Cicada Madness

Dave Zielinski

Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Boat Builder

Dave Zielinski has been tracking down annual and periodical cicada emergences in an effort to figure out their mystery and the fish that hunt and devour them for the past 20 years. If you'd like to zero in on one of these epic emergences, tune in and learn from Dave about the timing, fishing techniques, and patterns that you'll need to crack the code.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

• What makes cicada emergences so significant for fly fishers?
• What does a cicada look like?
• How many different species are there?
• What is the life cycle of cicadas?
• What is the difference between periodical and annual cicadas?
• How often do the periodical emergences occur?
• How long does an emergence last?
• When is the best time of day to fish during a cicada emergence?
• What signs are there that an cicada emergence is happening?
• What are the differences between the 13 and 17 year cicadas?
• What color combinations are best for cicada fly imitations?
• Do you have a favorite fly size and pattern?
• What presentation methods work best when fishing with cicadas?
• Is there an online source that tracks cicada emergences?