| The best live bass bait period is an insect that many | | | | few split shots. |
| of you may have never heard of or seen before, | | | | Another great aspect of fishing helgramites is that |
| yet chances are they are native to the rivers and | | | | they are a very tough bait. It is not uncommon to |
| streams you have been fishing for years. These little | | | | catch 10 to 15 bass off of one helgramite! Once you |
| critters catch more bass than any other live bait out | | | | place a hook through them they are almost |
| there, period! | | | | impossible to loose. After youve caught about 5 bass |
| The bait I am talking about are helgramites. | | | | off of one helgramite it will become quite mangled, |
| Helgramites are a prehistoric looking insect that | | | | but this doesnt seem to matter, in fact a bass will hit |
| populates clean swift moving waters. They can be | | | | a dead, mangled helgramite just as well as a live one. |
| found under rocks and logs within the river itself or in | | | | Your best bet is to go out flipping rocks and find |
| the early summer season can also be found under | | | | them yourself, they are relatively easy to locate. Find |
| rocks along a rivers banks. | | | | a sandy or muddy bar along the shoreline of the river |
| Helgramites are a long dark brown to black colored | | | | or stream that you fish and start flipping rocks, if |
| insect that has a set of pincers and several legs, | | | | you dont find any on shore you might have to get a |
| they look very intimidating though they are actually | | | | little wet. If you would rather buy them, a few bait |
| harmless. You will feel it if one grabs a hold of you | | | | shops carry them, though they come with a hefty |
| though they can do no harm. | | | | price. The last time I checked they were going for |
| These critters are absolutely deadly on smallmouth | | | | about $10.00 per dozen. |
| bass, there is no other bait that I can think of that is | | | | Whether you chose to find them or buy them you |
| as productive as helgramites are, they are the | | | | absolutely have to get your hands on some. Fish |
| perfect bait for those tough fishing situations. They | | | | them one time and I am sure you will agree that |
| work so well at catching bass that they have been | | | | helgramites are by far the best live bait for |
| banned for use in many areas. | | | | smallmouth bass fishing period! |
| You can fish helgramites in a variety of ways, a few | | | | Aside from smallmouth bass you will also find that |
| of my favorites are slip rigging them with a floating | | | | they are just as deadly on catfish, walleye, trout and |
| jig head and also fishing them via a float rig with a | | | | many other game fish. |