Couple Bugs

Shooting for a hellgramite pattern....

http://www.rogerslake.org/images/101_0809_e.jpg

http://www.rogerslake.org/images/101_0812_e.jpg

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! :eek:


Almost forgot - wanted to add this pic, not sure if everyone here knows what I'm talking about.....
http://www.radford.edu/~pdarcange/hellgramite.jpg

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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

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.