Anyone ever catch a hellbender while fishing? I haven't ever seen one, but the state is always asking about them in the fishing manuals. I think it'd be pretty neat to see one.

Yep. We have them in our local rivers and streams. ODNR lists them as endangered, but I used to see them pretty often when I waded a lot.

I have. I got my hook stuck on fishing line, pulled in the line I caught and there was a dead hellbender on the end. 

Yeah I have but it’s been a long time ago.  Haven’t seen one in a good while. 

Thanks yall for sharing. I suppose you just unhook them and throw them back if you catch them?

Had look this up, thought Hellbender was a whopper Stopper lure.

It looks like a big salamander like a tiger salamander without the gills to me.

Tom

 

Yes, it is a big salamander. They get 2' long. I have heard of folks catching them, but I've never had the pleasure of seeing one.