First lets take a look at what a helgramite is and then I will touch base on catching them and fishing them effectively.

A helgramite is a prehistoric looking insect in an adolescent stage, in fact helgramites are immature Dobsonflies. They can be found in swift, free flowing water systems across the United States, normally under rocks and other bottom structure. Helgramites can also be found by flipping rocks along river banks, these are usually females and depending on your area picking them may be frowned upon. A helgramite when mature turns into a large dragon fly type insect.

Ok lets take a look at a helgramite;

As you can see hegramites look very intimidating and almost prehistoric, in fact I think one of the reason so many anglers dont use them is because of their appearance. Just keep in mind helgramites are the caviar of all live smallmouth bass baits, so if your looking for an edge get over your fear.

There are several ways to harvest helgramites, the easiest is simply flipping rocks along a river shoreline at low water. Sandy areas that contain large flat rocks are the best areas to find them, though they can also be found in just about any other area that contains cover.

Another productive way of harvesting helgramites is to wade for them. This method requires a buddy and a screen or net. In this process a buddy or yourself stands down river in swift moving water, that has a rocky bottom, holding a screen. The other person stands up river from the screen holder flipping rocks and kicking up gravel. Any helgramites kicked up will flow down river and be caught in the screen.

You can also buy helgramites by the dozen in many bait shops, though they are extremely expensive! The last time I checked one local bait shop was charging $12.00 per dozen, while another was charging about $10.00.

There are a few lure manufacturers that produce imitation helgramite, though they are NO WHERE as good as the real thing.

Other than being one of the most productive smallmouth bass baits they are also the longest lasting. It is not uncommon to catch 10 to 15 bass on one helgramite.

As for the best way to fish them, well you will have to play around a bit, try a few different presentations. May favorite is simply hooking a helgramite behind the collar, using very little weight and then driffting them through riffles and into holes and eddies. Another great presentation is using a slip rig tipped with a floating jig head, then slow rolling them through eddies, riffles, holes and pockets.

If you have not fished with helgramites yet, hopefully this article has persuaded you to try, if so your going to very surprised and even impressed with just how effective helgramites can be at catching smallmouth bass in river systems.

The Fizzling Tube Tweak

This sweet little tube tweak is one that very few bass anglers know about, yet it seems so obvious , who would have ever though? This tweak works great on inactive bass. Simply insert a piece of an Alka-Seltzer inside your tube, the fizzling action will provoke inactive bass into biting.

The Spinner Tube Tweak

The spinner tube tweak is a modification in which the skirt of a spinner bait is removed and is replaced with a tube bait, simple enough right? Most of these tweaks are, but you would be really surprised at what a difference they can make on tough bass. Try playing with different combinations of this tweak and also remember to use a dab of super glue to secure the tube. This tweak provides a great combination of flash and finesse.

Spoon And Tube Tweak

One of the main purposes of tweaking any bait is to present something to bass that they are not use to seeing. The spoon and tube tweak does just that. Bass can quickly become accustom to the flash of a spoon, so we give them something different and they love it. Take a slimline spoon of your choice and insert it in the body of a tube. Try using translucent tubes to allow some flash to shine through.

Floating Tube Tweaks

Soft plastics sink so inserting something as simple as a foam insert into your tubes will give them the buoyancy your looking for. You can also try using cork inserts, both of which hold scent superbly, which is a plus. Another option is to simply use a floating jig head.

Depending on the river system you are fishing one factor has to be taken into consideration during these low water situations, the spook factor. So I begin to become very stealthy, making very long casts and trying not to run right up on any holes or pools that may be holding bass.

One place you will rarely find smallmouth bass during low water periods are in dead water, or almost dead water. If there is little or no moving water, move on find and fish the low ends of riffles that turn into pools or even the riffles themselves. Many times bait fish will move into faster water because there is more oxygen, in turn smallmouth bass will be close behind .

Grass beds are a hot spot for smallmouth bass during low water conditions and you will find them in and around riffles, the edges of riffles and pooling water coming out of riffles. Work these grass beds from different angles, cast beyond them and bring your baits by, along and over them from different directions. But keep in mind the spook factor, make fairly long calculated casts!

Islands in river systems are also a hot spot for smallmouth bass in low water conditions. I will usually start fishing the lower end of an island and then work my way up the sides of the island. Smallmouth bass will hold close to the shorelines waiting to ambush any food source that the current may wash past them. So make sure you place your casts right up against the shoreline and then bring it out from the edge and into current. The upper ends of these islands can also produce hot smallmouth bass action. This is assuming theres a good push of water around the island.

Deep holes and eddies at the ends of riffles will offer up the best chance for catching the big ones. Remember though stay away from the dead water! It is more times than not just that, dead water! Smallmouth bass need plenty of oxygen to survive which can be found in swiftly moving water or swiftly moving water pushing into eddies and holes. Also don’t count out the riffles themselves I have nailed many smallmouth bass that were running extremely fast water, many times you’ll find them tucked up behind rocks and logs within the riffles themselves.

Different baits are going to produce differently from river to river, though here are a few of my favorite low water smallmouth bass baits. Rebel Pop-R’s, Zoom grubs and Gizit tubes in natural colors. Helgramites are a live bait that work very well for me in these conditions, they can be found along most river systems. You can also buy them though they are very expensive. They normally run $8.00 to $12.00 per dozen in these parts.

The next time someone tells you water level are to low to do any smallmouth bass fishing, grab your pole and head to the river, chances are your going to have a great day fishing!

Due to weather variables and anglers’ preferences, I did not concentrate on lure selection for this article. For the record, I prefer plastics and in-line spinners during extreme low water river conditions. The above mentioned tactics are just a guide that may help you locate and land smallies during low water conditions, they are in no way a panacea for low river smallie success.

A flippin rig is quite simple, the layout is a normally a Texas rig tipped with some sort of soft plastic bait, a worm or craw. flippin can also be performed using other rigs, like a Florida rig, pig and jig and so on…. The bait and rig you use will depend on where you are fishing and what conditions you are fishing in. The weight you use will also vary, but generally for heavy matted cover your going to want to use a 1/2 once to 1 1/2 onces of weight. For standing reeds and grasses a 1/4 to 3/8 once of weight should work just fine. The line you use should be a 15 to 30 Lb. mono or braided line.

The flippin presentation generally starts with an easy over hand cast, ending the cast at about a 45 degree angle. You will want to strip about 4 foot of line from your reel while thumbing the reels spool. While keeping pressure on the line with your thumb drop your rod tip downward, in the same motion lift your rods tip back up to a 45 degree angle releasing your line.

When a bite is detected drop your rods tip, reel up the slack and set the hook. Be aware that 90% of the time bass will hit your rig on the fall. so pay keen attention to line movement, you wont always feel the hit!

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