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Hellgrammites, anyone ever use them?

I saw these and wondered how they work, can't say I have seen them in the local lakes but they are supposed to inhabit all of North America.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel Bavery on December 27, 2009 at 10:03pm

Pretty sure I saw thems in a stream in Granite Falls while I was turning over rocks lookin for the hatch for troots. Ive read they be like smallmouth crack smoke!!!

Permalink Reply by rzone on December 27, 2009 at 10:18pm

I see lot's of talk of them as smallmouth crack, but it seems like more a great lakes or east coast bait.

Daniel Bavery said:

Pretty sure I saw thems in a stream in Granite Falls while I was turning over rocks lookin for the hatch for troots. Ive read they be like smallmouth crack smoke!!!

Permalink Reply by Mark Maderos on December 28, 2009 at 7:56am

Ron, I know better.

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

You found my secret bait, man back to the drawing board.

Permalink Reply by Brad Meeds on December 28, 2009 at 8:56am

Hellgramites work great.
Easy to catch and keep.
Found in most waters.
Mostly used for Trout but all fish feed on them.

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on December 28, 2009 at 10:55am

Plastic Hellgramites were awsome baits to throw when i lived in Nashville in the spring, I mainly used them for crappie fishing but every now and then a LMB would open its mouth on them . These are such a small bait in size, so if and angler is looking to explore with them i would suggest looking at Dropshoting , carolina rig , maybe a finess Texas rig during the spawn ! However i will stress that IMO a lizard will out catch those smallies 2-1 Over the hellgramite from spawn to mid summer ..It would be interesting Rzon if maybe you could do some field work with this bait and let us know what you come up with !

DEZ

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on December 28, 2009 at 3:28pm

LMAO !! man , what eva ron , Lizards have been one the most fished and widely use piece of plastic since they made the powerworm !! Im not sayn that you cant get bit on those crappie baits you like to use , but dont hate on "Big Liz" !! And yes PLEASE give me all of your lizards, i bet you have some colors i dont anyway !! lol Helligrammites rules ! no way ! Ron i have seen you in newport for two years in row during NWBASS , next year when i run into again if you dont have a "HellBait" tied up im gonna remind you of this thread ..

Ronald Hobbs, Jr. said:

1/16 to 1/8 oz round jighead and lizards suck! I hate them and you can come over and take every last one of them that I own! Helgramites Rule!

BigBass Dez said:
Plastic Hellgramites were awsome baits to throw when i lived in Nashville in the spring, I mainly used them for crappie fishing but every now and then a LMB would open its mouth on them . These are such a small bait in size, so if and angler is looking to explore with them i would suggest looking at Dropshoting , carolina rig , maybe a finess Texas rig during the spawn ! However i will stress that IMO a lizard will out catch those smallies 2-1 Over the hellgramite from spawn to mid summer ..It would be interesting Rzon if maybe you could do some field work with this bait and let us know what you come up with !

DEZ

Permalink Reply by Mark Maderos on December 28, 2009 at 3:36pm

Looks like the gaunlet has been laid down. Ron your a hyperfreak guy anyways.

Permalink Reply by Chris Blandi on December 28, 2009 at 5:02pm

I have had those Hellgies from Lunker City for about 15 years now. Never used them.

Permalink Reply by Nick Berto on March 8, 2012 at 6:14am

I knew I saw a post on these baits before...

Permalink Reply by BJ Krestian on March 8, 2012 at 8:44am

Sorry for the second post:

Hellgramites or Dobsonfly larvae are really more of an East Coast to midwest thing. We have insects in the same family out here P.N.W. but they are much smaller than what most people think of as Hellgramites. That being said, I have heard dragonfly larvae refered to as Hellgramites, and I could easily some people confuse stonefly larvae with Hellgramites.

On a bass fishing note, I have pitched the large (Lunker City?) Hellgramites for bass. Just like a creature bait.

For those that don't know, my background is Aquatic Biology/Entymology. I could be wrong about the distribution and will check with one of the other guys at work.

Update: I talked with one of the other biologists, and Corydalus sp. (the big Hellgramite) is found in Cascade streams but is not common. They are also found in streams in the South West, as well as the East Coast and Mid West.

Hope this helps,

Permalink Reply by rzone on March 8, 2012 at 10:09pm

Good info BJ, thank you.

Permalink Reply by rzone on March 11, 2012 at 4:31pm

What the Hellgramite! I think the mods did some clean up.