 weighed 15lbs 3oz with the big fish weighing 5lb 6oz.  I released that 5 then caught 7 more with 1 Largemouth weighing 3lbs 2oz and another 3Lbs 12oz. the other 5 were all keepers as well.  No way to know exact weight but if I culled the 2 smaller Spots in the first 5 I weighed and replaced them with the 2 Largemouth I believe I would have  had 5 fish in the 18 lb plus range. 47 degree water and just right as far as I’m concerned for the crankbait. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebass guides.com

Tim’s Ford 2-17-2016

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What a great 6 hours with Ronnie Wooten today on Tim’s Ford. Let me start by saying other than the picture of the landing net there are NO double pictures-all separate fish we pulled back in a protected cove to take the pictures. —-Ronnie and I caught 12 total today with 7 being over the 18 inch size limit on Smallmouth. We weighed the 7 keepers and they weighed in at 18lbs 2oz on the digital scale. Everything was caught on a very small hair fly that Ronnie ties and both of us used Sufix 6lb High Vis Yellow mono. www.sufix.com  For anyone that want to “SEE” (which I always do) their line the high vis is great and doesn’t seem to bother the fish any-as a matter of fact it disappears quickly in the water. That was as simple as it gets-6lb Sufix-small hair fly. By the way Ronnie put it on me today-but I was a very good net guy.  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Good-Bye To An Old Friend

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Yesterday my old friend and fishing partner for many years pasted away at his home. David Honey was a great guy, a loyal friend and a joy to be with. The Lord has allowed us to make some great memories together on the water. They are ones I won’t forget.  I’m going to miss him. Rick

 

 

 

 

Tim’s Ford 2-8-2016

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Ronnie and I fished Tim’s this morning for 5 hours before the rain and snow set in. We had 5 or “MAYBE” 6 bites and the 3 chunks above was our best.  We tried to use  micro jigs like a 1/16th brown and orange but the wind was very strong and it was difficult at least for me to detect a bite. So I switched to a 1/4oz Terminator Swim Jig that I had changed the skirt to a Terminator Pumpkin Green and that made the difference for me. I was throwing the jig on Sufix 8lb test mono www.sufix.com on a m/h spinning rod. Glad I got home when I did the snow has covered the ground and the fire place feels good!  More hopefully by the end of the week  if the weather cooperates. Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Percy Priest 1-14-2016

Good friend Ken Jenkins and I put in at Fate Sanders this morning around 8:00am left at Noon,. We had 6 bites and put 5 in the boat that weighed in at 19lbs 2oz and the big fish was 6lbs 4oz.  4 was caught on a Rapala #5  River Shad Shallow Scatter Rap in 3 feet of water or less and the big fish hit a Rapala  #7 River Shad Shad Rap in about 5 feet of water. www.rapala.com  As always I was using 6 and 8lb test Sufix Mono www.sufix.com. Man this is some great small dis. abrasion resistant strong line.   I use to fish Priest almost exclusively 20 years ago and the Rapala Shad Rap series was always dynamite on this lake and it appears that it still is today.  If you haven’t picked up this River Shad pattern you really need to this is a bait that I believe you can go to year around. Thanks for visiting my site  Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com

Normandy 12-31-2015

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Ronnie and I hooked up this morning for 4 hours on Normandy. They are pulling the fire out of the lake and dropped another 3-4 inches while we were there. We caught and released 10 this morning with 5 above being our best.  Rapala DT6Red Craw scored again www.rapala.com Love Those DT’s   Now for the rest of the story. Tuesday (see report) I found some fish in a very small area and caught 18-I told Ronnie where it was and he got 25 there yesterday and we had another 10 there today  (53 total) from an area no longer than 3 good long casts in distance.  Seems the air temp was dropping today as well while we were there-hand warmers came in handy.  HAPPY NEW YEAR from the McFerrin Clan to you and yours. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com