Three known techniques, variations of visual search and capture by hand or nets, and 2 potential techniques using electroshocking were evaluated for their effectiveness and efficiency in capturing hellbenders (C. alleganiensis) in the Allegheny River drainage, northwestern Pennsylvania [USA]. Under conditions of controlled sampling effort, the 2 electroshocking techniques accounted for 78.2% of the 87 individuals captured. Hellbenders appeared to exhibit no ill effects or differential displacement from electroshocking. Unlike the other techniques, the success of electroshocking was independent of the study site and time of day.