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