Cicada Feeding Frenzy

[Bill Butts]

Not sure where best to post this, but hopefully many will find this.

Several years ago, 5 or 6 I think, some parts of the Ozarks Region experienced moderate to heavy hatches of a 13 year specie of Cicada.

If you experienced any abnormally great fishing on area lakes or rivers during that time this will be etched in your fishing memory.

There were many testimonies from fishermen I knew and others I met about crazy feeding frenzies by LM Bass on lakes and ponds, SM Bass on streams, and some trout fishing that were almost unbelieveable. Many large fish feeding with nearly reckless abandon.

The reason I ask today is that I just saw a news video clip from the Chicago area explaining that this is the year some parts of the Midwest will see, hear and experience the 17 year Cicada.

A quick Google search for Missouri Cicadas indicated it was 2002 that we last had the 13 year variety in this area (S. MO) and that there are no expected hatches of 13 or 17 year species in MO this year.

So, are there other Cicada species that could be appearing this summer?

Perhaps it would be fun if others would share their past Cicada hatch fishing experiences with the Forum? When this does happen again, don't get caught without some Cicada flies in your box, and don't use a 6X tippet either. Ha.

Michael at BCO, you might ask Doc Jensen if he could shed any light on the hatch forecast for 2007 in MO.

Thanks to all who respond.

Bill

[Kayser]

When we had the "once in 443 year" hatch of all 3 species, I caught some of the black bodied red-eyes. Caught several nice bass, and several 10 inch bluegill. Alas, I knew not fly fishing at this time, but oh, what a wonderful summer.

Rob

[Terry Beeson]

They are high in protein and low in fat. I've heard if you get them right out of the pupae casing, you can boil them for a minute and they taste like a clam chowder... I've also heard they are good covered with chocolate...

To find out more, buy my book "The Cicada Diet Book"... Available for only $49.95 plus shipping and handling...

[RSBreth]

I love a good Cicada hatch...

http://www.drakemag.com/content/view/2/2/

[Rusty]

This is the second post I have read about this hatch. I have not had a chance to fish this hatch, so my curiosity is peaked. I would like to here more specifics, please.

[Al Agnew]

The greatest hatch I can remember was back sometime in the 1970s in my part of the Ozarks. It was unbelievable. There were rafts of the things floating down the river. For a while, the fish went crazy. At the time I didn't flyfish much, either, but I found out that a black Tiny Torpedo was a workable imitation, and caught a lot of fish in the first couple weeks of the hatch. But it just kept on, for several weeks, and soon the fish were so glutted with them that they wouldn't take ANYTHING. The sound of the things was almost deafening, bankside bushes were full of them.

[jdmidwest]

I posted a pattern Monday under Fly Recipes for my foam cicada with a krystal flash wing that work well. Apparently the report just said it would involve 15 states in the midwest. If they were going to be thick, we would already be seeing them.

[taxidermist]

I have tried fishing with them, never worked for me.

Clam chowder? Is that New England or New York style?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I lived near Bennett when there was a big hatch, '85 I believe, and it hurt more than helped fishing there. I didn't get on the river during that time so I don't know what effect it had there.

I know you had to keep your eyes covered and your mouth shut it was so bad for a couple of days.

[MOFishwater]

I was working at a golf course many years back when there was a big hatch. I can say from experience that something in the sound of a small motor (for example, a backpack leaf blower) must be the sound of love to a lonesome Cicada. They beeline directly at you and will not leave you alone! A cicada at top speed smacking into the side of your head or face hurts a lot more than you might imagine... I hated that summer for a few months.

I've already stocked up the tackle box in preparation for this summer wth some cicada jitterbug type lures from Bass Pro. I think they'll be worth it when the time comes.