8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

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

I have only ordered them. Never seen them either. 

 

9 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

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.  

I don’t know the situation at Case anymore. At one time you could call them and shoot the breeze and order up what you wanted. I believe Charlie has long passed, correct me if I’m wrong on that. I’m partial to their products and low on everything. Many river rats fishing Case. 

On 9/6/2021 at 10:50 PM, moguy1973 said:

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

Thanks for the heads up on them. I’m gonna try some of them in the 5”. I’ll buy a bag on next TW order. I’ll rig a 5” on a Grammy 1/0 lite wire worm hook and a #7 split shot. Maybe a larger hellgie will draw a larger bite. Thanks. 

They are black, they turn white (and get soft) before they transform into a dobson fly.  In my area they get about 3 inches long.

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

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

Man you need to come fish the Shenandoah.  Don at Front Royal Canoe has all the Nikko baits, every color of the helgrammites, and some other ones I've never tried.  I haven't seen them too many other places - the sales rep from Nikko comes to our fishing club's meetings on occasion and sells them for a discount.  They last a while - I've never had one that needed replacing before I get broken off snagged.

On 9/7/2021 at 12:25 PM, TnRiver46 said:

 

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 

Remind me to never go fishing with you.. ??

17 minutes ago, GaryH said:

Remind me to never go fishing with you.. ??

I learned that trick when I was a kid and my buddy’s dad did it to me! 

Went to Tennessee River Yesterday. Fished for two solid hours using Black Hellgramite on 1/8 jig head in Current and and Current Eddies. Not a single bass bite. Gots lots of pecks from Bluegills. Went to #3 White Mepps Aglia and caught five small spots then went to Ned rig and caught 15 small spots and smallies with one sauger. What am I doing wrong? I know the smallies are still in deeper water with 78 deg. surface temps but I thought at least I would catch some spots on the Hellgramite.

I just back hook them with a circle hook or drop shot hook and split shot fish them.  Much like how a trout guy would fish a mealworm. Cast to the bank and pop and slide them back to me. Try to stick with it a bit and try to get some type of results. To me they are ok to fish but I do get a lot better results with a grub or tube. They tend to yield dinks and runts for me. On a bad or slow bite that’s ok. I know guys do do well with them and they should. Pretty natural bait to use. I am gonna order up some of the 5” version and split shot rig them with a light wire 1/0 or 2/0 Grammy straight shank. Just to use it as a change up and a different look see for the fish. I believe I can do something with it. Fish it like a finesse worm. 

1 hour ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Went to Tennessee River Yesterday. Fished for two solid hours using Black Hellgramite on 1/8 jig head in Current and and Current Eddies. Not a single bass bite. Gots lots of pecks from Bluegills. Went to #3 White Mepps Aglia and caught five small spots then went to Ned rig and caught 15 small spots and smallies with one sauger. What am I doing wrong? I know the smallies are still in deeper water with 78 deg. surface temps but I thought at least I would catch some spots on the Hellgramite.

The live ones don’t hardly work for me in the big river either. They excel in smaller shallower rivers 

Dark colored neds are the perfect size. Stay sub 3 in if you are looking to match them.

If you cut most of the back legs off a z man TRD bug it looks like a helgrammite 

I grew up on Lake Winnisquam in NH and live hellgies were the deal.  This was pre plastic baits.  Yes I am old.  They caught everything and smallies loved them.  You could go just about anywhere and buy live ones.  Like others have said, mostly black in color.  Now if you ask for them you get a really confused look like you are speaking a foreign language.  Fond memories.

i haven't used live hellgrammites in years, but every time i ever did, i caught EVERYTHING on them.  at least around here, there isn't anything that won't eat them.   as soon as they hit the water, something wants to eat it.  they rarely make it all the way to the bottom of the shallow creeks and ponds i fish

On 9/7/2021 at 1:32 PM, TnRiver46 said:

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

Excellent for White Bass. The water temp was 58 deg. Sunday and it won't be long before the White Bass head upriver to the dam. Then the fun begins!

Tried the Hellgramite again as you guys suggested. Went to the Duck River in Middle Tennessee and used the Bass Pro Shop 3" Hellgramite on an Arkie 1/16 oz mushroom head. Slowed it down and caught six Spots and a Largemouth. Got my PB spot from this river at 14". I've caught bigger spots but not from here. This was the fattest little spot ever. Water temp was 53 deg.