when will the cicadas start to appear

nymphingmaniac · Tuesday at 9:38 AM

All,
for the life of me I cannot remember when (month, weeks) that they first appeared in central PA the last time they came. Anyone remember? I understand the caveats of degree days etc. but when do you think they would appear?

dryflyguy · Tuesday at 10:09 AM

They may start as early as late may, depending on the weather.
But the fish usually dont get on them until 1st or 2nd week of June.
My best recollection, anyway

DaveKile · Tuesday at 12:25 PM

Brood XIV (14) Cicadas will emerge in 2025 in thirteen states

Periodical cicada Brood XIV (14) will emerge in the spring of 2025 in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. The last time this brood emerged was in 2008. What, when, where: What: Millions...

www.cicadamania.com

afishinado · Tuesday at 2:14 PM

DaveKile said:
Brood XIV (14) Cicadas will emerge in 2025 in thirteen states

Periodical cicada Brood XIV (14) will emerge in the spring of 2025 in Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. The last time this brood emerged was in 2008. What, when, where: What: Millions...

www.cicadamania.com

View attachment 1641239173

To answer the OP's question From Dave's link above >

"When: Typically beginning in mid-May and ending in late June. These cicadas will begin to emerge approximately when the soil 8″ beneath the ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit. A nice, warm rain will often trigger an emergence.

Other tips: these cicadas will emerge after the trees have grown leaves, and, by my own observation, around the same time Iris flowers bloom."

Dave_W · Tuesday at 9:38 PM

afishinado said:
To answer the OP's question From Dave's link above >

"When: Typically beginning in mid-May and ending in late June. These cicadas will begin to emerge approximately when the soil 8″ beneath the ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit. A nice, warm rain will often trigger an emergence.

Other tips: these cicadas will emerge after the trees have grown leaves, and, by my own observation, around the same time Iris flowers bloom."

This. ^

Dave_W · Tuesday at 9:40 PM

The 2021 brood down here in Adams County showed up in late May - I saw the first ones on 24 May. In 2004 it was 14 May according to my records.

nymphingmaniac · Wednesday at 8:13 AM

thanks all, I was thinking June based on my recollection. The family is planning a trip and I need to know my blackout period. This could be my "last cicada" and I plan to make the most of it. Good chance I'll be alive for the next one, but wonder what my "fishing shape" will be by then.

td566 · Wednesday at 10:53 AM

I fished Bedford County the first weekend in June when the last brood emerged. Fish really weren’t targeting them yet. Even so, it was quite a show.
I was amazed how well the zone of coverage on the map matched up. Traveling home west on turnpike, cicada sightings stopped about 1/4 way up the mountain in Somerset County.

SwissFamilyRobinson · Wednesday at 11:24 AM

Does anyone

td566 said:
I fished Bedford County the first weekend in June when the last brood emerged. Fish really weren’t targeting them yet. Even so, it was quite a show.
I was amazed how well the zone of coverage on the map matched up. Traveling home west on turnpike, cicada sightings stopped about 1/4 way up the mountain in Somerset County.

I clicked on the link to the website that listed emergence by county but does anyone have a physical map? I have some fringe of county streams I fished in my youth with easy access footing wise I’d love to revisit now during this upcoming emergence. Hopefully the bugs will be there.

DaveKile · Wednesday at 8:50 PM

SwissFamilyRobinson said:
Does anyone

I clicked on the link to the website that listed emergence by county but does anyone have a physical map? I have some fringe of county streams I fished in my youth with easy access footing wise I’d love to revisit now during this upcoming emergence. Hopefully the bugs will be there.

I posted a map above

albatross · Thursday at 10:48 AM

I was late to the party in 2008 for brood XIV. Didn't get out till the 4th of July. I'm sure the emergence was over by then, but the fish were still keyed in. I have also been early to the game for the recent brood X emergence. I did a float on the NB Potomac for them around Memorial Day. Found cicadas on the water but the fish were not on the bugs yet.

My expectation is the best fishing will be on maybe a two week time shift from the best emergence. Both on the early and late side.

hooker-of-men · Thursday at 3:09 PM

Refresh my memory: these things are like two inches long? Does size vary by brood?

I want to tie a couple up. I sometimes tie big foam bugs for bass (e.g. Fat Alberts) on a size 4 long shank; based on cicadas I recall, that size seems like a good starting template to play with. Thoughts?

SwissFamilyRobinson · Thursday at 3:19 PM

hooker-of-men said:
Refresh my memory: these things are like two inches long? Does size vary by brood?

I want to tie a couple up. I sometimes tie big foam bugs for bass (e.g. Fat Alberts) on a size 4 long shank; based on cicadas I recall, that size seems like a good starting template to play with. Thoughts?

My Bichon Frise Jethro loves eating them. This will probably be his last all you can eat Cicada buffet. Memory serves from pacing the yard at one of my in-laws who was near Brood X that those buggers are the same size as a Bichon Frise turd. Wouldn’t go longer than 2xL. They’re fat but not super long.

albatross · 2024-12-27T11:01:06-0500

I think a #4 approximates the natural pretty well. Shawn Holsinger has a vid where he talks about intentionally tying them smaller in #6 and 8 to catch smaller fish in smaller water as smaller browns and brookies may have trouble getting a #4 in their mouth.

afishinado · 2024-12-27T11:59:11-0500

Here is an article about cicadas and a fly pattern posted by Loren Williams (a really knowledgeable FFer, IMO) and a link to some very good info from Greg Hoover from PSU.

Loren Williams

www.lwflies.com

Periodical Cicada

Periodical cicadas are native to the eastern United States and occur nowhere else in the world. These fascinating insects emerge in enormous "broods" that are one of natures great wonders but can also be a cause for concern for some people.

extension.psu.edu

Andrwhite610 · 2024-12-27T12:19:42-0500

Was the big emergence be in 2021? I took my dogs for a hike at French Creek state park and I was blown away with how many were in the woods. The sound was almost overwhelming. I wasn’t tuned into fishing that time of my life. Do the Susky smallmouth get going on these?

hooker-of-men · 2024-12-27T12:29:20-0500

Andrwhite610 said:
Do the Susky smallmouth get going on these?

That's what I'm aiming for. I don't live anywhere near the emergence areas, so I'm aiming for a Susky trip for bass and hopefully carp

albatross · 2024-12-27T14:51:21-0500

hooker-of-men said:
That's what I'm aiming for. I don't live anywhere near the emergence areas, so I'm aiming for a Susky trip for bass and hopefully carp

Best chance to get a carp on a dry fly...

wgmiller · 2024-12-27T20:35:11-0500

I caught them on Clarks (Dauphin County) and the Buckwha (Carbon County) back in 2013. I also caught them in 2021 on Conewago Creek in Lebanon County. It's a lot of fun and you have to be patient with the timing. As mentioned, once they emerge you have to give them a bit for fish to key in on them. But when they do, it's almost too easy! I've tied and fished the Loren Williams pattern exclusively. It's an easy tie and super-effective. Cicada patterns need not be realistic or fancy to work. Just lash them to some 3X and have fun! I'm looking forward to the 2025 emergence and will be making a trip northwest to catch them. Looking back at my pictures, it appears as though mid through late-June has been prime time.