|
Something very cool will be happening soon and I can't wait to experience it again. All over the eastern half of the United States, 13- and 17-year Cicadas will be emerging over the next few weeks. This will be one of the largest emergences in decades, and trillions of these buzzing insects will break through the surface of the ground only to mate and die within a few weeks. In certain parts of North Carolina, we will be seeing loads of these orange and black Cicadas during May and June. So, what's all this have to do with a fishing post? Well, if you've ever wanted to see Carp and other fish lose their minds for a few weeks, then keep on reading...  As I type this, there are already Cicadas beginning to emerge from Charlotte to Raleigh. Over the next 2 weeks, we should see an unbelievable increase in the numbers of Cicadas on the land, in the trees and in the air. The sound that these Cicadas make as they call out in the hundreds of thousands, is deafening...but it's a sound that means that great fishing is right around the corner.
Within a few weeks of emergence, these Cicadas will mate, deposit their eggs and fall to the ground and perish. Birds, small mammals, and reptiles will gorge themselves on these delicious Cicadas as they fall to their deaths. Any Cicada that falls from a tree over the water will likely be eaten by a fish below. Although Cicadas are eaten by many species of fish, from Trout to Catfish to Sunfish to Bass, the Common Carp is probably the most prolific Cicada feeder. After a few days of Cicadas falling into a Carp filled waterway, these fish will figure out what the deal is and will go absolutely crazy until all the Cicadas have died off.  This is a short window of opportunity, and a lot goes into predicting the peak of the fishing during the Cicada emergence. First off, you have to use ground temperature estimates to guess when they will emerge. After that, you will take a guess at when they will start to die off...will it be 2, 3, 4 weeks after they emerge? If you hit the water too soon, the Carp may not have the game figured out, if you wait too long, you may miss the peak. But if you hit it just right, you may get shots at Carp after Carp cruising the surface searching for the next buzzing Cicada to run down and inhale.  These Cicada broods may only emerge every 13 or 17 years, but when they do, they more than make up for the time they've been gone.
I've fished two 17-year Cicada emergences, one in West Virginia back in 2016 and another in Western NC in 2018. Are they worth it? Well, let's just say I am pretty hyped about the possibilities in the coming weeks. So, what does it take to make it happen? A lot of research and a little bit of luck!  I've been crunching numbers and looking at my calendar and have settled on some dates that I will keep open for Carp on Cicada trips. I'm going to officially open up May 28, 29, 30, 31 and June 1 for these trips. These dates could be a few days pre-peak, or a few days post-peak, but I think they are going to be really close to prime time. I'm planning to stay in the Raleigh/Durham area that week and will either fish out of Jordan Lake or Falls Lake (more details to follow). We will price these trips the same as my Striped Bass trips and do long half days or full days.  I can provide all the fly gear, including Cicada fly patterns. If you'd like to fish it on spin, I am pretty sure we can adapt and make it happen too.
If you miss out on this rare opportunity, you just might kick yourself in the butt for the next 13 years until it happens again.  Doubled up. Carp are generally very picky and hard to fool with a fly, but during a Cicada emergence, they can completely lose all inhibitions.  If you'd like to come fish topwater Carp with me, or have any questions, please reach out to me.
910-340-4811 [email protected]
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
