Can anyone tell me why after using the Hell Pet rig for a while, usually after catching fish, the Hellbender starts to surface instead of diving. I am sure I need to adjust either the bill or the wire that the line is attached to but nothing has worked so far. Need to quit throwing these away and learn how to adjust them. Thanks

Are you trolling with them, or just casting?

A lot of people attach a 1/2 - 3/4oz bell sinker to the tie wire underneath the bill. It makes sure the hellbender starts out in the right positon. I've been using a cheap DD22 instead of a hellbender, saves a couple bucks a rig and works pretty much the same.

Let out more line and/or adjust your speed. Sometimes if you give them a good tug that will help get the dive started.

Sometimes when you have on a micro sandie (really small one) your hellpet will skip the surface as well. So check it every so often.

On a personal note: Throw that thing away and get use to finding the fish with your electronics then catch them with lures or bait.

My gosh trolling cost way to much money! There are times when trolling is the best way, but not often. Yes learn how to find them and then how to drift or anchor on top of them. Catch them with live bait or artificial lures. Loads more fun than driving in ovals around the lake.

AMEN.
Johnny

What he said. I used to troll for them now I just find them and catch them all on my slabs.

Trolling is the root of all evil in the world today including 9/11 and the collapse of the global economy. Rumor has it the Barack Obama was spotted on Lewisville this week dragging around a HellPet with known domestic terrorist William Ayers.....

Why would Barack Obama be dragging his wife around in Lake Lewisville? Oh wait, you mean the fishing lure when you were referring to the HellPet. My bad, now on with the show.

Thanks to all. I appreciate the info and opinions. Good thing about it is that we all have one,opinion that is.

In my humble opinion, use whatever you can to catch fish legaly. The hell-pet is not used much in my boat, but it has saved the day many times when other methods were not producing.

I agree with Don - use whatever you can to catch fish. I also agree with Lakeguide - the DD22 works as well.

I prefer to use the slab or swim bait or sassy shad - for me that is much more fun, but when the fish are scattered and those methods are not working then trolling is a very productive method especially for hybrids. This past summer I found out the hard way. I could find the general area where the hybrids were hanging out but my traditional methods would not work. I am very stubborn and was determined not to troll yet finally gave in and bam! Trolling was the answer. Every pass would produce a nice hybrid and often times we had doubles. So - IMHO - sometimes trolling is the only way or at least the best way to catch them consistently.

I use the DD22, without the trailer, the hybrids love it. The sandbass will still attack it but it is big enough that usually they stay away and let the hybrids have it, at least that is MHO. Sometimes I remove the front treble hook and I think it dives deeper plus it makes it much easier and safer when you have a big hybrid flopping around the boat.

If you have one that keeps surfacing then John's picture of the weight in front should fix that. Billy Seaman uses those hellpets (he is an expert with them) and may be able to offer some advice on how to adjust them to fix the problem.

Good Fishing!

BTW - don't tell anyone that I have been known to troll - let's keep it quiet please.

Your secret is safe with me.