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.

 

[TroutHunter814]

I’ve only ever caught two, and that was over 20 years ago. Honestly haven’t seen, or caught one since. The water quality in that Indiana county stream has degraded somewhat over the years with a lot of siltation which isn’t favorable.
Don’t know if they’re still there.?

 

[nymphingmaniac]

Endangered status proposed for eastern hellbenders

The eastern hellbender, a salamander recently named Pennsylvania’s state amphibian, is now on its way to becoming a federally endangered species. The long-awaited designation could help fund conservation efforts in

www.bayjournal.com

What does this mean for trout stocking with likely coming federal involvement in managing hellbenders in PA wilds? Can the feds mandate PFBC(or others) not stock over this newly to be declared endangered species?

I don't think anyone answered the question. Mostly replies about hellbenders. My guess is it's unclear. Stocking, I can't see how that would run against protecting them. However, it might be the case that access to areas of reproduction will be restricted to fishing and things like stream improvement projects complicated or blocked.