Fishing the Great Southern Brood Cicada Hatch – Spring of 2024
There was a buzz heard around the Southeast this past spring of 2024! Cicadas arrived, in huge numbers! Although only in concentrated areas, these harbingers of late spring, brought along longer days and great fishing opportunities. Hatches of hundreds to thousands of cicadas seemingly appeared out of thin air. Like the George Strait song goes, these special critters aren’t here for a long time, but for a good time! The hatch, breeding, and birth cycle only lasts for about four to six weeks. So to witness and fish this hatch, that happens once every 13 to 17 years, there was not a lot of time to waste!
The first weekend of May, I went to Lake Murray, South Carolina to see family. Upon arrival at the lake house, the buzz and roar of cicadas in the trees was almost deafening. The first glimpse I caught of the bugs was near the dock at the water’s edge. As I watched a handful of cicadas fly across the backyard, I was surprised at the awkwardness of their flight pattern. They were easy to spot, even on a cloudy day. Their bodies were black, with orange accents, and the legs and wings had an orangish-brown hue. They flew slowly and clumsily. With a shift in the wind they would tumble out of the sky. I guess one cannot expect excellent flight skills from a larger bug that has only hatched a week or two ago. While watching this strange “air show”, one cicada kamikazed at my head then crash landed on the water’s surface. Immediately it began to buzz and wiggle, sending out ripples on the water’s surface in all directions. It wasn’t long until a nearby Bluegill took advantage of the periled critter. After I saw this, I ran back into the house and rigged up my fly rod!
I had been caught up in the excitement of the “Cicada Madness” in the earlier spring months that had proceeded, so by now I had tied an array of Cicada fly patterns! They ranged from sizes 10 to 4, in patterns of orange & black, orange & brown, and all black. Some patterns had a wing tied on, while others a marabou tail. All the flies were tied with foam and included orange barred legs. Some were popper style flies, while others were designed to sit lower in the water, more as a drowned cicada pattern.
One fly, however, stood out above the rest—the Surface Seducer Cicada Fly from Flymen Fishing Company. This fly is an absolute game-changer. Its body size, realistic wings, popper-style head, and bright orange rubber legs all work together to entice trout, panfish, bass, and even carp during a cicada emergence. The fly pattern’s unique design features Surface Seducer Cicada Wings, Black Double Barrel Popper bodies (XS), and Kona Standard Popper Hooks (Size #6). The materials work in harmony to create a fly that buzzes and wriggles on the surface in a way that no fish can ignore.
The presentation was simple but effective. I rigged my 7-weight rod with a weight-forward floating line and a 9-foot leader, tapering to an 8 to 12-pound test. My favorite approach was to cast the fly close to the bank, give the rod tip a slight wiggle, and then let the fly sit. That pause, with the fly motionless on the surface, created the perfect imitation of a cicada struggling in the water. It wasn’t long until a large, aggressive bass engulfed my fly! And this continued to happen cast after cast. After a few pops, I’d pause—and that’s when the strike would come, often violent and sudden, as a bass or crappie ambushed the fly from below.
What made the experience even more memorable was the sheer abundance of the cicadas. The sound of their collective buzz was omnipresent, rising and falling in waves throughout the afternoon. Fish were keyed in on them, and it was clear that this rare event was providing a once-in-a-lifetime feeding opportunity. On several occasions, I watched a large carp cruising just below the surface, waiting for the next unlucky cicada to plop into the water. They’d take the fly with surprising gentleness. I was able to make a long cast out in front of one of these behemoths. The large carp rolled slightly on its side and sucked in my cicada fly. The next 5 seconds were a blur! The line went tight and I watched with wonder as the carp spun 180 degrees and ran opposite my position on the bank. Then POP, my light bass tippet was no match for this 36” plus fish. Although short, that ensuing fight was nothing short of thrilling. I collected myself and then stepped back to enjoy the spectacle.
If you haven’t yet experienced a cicada hatch, it’s definitely worth earmarking on the calendar. The combination of topwater action, stunning natural phenomena, and the excitement of matching the hatch with a perfected fly pattern made this past spring one for the books. The next time the great southern brood emerges—whether in 13 or 17 years—I know where I’ll be, fly rod in hand, ready for that once-in-a-lifetime bite, ready to wrangle one of those massive carp to the bank!
