Cicada

Overview

Cicadas (order Hemiptera) are large, noisy insects that become a favorite meal for fish during their emergence periods. With bulbous eyes and robust wings, they're most effective imitated during late spring to mid-summer, when cicadas emerge en masse, buzzing across the landscape and often tumbling onto the water's surface. The disturbance they create triggers aggressive strikes from trout, bass, and other opportunistic species.

Nymph/Drowned

Cicada nymphs live underground for years, feeding on root fluids, and are never encountered by fish. Only the emerged adult reaches the water, whether flying, falling, or drowned after landing on the surface.

Dry/Adult

Adult patterns feature bold colors — black, brown, olive, and orange — to mimic the natural's striking exoskeleton, tied on hooks sized 6 to 10 to match the insect's bulk.

Curated by the IdentaFly fly fishing team.