Murray's Hellgrammite
Murray's Hellgrammite is a pattern that was developed to catch Shenadoah River smallmouth. It mimics the swimming action of real hellgrammites. It has become a pattern that should be in every smallmouth fly fisher's fly box. I have (WWFF) caught a number of other species with this pattern. I have caught bluegill, largemouth bass, and crappie

Henry Murray
Henry Murray is the auther of "Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass" and has written artciles for American Angler, Fly Fisherman, Fly Fishing and the Mid-Atantic Fly Fishing Guide. Harry Murray runs a premium fly shop, fly fishing school and guide service in Edinburg, Virginia.

Hook: Tiemco 5262 or similar 3x size 4 to 12
Thread: Black prewaxed 3/0 monocord
Pincers: Medium size, black rubber leg material
Weight: Medium or large lead wire, determined by hook size
Body: Medium or large black chennille, determined by hook size
Rib: Soft, very dark, blue-dun saddle hackle wound palmer style over the length of the body
Tail: Very full, black ostrich herl approximately 1 ½ time the body Length.
(20 Strands for a size 6 hook: 12 strands for a size 12 hook)
Cement: Dave's Flexament

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Step 1: Attached the thread approximately one eye length behind the eye of the hook. Lay a thread base on the shank of the hook to the shank of the hook that is even to the back portion of the barb of the hook.

Step 2: Measure out ostrich herl that is approximately 1 1/2 the legnth of the hook. Use only full unfractured fibers. (20 Strands for a size 6 hook: 12 strands for a size 12 hook)

Step 3: Tied in the ostrich herl fibers at the bend of the hook.

Step 4: Select a very dark feather from, blue-dun saddle. Strip off some of the barbs at the end of the shaft of the feather. Cut stem of the feather off right where the fluff begins. Do not throw away the marabou portion of the feather. This can but used in other patterns (eg. the Special).

Step 5: Tie the bare portion of stem on top of the hook shank with the shinny side of the feather facing upwards. The feather should be tied in so that the point where the ostrich herl was tied in.

Step 6: Tie in a piece of black chenille just in where the ostrich herl was tied in. At this point you may put a little Flex Cement where you have tied in the ostrich herl and chenille.

Step 7: Wrap lead wire over 2/3 of the hook shank starting approximately on the hook shank that even with the tip of the barb of the hook.

Step 8: Place a munber of thread wraps over the lead wire.

Step 9:Apply Flex Cement over the lead wire.

Step 10: Wrap the black chenille foward to right in front of where the lead wire ends.

Step 11: With your hackle pliers attached to the tip of the feather, start wrapping the feather forward (this known as the palmering).

Step 12: Tie off and trim off any excess hackle at the point where you tied off the chenille.

Step 13: Fold a 2 - 3 inch length of black rubber leg material on top of the hook shank behind the eye with the ends facing foward.

Step 14: The pincers ahould be locked into place with the tying thread so that the pincers sit out to the side of the hook shank at a 45-degree angle when viewed from the top of the hook. The pincer when view from the side of the hook should be about level with the hook shank.

Step 15: Place a head on the fly and whip finish. Put some head cement (we use Sally's Hard as Nair) on.

Step 16: Another great pattern to catch some fish with