Bodkin / Patterns

Carl's Cicada

Terrestrial · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 2XL dry/terrestrial hook (e.g. TMC 5212), 8-12
  • Thread Black 6/0 (140 denier)

Materials

  • Body Black closed-cell foam, layered (1-2 strips)
  • Underwing Light Brite or Wing-n-Flash, pearl (small clump)
  • Wing Black elk/deer hair or dun poly (1 clump)
  • Legs Round rubber, two-tone ginger and black (2-3 pairs)
  • Indicator Orange foam tab (1)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base and tie in a black foam body strip, segmenting it forward with thread wraps to build a chunky high-floating body.
  2. Tie in a sparse pearl Light Brite underwing over the back. Why: the flash underwing is the modern upgrade that gives the fly its fish-drawing dazzle.
  3. Add a black elk-hair (or dun poly) overwing tented over the back to the bend.
  4. Splay two or three pairs of two-tone ginger-and-black rubber legs to the sides to mimic the Green River cicada's leg coloration.
  5. Fold foam forward and tie down an orange indicator tab/head, whip finish, and cement.

Tying videos

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