Can anyone point me in the right direction on the Hell pet. I've got the hooks off, a 3/4 ounce bell sinker and I can't seem to get that thing to dive to where I want it to. I'm sure there is a secret formula or something...If anyone has some info they would like to share, I'd really appreciate it. Also, does it matter what color your hell bender is?

Ive caught fish on just about all colors of hellpets. Are you using the large hellpet and have the weight on the front hook? I leave the back hook on. I have caught fish on the back hook and the spoon.

a few years back i was using the hell pet combos and had issues with them not tracking true or coming up to the surface. i now use jet divers with pet spoons and no issues at all!!!! you can get the jet divers in 10 20 and 30 foot models and in several colors.

Sometimes, those things just won't track. I suggest, tweeking the lip the oposit way and trailing it, while at trolling speed, shallow and watch which way it moves. Then, adjusting the lip or even the eye, until you got it trolling straight. Sometimes you just got to get another Hellbender.

First. Where fo you want it? I have had two different anglers tell me they could get over 25' deep with a hellpet and one of them used only 50' of line out! With a 13# pet spoon you will be doing good to get over 15' deep. I like 14# pets for hybred and striper but use a downrigger because they do not work well behind a hellbender due to there size/drag.

Speaking of spoons, do any of you guys ever use Dare Devils? Big Pike and Lake trout go crazy over them up north. They just have that perfect wobble in the water that smacks that lateral line.

I have to think hybirds would chase them to?
Thakns,
RS.

MUD BUGS

Sandbasstard, we had ours going about 19 to 20 ft the other day, you just have to make sure you put out a lot of line, Normally I count 1/1000 = 1ft, 2/1000 = 2ft etc to get an estimate of how many feet, but this is when you are moving also, not sitting still. we troll about 2.2 to 2.6 mph, as far as the weight and color it sounds like you have it the same. You can always bend the front of the Hellbender to help it dive more. Hope this helps

When I have run out of pet spoons I have used castmasters. I would think you could use whatever lure you use when casting into surfacing fish - Rattletraps, humdingers, little georges, slabs, spoons, or any old shiny thing with a hook

These could work??

http://www.moestackleshop.com/estore/details/4039

Or these?

http://www.moestackleshop.com/estore/category/3070

Now that I have downriggers, I rarely use a HellPet. But when I did, I used to buy the cheap H20 deepdivers at Academy for about $3 and use it instead of a hellbender. Saves nearly $3 on a rig and I have never seen a H20 crankbait that did not run straight and true right out of the package. Getting the depth right will depend on speed and length of line out. That will take some experimentation. Someone on here posted the ratio to depth curve on that before, but I couldn't find it. Maybe they will chime in.

Indeed they should, and half the price (or less).

I may order these in nickel color.
$ 1.20 I plan to add white feathers
with some red thread. You may want
someday get a low cost fly tying kit
to add or replace tails on spoons,
Pop R's etc. I buy the silver prism
slabs (Little River Brand), bend the
ends in to make a curve, and add the
tail. The curve gives the straight
slab more action. Flashabou - mylar.
Hobby Lobby sells a year's supply for
$1 after Christmas sale.

Pet Spoon clone site:
http://lurepartsonline.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=801

Might have to try the crank baits, how long leader did you put on em?

The hellpet is not bad but you can get a Jet Diver at Academy for about 6 dollars. You can control the depth much better and when a dish is one the diver flips over so you don't have to fight the diver, only the dish.