I've been reading so much about this rig, I picked a copuple up over he weekend and played with them Monday evening at Ray Roberts. With all the rain Sunday night, my expectations weren't all that great. It was more of an experiment day of fishing.

When leaving ISD dock, I have always seen some pretty nice fish suspended in about 20-25 feet of water. Never could get deep enough and they ignored my slabbing. On Monday, I rigged up the hellbender with a rattletrap on the leader and trolled through the fish. About an 18" Sandie nailed it. I got it next to the boat, had the helbender out of the water and just ready to ease the fish out f the water when the line breaks. My smart butt 22 year old daughter fishing with me says, "Dad, I told you Squishy (insane house cat) was playing with your reel last night." While I'm scrambling to catch the hellbender before it disappears into the depths of the lake. My efforts were in vain however. My daughter says, "That looked like a pretty nice fish." I replied, "Screw the fish, I just lost almost $10.00 in lures."

My daughter starts reeling her rig in and out pops my chrome hellbender fouled on her line. I grap that sucker, haul it in and the Sandie is still on the other end. The girl is the luckiest woman I know. The smart butt then proceeds to tell me that is her fish, not mine.

Thats just funny!!! It is her fish. I think the lures may be hers too under salvage laws. If your sweet to her maybe she will let you borrow them!!! great story!

great story, I believe possesion is 9/10ths of the law, at least that is what my daughter likes to say

That is funny.

You can't make this stuff up! Good job on her part!

Would you believe that I have done the exact same thing only that I snagged my old line about 30 minutes later and it had a fish on it!

A little tip...use braided line on the reel...down to the hellbender. Then use mono as the leader to your trailing bait. You won't lose any more hellbenders.

Also, the DD22 baits will dive really well too...and don't pull on the rods as much

Fairview, I think you're SOL. My daughter is one of those 9/10ths people. She still has a step ladder of mine she 'borrowed' about 8 yrs ago. At least you got to keep a good story to tell.

smart butt is right her fish & her lures, course you could hve talked a trade for a boat ride back to the dock, unless she likes swimming.

That is too funny.

Her's...nothing you can do about it. 20 years from now, it'll still be her fish....AND lure.

cat owner's beware they chew on the line like thier flossing or something' have had the same thing happen in the past. Told wife no more unescorted kitty's in the garage

At least it is still in the family. My luck would have lost the whole thing period.

Thats pretty neat to catch it again with the fish,
I let my boss borrow one so he could gather the parts to make up some, Looks like i will never see it again.

what is the hellbender rig? and you attach it to a rattle trap?
im confused