The Cicada is well known by almost everybody. The noisy insects hatch in the spring and you hear their distinct noise for a few weeks then it dies away. That is the Yearly Cicada. One of several varieties of Cicada.

However this year is the year of the 17 year Cicada. This particular variety of Cicada is much more numerous and prolific. Literally Billions of these insects will leave the dirt and the tree roots where they have spent the last 17 years to emerge and mate.

This will create quite unusual fishing patterns for every kind of fish imagineable. Carp, Striped Bass, White Bass, Hybrids, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Catfish, all will feed on these insects which will fall into lakes and streams by the thousands.

In 1987 the last time there was a 17 Year Cicada Hatch, I watched as Carp came to the surface and literally pushed their heads just out of the water so they could put their mouths over the insects. Until you have seen this weird feeding ritual, you dont realize the change these insects make in feeding patterns of fish every 17 years. Now is the time to get ready to try for Fly Fishing and light line class records. Carp, and all kinds of fish that normally would not fall to a fly will be feeding on the surface. Fish that normally stay secluded in cover and hard to catch on light line will move into the open to eat these tiny morsels by the hundreds.

The states affected most will be Kentucky, and Tennessee, but parts of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, West Virginia, Alabama, and Georgia will also see these insects emerge. Also on the east coast Pennsylvania, Parts of New Jersey, Deleware and Maryland will also be affected.

With good conditions for spawning, the 17 year hatch can be a boon to the young of the year and to 1 year old fish. The insects are a bit large for a single bluegill or redear, but several fish can tear one apart quite nicely.

If you blank on your fishing trip, you can always try cooking the cicada's. There are quite a few recipes on the internet, and best advice is to catch the cicada's early in evening as they are emerging and still have a supple shell.

Get ready, get yourself some nice Cicada imitators and you might just catch a World Line Class record fish on light line or on Fly-line.

Jim Dicken
FGHP.com