Cicada Alert

[tie2fish]

I noticed on the internet today that parts of the southern US, including areas in Tennessee, N. Carolina, and Georgia, are currently beginning a major emergence of 13-year cicadas. Those of you who live and/or fish in these areas should take note -- the absolute best trout fishing I have ever experienced has been during such hatches. All of the bigger and normally wary fish will be out in mid-day gobbling up these fat morsels as they fall into the water, so don't miss an opportunity that comes around only once in more than a decade. (Anyone who is interested in seeing a photo of a cicada pattern I developed and have used with great success, send me a PM.)

[letumgo]

Thanks for the heads-up, Bill. I don't think Mark or Ron would mind if you added your fly pattern to this thread. I would be interested in seeing your pattern. I love terrestrial patterns.

[willowhead]

YUP! we got 'em here too.......they're already showin' up..........love to see your pattern.

[William Anderson]

Bill, I had a day like that on big hunting creek in MD when the 17 year cicada emergence blanketed norther virginia 5-6 years ago. Huge, unnecessary takes by big fish and some that could barely fit the things in their mouths. Then they started to die, and the entire region stunk like a garbage dump in mid summer. Absolutely aweful. But the fishing was fun. Please send me the pattern or just strap a little partridge hackle on the front of one and post it. (smiley).

w

[tie2fish]

OK, folks -- I'll put them here rather than in the "Dressings" section. Understand that this is not a presentation tie, but simply a fishing fly (and not a particuolarly well dressed one at that).

Cicada Pattern
Hook: 2x or 3x long nymph hook, #6 or #8
Thread: 6/0 Orange
Body; Alternating sections of black and orange spun (or stacked) deer hair, with legs and wings tied in between sections; compress body stoutly after adding each component
Legs: Orange microchenille marked with black craft pen; leave a little long and trim to length after body hair is shaped
Wings: White poly or Antron; also trim to length after body is finished
NOTE: Leaving legs and wings long will provide something to hold onto to keep them out of the way while trimming hair

Trim body to reverse bullet shape with flat bottom (if you stack instead of spinning hair, bottom may not need trimming).
Douse liberally with floatant, cast into current flow, and hold on! I've had big fish swim upstream to get to this fly on both the Gunpowder and Pennsylvania's Spring Creek.

[kanutripr]

OK that's cool. I know some fish that would love that! Nice one Bill!!!


Vicki

[michaelgmcgraw]

Big Trout snack !

[letumgo]

Outstanding fly! I always admire tyers with the skill to spin deer hair. A technique I just can't get the hang of...

[willowhead]

Totally cool fly Bill...........i got pretty good at working with deer hair way back when.............but i HATE the mess.....so all i ever do with it anymore is Muddler heads and Caddis wings.
i saw a huge Cicada commin' home from our NAFF Tying Meeting tonight.......in my driveway as my headlights hit it. Damn thing was bigger than my thumb.

[kanutripr]

So Bill...

I showed your fly to my husband, he really loves topwater fishing for bass, and he liked it very much. So now I'm stuck with making him some. I hate deer hair! Thank you very much!

Oh I did take a couple of liberties.












Hook compliments of Mark.






Vicki