Tying Steps

Wrap hook with thread glue, wrap Glo bug yarn to mid-point

Carve bodies from foam with scissors to boat shape

Soak yarn with super glue, press body down and X-tie down

Using indelible markers, color body as shown

Next add the clear tape wing. Take a piece of tape 4 inches
long, add 3 or 4 single deer hairs to the sticky side of the
tape at the bottom, press that side along the back side of
the body, then fold the tape over to line up with the
front side and squeeze together.  You can also make this
fly with out a clear wing by going to the next step and
adding long deer hair along each side of the body.

Trim wing to shape as shown

Tie down the wing in front

Spin deer hair to form head and front legs

The completed fly with clear tape wing. Cicadas have a
square-shaped head. It is important to trim and shape the
head to have the shape of a Cicada

Completed fly without clear tape wing

The green cicada version

Top view of all three patterns

Presentation

    The tape wings on my cicada may come apart after a few fish have eaten it.  This causes the fly to spin when cast, twisting up the tippet.  But when it hits the water the tippet unwinds and causes the fly to flip over and over - just like a struggling cicada.  Whack!  The best presentation is to plop the bug down loudly, then dead drift it.  Don't set the hook too quickly when a fish rises.  Let it take it down and then tighten up.  It's a lot like dry fly fishing for steelhead.  Set too soon and you'll miss it. 

    Have fun tying my NZ Cicada and I hope it brings you as much luck as it has for me and my clients.

Louie the Fish

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