Nearly all the hellgrammite patterns I see are dark-colored, usually black. The only hellgrammites I’ve seen around here were in the Middle Raccoon River, a decent smallmouth bass stream.
The critters I’ve seen were about 2.5"-3" long mean-tempered beasts, that had a brown head and thorax, and a sort of cream- or light gray-colored body.
When I was a teenager, I caught one, put it on a 1/16 oz jighead and tossed it into a fast, deeper chute of water. I was rewarded with an 18" smallmouth bass and the sort of strong battle that dreams are made of.
Anyway, it always seemed like a nice juicy meal for larger fish, and so I’ve attempted to tie a few patterns that might resemble one of these.
I think the hen saddle I used for legs is too long, so might try some shorter ones, but I also thought maybe the longer “legs” would give some good action in the water.
I haven’t fished that river in a couple of years, but hope to get over there this year.
Edit:
Here’s a link to some pictures (not by me) that are close to what I’ve seen. My recollection was the heads were a bit darker brown than in these pictures, and the body a little lighter colored. http://www.critterzone.com/animal-pictures-nature/insect-hellgrammite-dobsonfly-larva-Corydalus-cornutus.htm
Now that I look at the pictures, I think I need to make the thorax area longer. But I do think the sort of “natural” colored rabbit strip makes for a good body/abdomen.
I’ve always had pretty good luck with a Kaufman stonefly nymph in the color of your choice. The helgrammites around here are usually dark brown to black and, as you noted, mean as all get out.
I’ve thought that a hellgrammite pattern should copy the multiple legs the entire length of the body…heck, you could say a long woolly worm is a hellgrammite…and who’s to say it isn’t?
interesting points and suggestions.
I’m sure a woolly bugger of the right size/color would probably get hit.
HM. What if I wrapped the hackle on the shank,then overlaid the zonker strip…so the “legs” were only sticking out the sides (trim the bottom ones, so the fly would sit belly-on-the-bottom better)? or space rubber legs up the trunk under the zonker…
Thanks fellas! Gives me some more ideas to play around with. :o)
I think your fly will catch fish, but isn’t a particularly good imitation of a hellgrammite. The eyes are more like a dragonfly nymph (just use a shorter rabbit strip and you’ve got that one covered). I do like the rabbit strip because it will flex and wiggle. I agree with ducksterman that the legs should extend over the whole body as much as possible.
One technique that isn’t used a lot is to palmer the shank with hackle (like a WB or WWorm) and then cut the hackle short - or cut it short before winding. This allows for longer and stouter hackle that when trimmed short looks more like legs.
I agree with your comment about the eyes. I used them for weight (along with some non-lead wire wrapped on the shank), and to keep the hook point riding up so it won’t snag on the bottom so much.
ok…back to the vice with these ideas! :o)
Dave, I like it! I would try palmering the hackle and trimming, and the rubber legs periodically. Definitely the zonker over the top! I’ve learned to go a shade or two lighter tying the fly so that when it gets wet, it will be the color you had in mind. Something to consider…
I also think that some turkey as a wing case/thorax/head would help some. But the other part of me wonders if the fish are that picky (probably not), and I wanted to keep the fly as simple as possible. So…I might try several variations of materials and complexity, and see what turns up catching my eye the best.
These are definetly on the complex side of the equation. I first palmered the hackle on a base of poly yarn or crystal chenille to help give them a wide flat shape. The crystal chenille i trimmed both top and bottom. Then lay raffia (or anything else to create a shell back) on top AND bottom over the hackle (not trimmed to leave it full) placing 3 wraps every 1/8th in. or so to create a segmented look. Wrapping with the thread and keeping the hackle from laying back down as you go is a challenge. The jigs are 1/16oz. on some crazy long hooks… the idea came from the jigs because i didn’t know what else to do with the looooong hooks.
PS - You are right… we are MUCH more picky than the fish.
I agree totally with your color analysis, however my experience on my favorite Western smallie river has been black helgie patterns outfish the more natural colored versions by a significant margin. Our water is generally very clear.
That being said my son does very well on natural colored plastic helgies. So I keep experimenting.
