When to use it
- Only when cicadas are locally present or falling on the water.
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Reviewed representative comparison← Fly Box
Pattern family · guide 72
Cicada Patterns
Large buoyant terrestrial patterns matched to locally present cicadas rather than one universal recipe.
- Size range
- Large terrestrials; match the local cicada
- Colors reviewed
- black, brown, olive, orange, green
- Imitates
- adult cicada
Cicada species differ in size, color, wing tone, and seasonal timing. The family map emphasizes the broad body, transparent roof-like wings, and strong legs without assigning one exact local species.
Technical illustration
Representative forms
Cicada Patterns comparison map
A family-level comparison of Compact cicada, Broad-wing cicada, Local color and size form; no single drawing represents the whole family.
- View
- stage or silhouette comparison
- Color shown
- black, brown, olive, orange, and green
- Look for
- broad foam silhouette; roof-like translucent wings; strong legs and local colors
On the water
Narrow the family.
The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation. These are reviewed starting points—not a claim about what is happening today.
How to fish it
- Present firmly near wooded banks, then dead-drift or add an occasional restrained twitch.
Mistakes to avoid
- Claiming one color is universal.
- Using a brood or timing claim without local evidence.
Variant control
Small changes matter.
This comparison separates materially different insect, stage, or pattern forms. It is a family guide, not a claim that one fly represents every local species.
Representative family forms
Cicada species differ in size, color, wing tone, and seasonal timing. The family map emphasizes the broad body, transparent roof-like wings, and strong legs without assigning one exact local species.- Colors shown
- black, brown, olive, orange, green
- Weighting
- Weight and buoyancy depend on the insect, life stage, and exact named pattern.
Review trail
Sources, rights, and limits.
Pattern facts were reviewed on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own rights record; photographed hand-tied flies may still vary slightly in proportion.