Last Christmas Brenda Cunningham gave her son Sam Scharder a gift certificate to fish with me on Tim's and today was the day. We caught and released several fish not pictured and lost 2 or 3 very good fish throughout the day. (one on a swim jig that had shoulders plus) We caught fish on a Prowler Slim Jim
www.prowlerlures.com a McFerrin Swim Jig
www.meanmouthlures.com and something that I had never tried before a Rapala Trolls-To Minnow.
www.rapala.com When the lake began to get busy (I'm glad I don't fish on the weekends on a normal basis) I took Sam and Brenda to a branch where I knew there had been Hybrids suspended in 12 to 15 feet of water that would have little boat traffic. Rapala sent me these 15 foot Trolls To baits early this year and I found out quickly they work big time. The ones we were using would run 15 feet deep when we released 100 feet of Sufix 10lb Test Pro Mix Mono
www.sufix.com which was exactly where these fish were suspended. These are flat sided Balsa Wood constructed baits with an internal rattle that will troll at a specified targeted zone. They come in 12 colors and 3 depth ranges 10ft-15ft and 20 foot. You can watch a video on them by going to
www.rapala.com click on USA and then BAITS. Scroll down to the Trolls-To baits and click.........For those of you that troll on a regular basis these baits are a must. For those of you that chunk and wind like I do all the time these add another alternative when you are faced with 90 degree air temps, mile high skies and more boats on the water in one day than you want to see in a whole year like we were today.
Now to the good part! Why is Brenda smiling so big in the upper right hand picture? Because she caught her personal best Smallmouth that weighed in at a even 4lbs 10 ounces on my digital scales....by the way she caught the other pictured Smallmouth as well...2 great folks that are fun to share a boat with. We are going to do it again late this fall/early winter. On vacation next week....Daniel turns 16 and it's Rena and my 20th anniversary all this week so it will be a couple weeks before I post again. Until then be safe. Rick McFerrin www.tennesseebassguides.com
Tims Ford 6-25-2011
