Cicadas are here! As you may have heard, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are singing with the 17-year-reunion-tour of Brood X cicadas [1]. The Brood X cicadas are “periodical cicadas,” emerging to mate on extended intervals (such as 17 years), and are unique to the United States [2]. Their emergence en masse serves to protect their population by outnumbering their predators and, although not scientifically supported, to annoy you [3]. However frustrating on your walk down the driveway, cicadas are an angler’s dream. Cicadas eventually fall into bodies of water, where trout, bass, carp, and other fish will rise to eat them. With the right flies, presentation, and locations, you can catch fish during the cicada emergence while they are here.

On May 12, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and Mark Frondorf, Shenandoah Riverkeeper, hosted a panel on the Brood X cicadas, which included District Angling’s shop educator David “Grizzly” Lambert. The panelists covered tactics, cicada patterns, and details about cicadas themselves (check out that video here [4]).

Here are some of the takeaways from the discussion:

What fly and rod set-up should I use when fly fishing during the cicada emergence?

Cicada patterns, tied or purchased, mimic the falling cicadas. When casting a size 4 cicada pattern, a 0x leader (9ft in length) will transfer energy to the fly and be strong enough to land your fish.

In terms of rod selection, this is usually dictated by size of the fly you are using and the fish you expect to come across. Falling cicadas may attract large carp, sometimes very large carp. The panelists’ perspectives on rod size differed; one panelist recommended a 7 or 8 weight rod while another panelist would go bigger (9 weight rod), anticipating the possibility of even larger carp (40 lb) during the cicada emergence.

How should I cast and present the cicada fly? How should I set the hook?

Fly fishing from a boat with a cicada pattern is akin to other “bug fishing,” a term and tactic taught by the late and revered Chuck Kraft, but with a key difference: anglers should sight-fish during the cicada emergence. Sight fishing, as the name suggests, requires anglers to see the fish before casting; each cast is directed at a specific fish (or group of fish). During the cicada emergence, scan the surface of the water for fins, mouths, or other signs of carp as they swim or eat. Once you see fish, prepare to cast your fly.

An effective cast with a cicada fly entails landing the fly just off the shore, under any trees hanging over the water, and leaving it there; the dramatic drop on the water’s surface replicates a cicada falling from the tree. In terms of distance from the fish, land the fly just a few feet (1-3ft) ahead of the fish. Finally, don’t idle at one location; if you are not seeing fish or action on your fly, move to the next spot.

If a carp takes interest in your fly, resist the urge to setting the hook (a movement to land the hook in a fish’s mouth) too aggressively as you’ll pull the fly out of the carp’s mouth. To set the hook when a carp has eaten the fly, let the fish take the fly and wait until you feel some pull on the line, then smoothly raise the rod tip.

Where should I go to fly fish during the cicada emergence?

One of the most exciting parts of the Brood X emergence is its propensity to bring up fish from various bodies of water. If there is a body of water you have been meaning to give a try or explore, now is the time. Here are a few places to try:

C & O Canal: The canal is a great location for carp.

Occoquan Reservoir and Occoquan River.

Burke Lake (VA), Lake Brittle (VA), Lake Mercer (VA), Royal Lake (VA), Piney Lake (MD), Liberty Reservoir (MD) .

Outside of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia: The cicadas will come out a bit later in Western Maryland and Pennsylvania. Therefore, anglers can fish locally, then fish in those areas when the cicada emergence is past peak here.

District Angling’s David ‘Grizzly’ Lambert Pro-Tips for Locations: When exploring where to fly fish, check out this District Angling video which covers how use the state GIS systems to identify bodies of water [5].

If you are new to fly fishing or an experienced angler, the Brood X cicada emergence is rare and worth taking advantage of. Get outside and capitalize on them while they’re here!

Sources:

[1-3]: Jen Rose Smith, Cicadas 2021: Billions of Brood X bugs set to emerge in eastern US, CNN (on MSN), https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cicadas-2021-billions-of-brood-x-bugs-set-to-emerge-in-eastern-us/ar-AAKiquc, 23 May 2021

[4]: Potomac Riverkeeper Network; Water Wednesday: Brood X Cicada Mania; https://youtu.be/LFiNJuVAYyU; Posted: 13 May 2021

[5] District Angling, An Introduction To Blue Lining - Part 1, YouTube, Posted 10 April 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LATXvbbP0ew

District Angling Blog

Brood X Cicadas 2021: Tips for Fly Fishing during the Cicada ‘Season’