Folks, you need to visit the Old Outboard Barn . TK
repairs old outboard motors. Old Outboards and boats
is his hobby. He also buys and sells old motors and
parts and almost anything else affiliated with
Antique and Vintage boats and motors.
Contact:
TK Walker-Lebanon, Tennessee--615-347-8277
www.oldoutboardbarn.com
NOTE: TK HAS REBUILT 2 OLD VINTAGE MOTORS FOR ME-I
ENDORSE HIS WORK 150% RICK
Woods Reservoir 5-17-2013
I slipped off to Woods this morning to see if I
could find some Crappie for the freezer. I
checked out several areas that normally hold them
this time of the year but with no luck only 4 o5
White Bass. I decided to see if I could find
some Gill beds and when I found them I had a
blast for over 3 hours catching and releasing 75
plus Gill's, Shell Crackers , Crappie and White Bass
all on a 1/16th oz VMC Chartreuse Orange Hot Glow
Jig
www.vmchooks.com rigged on a very small safety
pin type spinner. There are several real benefits to
using this little jig that I need to point out. The
skirt is made of a Highly Reflective Tinsel that
WILL NOT come off the jig head. I caught every on of
these fish on the same small jig. Will they hit a
soft plastic grub "SURE" but how many will you have
to replace catching 75 or more? The hook is
manufactured with VMC Premium Carbon Steel that has
a great bite and is stout enough to put even much
bigger fish in the boat. I threw this little
combo on a AllPro 5'6" APB Ultra Light Rod
www.allprorods.com a 4lb Test Sufix Mono
www.sufix.com
I know it's hard to determine the size of these but
many of the Gills were "hand size" the 5 Crappie
were all 10" to 11" and the Shell Cracker ran larger
than the Gills. This is a great time to TAKE A
KID FISHING. When they bed like this they are easy
to catch and the kids will have a blast (we big kids
do too!) Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Nick A Jack 5-14-2013
Less water, less current, less fish and over all
smaller. That just about sum's up my morning below
the Nick A Jack dam today. I think I had 20 or so
today (Spots and Small Mouth) all on a Trigger X
Shiner Swim Bait
www.triggerx.com rigged on a VMC Swim Bait
Head
www.vmchooks.com and a Blue Gill 5
1/2 inch Trigger X Probe Finesse Worm
www.triggerx.com
rigged on a Real Bait 1/8 ounce Bullet Jig Head (see
at Murfreesboro Outdoors) All pro 7' APX Rod
www.allprorods.com and 8lb Test Sufix Mono
www.sufix.com
The water level had to be down 6-8 feet verses last
week and the lack of current sure made a lot of
difference. But!!!!! I enjoyed the day the
Lord gave me and I will update you on my next trip.
Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Nick A Jack 5-9-2013
Daniel was suppose to go with me today but he Turkey
hunted instead and he flat missed it!!!! I put
in at daylight below the dam and fish 2 spots all
day. I could have taken twice the number of pictures
that I took but I think the fish above will give you
an idea of what happen today. I caught Smallmouth,
Largemouth, Spots, White Bass, Rockfish and 1 big
Flat Head Catfish all on a 4 1/2 inch Trigger X
Shiner Paddle Tail Minnow
www.triggerx.com
rigged on a 3/8 ounce VMC Swim Bait Head
www.vmchooks.com
Everything you see was caught on a Med AllPro
APX Spinning Rod
www.allprorods.com and 8lb Test Suffix mono
www.sufix.com .
Wow what a great day! Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tim's Ford 4-29-2013
I headed to Woods Reservoir this morning to
Crappie fish and when I passed over the Morris Ferry
bridge it was chocolate brown and rolling, so I cut
through Deckard and put in at the State Park on
Tim's instead. With the 5 inches or more rain fall
we got this week end the water level is up over the
wood walk way at the marina. I struggled around for
the first hour or so checking out the trees with a
Chartreuse/White Terminator Spinner Bait
www.terminator.com and a floating worm
with no results. So I switched tactics and went with
a "NEW" soft plastic Trigger X Bait called a "SLOP
HOPPER" in the Shiner Color
www.triggerx.com
(See picture above) This is a 4 1/2 inch swim
bait/jerk bait that has a big paddle tail that
creates a vibration that you could feel through the
handle of the All Pro APX 7 foot m/h Spinning Rod
www.allprorods.com that I was using today.
After I switched to the Slop Hopper I finished the
day with 6 Smallmouth, 4 Largemouth, 2 Hybrids and 4
White Bass. I used this bait in 2 ways today One as
a swim bait rigged with VMC 1/4oz Swim Bait Head
www.vmchooks.com
and as a jerk bait rigged with a 3/0 VMC Wide Gap
Hook
www.vmchooks.com . When used as a swim
bait the fish would smash the Slop Hopper, when they
came up for it as a jerk bait they would just inhale
and swim off. Either way they liked what they
thought the saw. Not sure about the rest of
the week, Daniel graduates from high school in a
couple weeks and we have several activities lined
up. If I get away I will post the results.
Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tim's 2 Day Report w/o 4/22/2013
I fished twice this week on Tim's both after a front
had moved through leaving blue bird high pressure
skies and colder temps. David Honey (pictured
above ) and I threw tuffy's yesterday and
caught a mixed bag of Smallmouth, Largemouth, White
Bass, Flat Head and Channel Cat Fish. I was
using a 7' 6" AllPro APX Med/Light spinning rod
www.allprorods.com and David a APX 7' APX
Med. I honestly believe that the 7'6"
M/L is the best rod I have ever used for this
application. Because of it's length you get more
distance throwing a 2 inch minnow on a VMC Bait
Keeper Hook
www.vmchooks.com but yet it is ultra sensitive
and the extra length gives you a lot of leverage
with these acrobatic Smallmouth. By the way these
rods are x-strong as well, and when teamed up with
6lb test Sufix mono
www.sufix.com it's unbelievable just how strong.
Earlier in the week I caught several Largemouth,
Walleye and Small Hybrid's on a VMC 1/4oz Swimbait
Head
www.vmchooks.com rigged with a Trigger X Shiner
Slop Hopper Swim Bait
www.triggerx.com
or a (NEW SIZE) Bleeding Chartreuse Shad #6 Rapala
Shad Rap. Just a quick tip for those that might want
to try using tuffy's. On several prior trips
(see posts below) the Smallmouth hit these much
better using the the Real Bait 1/16oz jig with a
brush guard but today they wanted the minnow running
free on the VMC Bait Keeper Hook. DON'T get caught
up in not changing up. I keep 1 rod rigged
with the hook only and one with the jig. I can
hear someone right now "That can't make that much
difference"! Friend you must not fish Tim's much.
When you are dealing with weather conditions like
these these small changes can make a big difference.
More next week Lord willing. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
2 Day Tim's Ford Report
This report is for 4-15 & 16-2013. Yesterday I
fished with Dave and Brent throwing tuffys on the
1/6th ounce jig made by Real Bait Company. (see
picture on the 4-12 report) The 3 above (top row)
were our best for the day. We caught several others
and lost 6 that were just plain good fish. These
guys were great to be out with for the day and both
good fishermen. Today I fish with David Honey and we
had a decent day as well throwing swim baits on a
VMC Boxer Jig head
www.vmchooks.com and 6lb test Sufix Mono
www.sufix.com .
Yesterday we used the 7'6" All Pro APX M/L Rods that
are fantastic for throwing live bait and today 7'
All Pro APX Med Rods
www.allprorods.com . Good 2 days on the water.
Just a side note this is the first time that David
and I have been able to get out together since March
21st and it was good to fish with him again. We have
become great friends over the years and have caught
a lot of fish together, Lord willing there should be
a few more. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tim's Ford 4-12-2013
I met Rick Shipp (pictured above) at the ramp at
6:30am and we fish until noon. The fish above are
our best that we put in the boat out of many that we
caught and released. We were throwing Tuffy
Minnows on a 1/16th ounce crappie jig with a brush
guard and a super needle point made by Real Bait Co.
(these are available in multiple stores across
Tennessee including Murfreesboro Outdoors) (see
pictures top row) Our rods were 7 1/2 Ft All Pro APX
Med Light spinning
www.allprorods.com loaded with Sufix 6lb
test Pro Mix Mono. When you combine the
sensitivity of the APX with the castability and
smoothness of the Sufix Mono it makes for a great
set up. I did loose 1 other good fish which was my
fault. I will be back on Tim's and Nick A Jack
again next week and will update you on the trips.
Thanks for visiting my site. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Real Bait Company
I want to give you some information concerning a new
lure that B.J. owner of Real Bait Company has
recently begun making. I know what these look
like, no they aren't....BUT.....you won't know the
difference except when you go to the cash register
to check out because you can buy several of these
for what you would pay for 1 of the other brand.
For those of you that are use to catching multiple
species on these little bait I won't have to sell
you on these. But for those that haven't used them
your missing out.....on.....Smallmouth, Largemouth,
Spots, Crappie, Hybrids I could go on and on but I
think you understand where I'm going. Come by
Murfreesboro Out Doors this Saturday 3-16-2013
between 10am and 2pm for Randy's annual "Cabin Fever
Fix" and check them out (SLOW FALL) and we will talk
about how to fish them. Also check out all the other
variety of baits that Real Bait Company
produces. 100% U.S.A. made with extreme care,
that's just the way B.J. operates.
You can get these at Murfreesboro
Outdoors....Poindexters...Rock Creek Mkt...and Lil
Joes in McMinnville.....Rick
McFerrin
Tough 2 Weeks For Yours Truly
Daniel has been on break this week but decided to
Turkey hunt so I headed out without him. I haven't
had much to tell you lately. This has been 2 of the
toughest fishing weeks for me that I have had in a
while. The fish above are some of the ones I
caught on 3 different lakes.
On Normandy I caught fish on the same Rapala
Red Craw DT6
www.rapala.com that I have been throwing down
there for the past several weeks.
On
Tim's yesterday Jerry Steakly and I struggled
from the get go and only managed to put the 2
Smallies above in the boat. These fish came on
the "New" 1/4oz VMC Boxer Jig
www.vmchooks.com
that is designed for artificial and live bait
applications. I was using it on a swim bait but you
can also use them on Umbrella Rigs as well. These
are offered in 5 colors and 4 weights from 1/8oz to
1/2 oz. The hooks on these are 1X strong and believe
me they will not bend. Today I was
on Nick A
Jack throwing
a Real Bait
Tennessee Rig (these are great/light weight rigs)
with the VMC Boxer Head Jig and Trigger X Paddle
Tail Minnow Swim Baits
www.triggerx.com
in the Chartreuse Pepper Glow and the Herring.
My best 2 fish came on this rig and I also caught 2
others on a Olive Green #10 Rapala X Rap. Line
choices ranged from 6 & 8lb Sufix Mono to the 30/8
Sufix Performance Braid
www.sufix.com .
Rod choices this week was a 7foot AllPro APX Med
Spinning for the Rapala crank baits and Trigger X
swim baits and a AllPro APX 7'10in Med Bait Caster
www.allprorods.com for the Tennessee Rig. Not
sure if I will fish any more this week, but if I do
I will give you an update (hopefully at better one)
Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tim's Ford 3-21-2013
How many different ways can you spell cold?
How about
CHILLY-FREEZING-ICY-FROZEN-WINTRY-BITTER-ARTIC.
David and I put in at 7:30 yesterday morning and it
was 26 degrees at the ramp. Cold Yes but "No Wind"
at least tolerable. We pull into our first stop and
on my 2nd cast a nice 3lb plus Smallmouth in the
boat. THEN seemingly out of no where a bitter North
West Wind started and it was down hill from there. I
have fished on and off all winter and up until
yesterday never had ice form in my guides even 1
time, but today it was that way until we
loaded out at 10:30am. The areas where I have been
on fish had this 15 mph cooold wind that you
couldn't fish into and was to strong to fish with.
Maybe I'm just getting Old? This didn't use to be a
problem several years ago. 3 hour results 3
Smallmouth and 1 Spot, with the 2 above being our
best. Yes I'm glad that Spring Started this week. If
you fished yesterday aren't you? Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tim's Ford 3-19-2013
My youngest son Daniel was out of school today so we
headed to Tim's to check out several places that
begin to produce for me this time of the year, and
we wasn't disappointed. First of all the only DOUBLE
PICTURE is the Rock Fish at the top of the post.
This is the largest fish that Daniel has caught on
Tim's and it weighed in at 24lbs 14 ounces, needless
to say he was beside himself. WE both were
using 8lb Sufix Mono
www.sufix.com . This line is fantastic, it is
small diameter, comes off the spool straight because
of the special winding process Sufix uses, and is
very strong. All our fish was caught on a 1/4ounce
VMC Smoochin Head Jig
www.vmchooks.com
and a Trigger X Paddle Tail Minnow
www.triggerX.com
(see top picture above) Daniel was using a 7' All
Pro Med/Hvy Rod and I was using a 7' Med
www.allprorods.com . Total for the day was 14
Smallmouth (largest 4lb 14oz) , 2 Largemouth, 2
Spots and 1 Rockfish. Water temp was 50 degrees and
color was good....no sign of the big rain we had
yesterday. Daniel is a very good fisherman and
will be taking over the guide business over time. I
hope to get out at least 1 more time this week, if
so I will post the results. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Old Hickory 3-14-2013
Ken Jenkins and I put in at Bull Creek at 9am and
fished until 2pm. We caught and released either 8 or
9 Largemouth. We never had any "Good" fish But it
was fun being back on Old Hickory for the first time
in several years. There is a "BIG" shad kill in both
branches of Station Camp Creek with water temps in
the 49 to 50 range. We also found warm water in
pockets above the Steam Plant. Rapala
Caribbean Shad DT6, #8 Olive Green
Muddler Rapala X Rap
www.rapala.com
and a swim bait rigged on a VMC Smoochin Head Jig
www.vmchooks.com
did the best for me today. I used 8 & 10lb test
Sufix mono
www.sufix.com and as always a All Pro 7' med
action spinning rod
www.allprorods.com Come by and see us at
the Murfreesboro Our Doors Cabin Fever Fix this
Saturday from 10am until 2pm.....Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Normandy 3-12-2013
Ken Jenkins and fished Normandy today from 8am until
2pm we caught and released 9 with the ones above
being our best of the bunch. It didn't seem to
matter what color you used today since Ken caught
his on a Bluegill Rapala DT6 and I stayed with the
Red Craw Rapala DT6 that has been so good over the
past several week's.
www.rapala.com
Water clarity and temps vary from Barton Spring and
on up the river past the 2nd bridge...44 to 50
degrees, fairly clear to almost muddy. I will be at
the Cabin fever Fix event this coming Saturday at
Murfreesboro Out Doors between 10am and 2pm come by
and I will be happy to help you with all your Rapala,
Sufix www.sufix.com
, Storm
www.stormlures.com , Luhr-Jensen
www.luhrjensen.com Trigger X
www.triggerx.com
and All Pro Rods questions.
www.allprorods.com . Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
2 Day Report
Normandy/Tim's
3-7-8-2013
What a drastic
difference in the weather from yesterday and today.
It was COLD yesterday and TOO
beautiful today. In 4 hours I had 6 bites on
Normandy yesterday and caught 5 with the 2 above
being my best. Today Earl and I put in at 9:30am and
fished until 1:30 and had 6 Largemouth and 1
Smallmouth pictured above on Tim's. Today we
never got 5 minutes on either side of the Rock Creek
ramp and all fish both days was caught on Rapala
DT6's either a Red Craw or Perch.
www.rapala.com
As you can see the DT6 Red Craw to the (left) has
some battle scars. Yes I have others but man this
one works. I'm not sure how many I have caught on
this same lure. We both use Sufix mono
www.sufix.com and
both use All Pro APX Spinning rods
www.allprorods.com. Now for the rest of
the story!!! Yesterday I didn't have a bite for the
first 2 hours, the first fish I hung and lost was
(I'm guessing) 7 to 8 lbs easy. I had her up to the
boat twice, I reached down to grab the net, she
lunged and away she went. I hit a little
stretch shortly after that that gave up the other 5.
44 degree water on Normandy with good color, 44 to
47 on Tim's with slight color in the river. More
Lord willing next week. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Normandy 2-26-2013
I fished Normandy today from 9:30am until 1:30pm. I
caught and released 6 Spots, 3 Largemouth and 1
Black Nose Crappie. Water temp was still 44 degrees
with good color and all the fish came out of no more
than 6 feet of water. I caught these on 2 different
Rapala DT6's, a Red Craw and the new Ike Red Demon
www.rapala.com.
As always I used 6 and 8lb test Sufix mono
www.sufix.com and
a 7 foot All Pro APX Spinning Rod.
www.allprorods.com. It was cold, rainy and
extra windy. And by the way I never saw another boat
while I was there. I will be at Murfreesboro
Out Doors for the Cabin Fever Fix event this month
and will be glad to help you with all the Rapala,
Storm, Trigger X, Luhr-Jensen and All Pro, and Real
Bait products. I look forward to seeing you there.
Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Normandy Feb 2013
My computer has been down over the past couple weeks
and I haven't been able to keep up posting my trips.
Since this information is 2 weeks or more old I just
posted a few of the pictures that I took of recent
trips to Normandy. Everything you see was
caught on either a Rapala DT 6 or DT4 in a Red Craw
or the Old School colors
www.rapala.com
8lb test Sufix mono
www.sufix.com and a All Pro 7 foot Med APX
Spinning Rod
www.allprorods.com Back in business now so I
should be able to update my trips each time out.
If your in the Murfreesboro Tn area check out
Murfreesboro Out Doors. Randy carries a complete
line of all Rapala, Storm, Luhr Jensen, Sufix, VMC
and Trigger and APX Rods. He has a great staff that
will be welling to help you with all of your fishing
needs. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Normandy 2-8-2013
I had to go to Barton Springs this morning but be
back to the house by 10:30am. So I towed the boat
over there got my business done quickly and fished
Normandy from 7:15am until 9:30am. Air temp was 48
degrees went I got there and 44 degrees when I left.
I caught all of the fish you see above on a Red Craw
Rapala DT4
www.rapala.com.
I took a picture of my Hummingbird to show you the
depth and water temps that these fish came out of. I
never caught a fish that wasn't right on the bank
and all came out of 44 degree water. The DT
series baits have so many great qualities but one
that should help someone that is just getting
started throwing a crankbait is the depth
designation of these baits. Pictured above starting
at the top is a DT16 a DT10 a DT6 and the bait I
caught the fish on today a DT4. The DT4 will run 4
feet deep on 10lb test line and a long cast, DT6
will run 6 feet deep etc. This allows you to select
the right bait for the depth that the fish are
holding in.
I use either Sufix
www.sufix.com 6lb
or 8lb mono 90% of the time when I'm fishing
Normandy so with the lighter line these baits will
run deeper than their designated depth. If your
going to fish Normandy this winter let me give you a
quick tip. #1 Look for stained water #2 think
shallow 90% of the time #3 put your boat right on
the bank and fish parallel # 4 use a med action
spinning rod like a 7 foot AllPro APX Rod
www.allprorods.com and DON'T FORGET you Landing
Net. You will need it. More to come next week Lord
willing. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Note: The baits above appear
to have some orange on them-BUT-that was created by
the flash of the camera-These are Rapala DT Red
Craw. Rick
Normandy 2-5-2013
Jerry Steakley and I put in at the Barton Springs
ramp at 7:30am and fished until 3:00pm. Water temp's
ranged from a low of 44 degrees to a high of 47
degrees and had good color from Barton Springs all
the way to Crampton Creek, then it began to clear
up. The 3 baits pictured above was the best for me.
Rapala DT6 Red Craw, Rapala DT6 Blue Back Herring
www.rapala.com
and a Luhr-Jensen Root Beer Chartreuse Speed Trap
www.luhrjensen.com . 8lb test Sufix mono on a 7'
med All pro APX Spinning Rod.
www.allprorods.com Totals for the day 1
Smallmouth, 2 Largemouth, 9 Spots and I had my line
broke one time. Cold water cranking---hard to beat.
Murfreesboro Outdoors carries everything that I used
today-Check them out. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tim's Ford 1-11-2013
I met Mr. Earl Hull at Holiday Marina on Tim's this
morning at 7:00am. This was one of the warmest
winter days that I can remember in a long time. It
was right at 60 degrees when we met and 71 when I
left the lake. Water temps have come up a couple
degrees and all the ramps that I have been using are
in good shape. The 4 Smallmouth above was our best
for the day and each was caught on a 5 to 6
inch creek minnow. We both use Sufix 6lb Mono
www.sufix.com
I know I'm a broken record on some of this, but if I
didn't believe it 150% I wouldn't write it. Sufix
provides some of the longest, smoothest casts that I
have ever experienced on a spinning reel. Plus the
6lb test is only .010 in DIA but yet is extremely
tough. Then when you add in the G2 winding that
virtually eliminates memory, you are good to go.
Today I switched to a #7105 VMC Wide Gap Hook
because of the size of the minnows
www.vmchooks.com.
These hook are made with Vanadium Steel and have a
needle sharp point . We both used the Med
action AllPro 7'6" Apx Rods that worked perfectly as
always. 3 different lakes this week (see reports
below) 3 good days. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebassguides.com
Normandy 1-10-2013
I spent 4 hour on Normandy today and it almost felt
like spring as warm as it was. Big fish for the day
was a 6lb 6oz Largemouth. Everything came on a
DT6 Red Craw
www.rapala.com and a Trigger X Herring Paddle
Tail Minnow
www.triggerx.com on a 1/4oz VMC Smoochin
Swim Bait Head.
www.vmchook.com all on 6lb test Sufix Mono
www.sufix.com
and a 7' AllPro APX spinning rod.
www.allprorods.com . Water temp was 45-46 and
the air temp got up to the low 60's. I will be on
Tim's tomorrow morning and will up date you then.
Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebasguides.com
Center Hill 1-8-2013
I met Ken Jenkins at daylight at the ramp and 15
minutes later we were on fish. Ken is very very good
with his electronics which paid off big time. We
caught and released 8 that you see above plus 7
others that released themselves. One of which was
the biggest Spot that I have ever had on. We caught
everything on creek minnows, (see top center picture)
6lb test Sufix mono
www.sufix.com VMC Hooks
www.vmchooks.com
and All Pro 7 foot Medium action APX rods.
www.allprorods.com. The bite was light today,
many times when you lifted the minnow up it just
felt as if you were hung then you would feel the
slightest tick. That is where the 6lb test Sufix Mono and the sensitivity of the APX
Rods shine. Good day with a good friend. More the end of the
week from Tim's. Be sure to check with Randy at
Murfreesboro Outdoors for all your winter fishing
needs. He carries everything I use. Rick McFerrin
www.tennessbassguides.com
Center Hill 12-13-2012
Ken Jenkins (pictured bottom row) and I put in at
6:45 this morning and had 4 great hours on Center
Hill. Ken told me he had a "Hot Spot" and boy
was he right! Ken caught a couple on a Tube but the
pay off came on creek minnows. We estimate that our
best 5 would be in the 16-17lb range. We weighed the
largest Smallmouth 4lbs even and the largest Spot
3lbs 2 oz. We used VMC #4 Bait Keeper hooks
www.vmchooks.com
6lb test Sufix mono
www.sufix.com on All Pro APX 7' Med spinning
rods
www.allprorods.com . This was my first
opportunity to get back out since a young man
that lived with us for several months was killed
last week in a car wreck. It felt good to spend a
day with a good friend. Rick McFerrin
www.tennesseebasguides.com
