Couple Bugs

[AtticaFish]

Shooting for a hellgramite pattern....





Have high hopes for the flies catching some crappie this spring. :rolleyes: They are on #6 XL fly hooks. The jigs are geared more towards river smallies, 1/16 head on a long hook. The hellgramites are everywhere in the river and a big reason I wear waders even when its 90 degs. out... they have a heck of a bite!


Almost forgot - wanted to add this pic, not sure if everyone here knows what I'm talking about.....

[RonDon]

Wow those look fantastic bud! The last pic didnt show up for me Im guessing its the one of an actual hellgramite.

[Bob # 1]

Those are nice looking bugs
They will be worth their weight come spring

[AtticaFish]

Thanks guys - Also forgot to mention I have been messing with raffia and seeing what all I can do with it. This is what the body section is made of, there is a strip on top and bottom. Have tried this before with pheasent and turkey feathers, but this is MUCH easier to do with the raffia! I hackled the shank and laid the raffia from hook to head wrapping with thread here and there to make it segmented and leaving the hackle only coming out the sides.

[78mudbug]

nice looking bugs should nab a few smallies also. and yes i know what a hellgramite is we have them here and they are nasty little critters,but the smallmouth loves them.i showed some guys at work one time what they looked like all u got to do is flip over some rocks in a creek or river and u will find them

[azslabber]

Very nice!!I can hear line stripping from Arizona,lol.

[hays47]

Look good to me Russ. If you ever trout fish they also work excellent for them. I have never used the live ones anywhere but streams. I have often wondered how they would do fishing in a lake.

I remember catching a large brown trout on one. Could not get him to hit anything and I could see him in this large deep pool. I circled around the pool and went downstream and caught some " mites " out of desperation. If I remember right he hit on the second drift. Didn't have the heart to keep him although he was worthy of mounting. Truly one of my personal best in my life.

I don't know if they are a recommended big brown trout bait or not. But one worked on that monster. By the way I have caught a ton of stream smallmouth on them. I KNOW thet are a primo smally bait.

[mepperson]

Look good to me Russ. If you ever trout fish they also work excellent for them. I have never used the live ones anywhere but streams. I have often wondered how they would do fishing in a lake.

I remember catching a large brown trout on one. Could not get him to hit anything and I could see him in this large deep pool. I circled around the pool and went downstream and caught some " mites " out of desperation. If I remember right he hit on the second drift. Didn't have the heart to keep him although he was worthy of mounting. Truly one of my personal best in my life.

I don't know if they are a recommended big brown trout bait or not. But one worked on that monster. By the way I have caught a ton of stream smallmouth on them. I KNOW thet are a primo smally bait.

I agree it the best stream bait for panfish and smallies. I'm not sure about fishing them in lakes because I think the real thing needs a good current and rocks in their habitat. But who knows, if it looks like a bug, the fish should snag it up regardless.

[bait_shaker]

Those look really great. WOW!!! Maybe someday I'll be that talented, just got keep on tying.

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

I bet they work. I've caught a lot of fish on them. They look nasty and they sure can pinch. I've seen adult dobsonflies,just picture these with wings and pincers.