many have written it takes time for fish to be on them. Last time I fished the cicada patterns I used 3x short leaders. Minimal false casting. A swivel might work. I might try it
Fishing cicadas really is more like casting bass bugs. And, lol, I haven't found anyone tying cicada flies are large as they actually are, which is like 1.5 inches. The ones I have now are about 1", should be big enough. The last time I fished the hatch, my cicada flies were too small! I ended up using yellow-bellied Stimulators with rubber legs, which was close enough. Orange stimulator would be better, for the fire belly of the bug. Casts easier on a light line than cicada flies. Probably works just as well as bug flies. As long as it's on a #2 hook.
I was on Penn's 17 years ago, and that emergence was not a hype. The fish fed on them for nearly a week. It does take a few days for cicadas to be plentiful enough on the water that the fish get onto them. The trout will eventually get so full that it's like their bellies have rocks in them, and they'll be spitting up freshly eaten cicadas when you're unhooking them. Really, the fish are programmed to feed on whatever they're keyed to, practically beyond reason. But eventually, enough is enough. At Penn's 17 years ago, those fish were stuffed. Once they're full, the fishing slows down. For a couple of days after the cicada hatch is over, at that.
I'm up around Penn's now, as it happens. But Monday is my last day of fishing, and it may still be too early for the trouts to be noticing cicadas. A few were crawling all over the bankside this morning. And yeah, a lot of singing. I didn't see any big bugs on the water, though.The predicted rain showers (hopefully just showers) should help to shake the cicadas out of the trees on to the water, although if it's windy, it would be even better.
In the meantime, plenty of other flies to fish. I got two fish on a dark-colored soft hackle before I had to leave. The fish commission pool had some serious risers, nice fish, doing that dramatic slashing, rolling, half out of the water, chasing after something--crane flies? Please don't let it be crane flies...
I'll be out fishing tomorrow, using a 6 weight, and 7 1/2' 1X as a leader option for the cicadas, with 3X to add if necessary. Roughen up the leader so the last foot or so it sinks. We'll find out what happens.
