You have probably heard about them on the news. You might have seen, heard, or been very annoyed by them in the past. What you may not know is that cicadas offer a truly unique fishing opportunity that every fly angler should experience. Fly fishing the 2024 cicada hatch could be quite the treat!

This year, two broods of cicadas will hatch at the same time for the first time in the Midwest United States since 1803 and won’t again until 2245. This means that trillions of cicadas will be flyin’ around and fish will be waiting for these big, dense meals to fall into the water. It’s time to take advantage of this unique opportunity as anglers!

There’s a lot of hype that surrounds periodical cicada hatches and when they happen, anglers should be prepared.

In this guide, we’ll talk about what cicadas are, how to use cicadas to catch fish, and the gear to use to catch any fish in the water while this once in a lifetime opportunity is here!

What are Cicadas?

Cicadas are a family of more than 3000 species of flying insects with stubby bodies, clear wings, and trademark wide, buggy eyes. They’re known for the loud buzzing noises they create by rubbing their wings together (trying to attract mates) and when millions of cicadas do this together, the sound can be powerfully distracting. If you’ve heard it before, you know what I’m talkin about.

Cicada species are separated into annual and periodical groups. Annual cicadas emerge every year in much smaller numbers and are typically more green and brown in coloration while periodical cicadas spend the majority of their lives underground and hatch every 13 or 17 years. They typically have black and orangish bodies with stark orange eyes. They’re not the prettiest of bugs- if I were them I’d probably spend most my life underground too.

On the years they emerge, periodical cicadas all hatch around the same time of the year, typically late spring. They hatch in massive numbers in a relatively short period of time, producing huge swarms of insects that can look like something out of a science fiction novel. 

What is a Brood?

You’ve probably heard the word “brood” when people talk about the cicada hatch. According to the University of Connecticut, broods are “all periodical cicadas of the same life cycle type that emerge in a given year.” While the swarm of cicadas that hatch this year are made up of different species, they’re all collectively known as the same “brood.”

What is unique about 2024 is that two different broods are hatching at the same time. Hatches of single broods make the news, two at the same time in the same region is rare.

In 2024, Brood XIX and XIII are hatching at the same time and scientists predict that the number of clumsily flying bugs will be in the trillions.

Cicada Hatch Map

Here’s a visual of where Brood XIX and XIII are expected to hatch. Most of the concentration will likely be in the Midwest, with some hatches expected further south and along the East Coast.

What Fish Eat Cicadas?

So now we know a little bit about cicadas, but what about the fishing?

Cicadas provide a nutrient dense source of prey for every fish that swims. There will be trillions of cicadas in the region and because they are not good fliers, many of them will find themselves in the water.

Fish will begin to key in on cicadas as easy sources of prey. Every fish in the water will have access to abundant nutrients and will take advantage of the opportunity. This means that when you cast your cicada fly into the water, there’s really no telling what might bite! Bass, bluegill, trout, carp, catfish- you name it, they’ll all be munching down on cicadas while they’ve got the chance.

How to Fish the Cicada Hatch

The cicadas are out, screeching away, and the fish are chowing down. How do we use this to our advantage with a fly rod in our hand?

Cicada Fly Patterns

If there were ever a time to “match the hatch,” this is it. Fly patterns resembling cicadas are pretty much the only thing that we need to worry about during this time. Leave the streamers and poppers at home and make sure you have a variety of cicada patterns in your box.

Some anglers like fishing traditional topwater cicada flies that ride well on top of the surface of the water. Others have noted that when cicadas naturally fall into the water, they sometimes sink or float just under the water’s surface.

Fly Fishing Setup for Cicada Hatch

I like a 6 or 7 weight rod paired with an aggressively tapered fly line to turn over the big, wind resistant cicada bugs that I throw. Beef up your tippet as well- delicate presentations are not all that necessary during a cicada hatch. Fish often feed with reckless abandon if there is a crazy hatch going on and won’t care about the 16 lb tippet you have tied on.

Fly Fishing Tactics for Cicada Hatch

Now that we got the gear and the flies ready for the cicada hatch, here are some useful tips to fish the hatch most effectively.

Fish the Trees

After spending 17 years of their lives underground, the cicadas will very often find trees upon emerging. They use the trees to feed, screech, and get it on – they won’t be spending a ton of their time flying around open fields. When the hatch begins, they’ll make their way to the biggest, baddest trees they can find.

For this reason, fish tree-lined banks when targeting fish with cicada patterns and avoid open water. Fish will congregate near these trees to chug down the clumsy cicadas that have fallen into the water, or the ones that have expired and dropped down.

SPLAT!

Forget about the delicate, soft presentations of dry fly fishing that you’ve spent your entire fly casting career attempting to create. Throw that right out the window.

Cicadas are not delicate. They’re not gentle. They are boxy, clumsy, and the opposite of smooth. When they hit the water, they hit it hard.

When fishing cicada flies, purposely splat your fly on top of the water to not only replicate the natural appearance, but also to make the fly’s presence known. Give it a little bit of a twitch every now and then to attract fish if they don’t immediately inhale your fly. Don’t worry about the perfect presentation, just get your fly out there!

Fish When It’s Sunny

Beefy setups, harsh presentations, and now fishing mid-day? In another non-traditional approach to cicada fishing, getting out there when it’s the hottest, sunniest part of the day can actually be beneficial to our success.

The heat of the day gets the cicadas moving around and the sun creates shade lines that protect the fish from the heat. This combination creates an ideal scenario for anglers- cicadas dropping from trees and fish under them in the shade they create.

The lull of the mid-afternoon that is typical of other seasons can be the best time to get out there when the cicadas are around. Strange times call for strange measures!

Conclusion

The 2024 cicada hatch is a fishing event you absolutely don’t want to miss. With Brood XIX and XIII emerging together the Midwest will be swarming with trillions of cicadas, making it a Golden Corral of food out there for our swimming friends. This is a chance for fly anglers to experience something truly special.

Knowing what cicadas are, why these broods are a big deal, and how to fish them can seriously up your game. Grab a 6 or 7 weight rod, stock up on cicada fly patterns, and get ready to fish in ways you probably haven’t before.  Make some noisy splashes with your flies and don’t shy away from fishing during the hottest part of the day.

Have you ever fished a cicada hatch?