What color are natural Hellgramites in rivers and do the colors vary with sub-species or different bodies of water. Any favorite colors or brands of artificials? Most brands I've searched are 3" to 3-1/4. Are Hellgramites really that large?

Thanks in advance for everyone's valuable information on this site. Since I found this site my job production has plummeted but my catch rate has improved! BTW I am in Middle Tennessee if that makes a difference.

I use all black hellgrammite always. the always catch, I use them for bass and trout as well. I didn't catch big bass on them yet but smaller size bass I catch on it.

They are big.

They vary, but I’ve seined some big

juicy ones . 2.75 inches is perfect for about any smallmouth lure. You can catch your own helgrammites and compare sizes to your plastics (or use the live ones and catch the mess out of them ) 

yes they are that big and are pretty much just black to slightly olive.

And they are smallmouth catching machines!!  Try the real thing sometime. 

Check out the Tackle HD Hellgrammites.  They aren't small like that, but they sure do catch fish.

13 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

Check out the Tackle HD Hellgrammites.  They aren't small like that, but they sure do catch fish.

I think they are 5” I have some somewhere. I seen the owner on an episode of Smallmouth Crush saying he was bringing them out in 3.5”. Idk if that happened?

I use the Case brand. Like a dark brown color. I just hook them sort of wacky style in the middle of the back with a circle hook or drop shot hook. 

9 hours ago, Smells like fish said:

I think they are 5” I have some somewhere. I seen the owner on an episode of Smallmouth Crush saying he was bringing them out in 3.5”. Idk if that happened?

Actually I forgot they did come out with a small one.  They call it the Ned-Mite.  3.5" long.

Thanks Everyone! I picked up a box of Bass Pro Brand while I was in Nashville this past week but my absent mind (that's being kind) left them in my garage when I went to the Tennessee River Sunday. Still caught twenty five with big fish being a 15" Spot. Caught them on Mepps #3 White Aglia and Ned rig TRD. Actually big fish was a huge drum. Man they can pull like the devil.

45 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Thanks Everyone! I picked up a box of Bass Pro Brand while I was in Nashville this past week but my absent mind (that's being kind) left them in my garage when I went to the Tennessee River Sunday. Still caught twenty five with big fish being a 15" Spot. Caught them on Mepps #3 White Aglia and Ned rig TRD. Actually big fish was a huge drum. Man they can pull like the devil.

Nice! Which lake on the river? 

I like Tackle Hd black ones. I used a real one once and bit the snot out of me . So it is straight soft plastics now .

24 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

I like Tackle Hd black ones. I used a real one once and bit the snot out of me . So it is straight soft plastics now .

Aw here now. It scares you more than it hurts, they do look like little aliens. The live ones will stay on a hook for half a day and 20 fish, it’s crazy 

 

pro tip: when your buddy is bent over picking up helgrammites, drop one (or a crawdad) down the back of his pants and start the video camera 

28 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

I like Tackle Hd black ones. I used a real one once and bit the snot out of me . So it is straight soft plastics now .

Live hellgramites are the best, but as you mentioned they will bite. My brother bought some in Sharpsburg and after I watched him get bit I decided not to try my luck. I laughed I like hell.

 

Lunker City Hellgies are inexpensive and work. Available in 1.5”, 3” & 5” wide verity of colors. Natural would be brown tones.

Tom

 

To TNRiver46.

I fish below Nickajack dam to the Alabama State Line (although it's not marked). It is the headwaters of Guntersville. Love that river fishin'. My PB Smally, Spot, and Largemouth came from here, not to mention the occational big Bluecat, Channel, and Drum that will eat an artificial. Gonna try it again tomorrow. The water temp has fallen to 77deg.

31 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

To TNRiver46.

I fish below Nickajack dam to the Alabama State Line (although it's not marked). It is the headwaters of Guntersville. Love that river fishin'. My PB Smally, Spot, and Largemouth came from here, not to mention the occational big Bluecat, Channel, and Drum that will eat an artificial. Gonna try it again tomorrow. The water temp has fallen to 77deg.

Gotcha thanks. My buddy fishes down there a bit, he said it’s good for white bass too

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Aw here now. It scares you more than it hurts, they do look like little aliens. The live ones will stay on a hook for half a day and 20 fish, it’s crazy 

 

pro tip: when your buddy is bent over picking up helgrammites, drop one (or a crawdad) down the back of his pants and start the video camera 

I like the Nikko Hellgrammite it'll stay the hook all day and I've caught over 50 Spots on a single bait.

2 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

I like the Nikko Hellgrammite it'll stay the hook all day and I've caught over 50 Spots on a single bait.

Well heck!!! I may need to find some, I’ve never seen them in the store . Live ones can be hard to find at times 

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well heck!!! I may need to find some, I’ve never seen them in the store . Live ones can be hard to find at times 

The Case and Tackle HD catch them also but  the durability of the Nikko is nice.

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Gotcha thanks. My buddy fishes down there a bit, he said it’s good for white bass too

Are white bass good eating?

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

Are white bass good eating?

Yes sir. I survive off them. Some folks disagree tho 

Nikko ZaZas are almost always on one of my road when I go smallmouth fishing these days.  The Case was a mainstay before that.  Hard to beat black, that's the closest color I believe before they turn into a Dobsonfly.  

 

They must have sissy helgrammites in Tennesee.  The ones that I made the mistake of catching drew blood, nothing like a crawdad the same size.  

6 hours ago, GreenPig said:

The Case and Tackle HD catch them also but  the durability of the Nikko is nice.

Honestly I’ve never seen any brand of them in any store. And I spend a whole lot of time in bait shops