Hellbender proposed Endangered

[gibsygoldtop]

How do you spot these things? Do you just see them laying in the shallows out in the open? I thought they mostly hid under rocks.

I mostly see them when I floating in the boat and the water is calm and you can the bottom. They disappear quick!!

 

[CRB]

Seen them on oil

 

[Solitariolupo]

Caught a couple been awhile ago. Can’t stand touching them slimy and they bite.

 

[afishinado]

Back-in-the-day I used to pick hellgrammites and stone cats under the rocks in the Susky, and every once in a while I would stick my hand under the rock and yow!!! We called them "water dogs".

 

[wildtrout2]

Back-in-the-day I used to pick hellgrammites and stone cats under the rocks in the Susky, and every once in a while I would stick my hand under the rock and yow!!! We called them "water dogs".

Hellgrammites will remind you to handle with care! 🙂 I wasn't aware that Hellbenders will bite.

 

[Duriensbane]

while im not 100% sure, i could have sworn that a guy pulled one out of Conococheague creek when i was young (sometime between '90 and '92) near black gap road in the cabins area. It is a fleeting memory but I think it was one.

 

[Tfhough]

On an unnamed Pocono blue line, I had to reach to put my rod on top and scramble up the side of a small waterfall maybe 6' tall. Half way up the easy but wet climb, I had one come out of a mossy wet crack in the stone, about 2' from my face! Yikes!

 

[Mike]

I was fishing the Allegheny River for flatheads one night in the late 1970’s near Tionesta with the AFM at that time and he caught a hellbender on a creek chub.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

On an unnamed Pocono blue line, I had to reach to put my rod on top and scramble up the side of a small waterfall maybe 6' tall. Half way up the easy but wet climb, I had one come out of a mossy wet crack in the stone, about 2' from my face! Yikes!

Doesnt sound like a hellbender, they typically are in the water and in medium to larger streams rather than small blue liners with significant waterfalls.

 

[wildtrout2]

Doesnt sound like a hellbender, they typically are in the water and in medium to larger streams rather than small blue liners with significant waterfalls.

I guess that explains why I've yet to see one.

 

[Tfhough]

Doesnt sound like a hellbender, they typically are in the water and in medium to larger streams rather than small blue liners with significant waterfalls.

You were not there. I can't explain my experience any clearer. It happened the way I described. I'm sorry you can't visualize it from my description.

 

[tomgamber]

I've caught a few. Kinzua spillway is only place I've caught 2.