Gordon’s Cicada
Note: This is a variation of the Criss Cross Cicada pattern. This is tied to represent a species of cicada found here in the Southern Rocky Mountains. These tend to be on the smaller side (compared to the very large green ones found at lower elevations). These have a short stubby black body with distinctive orange markings on the abdomen and legs. They usually appear in late May to early June. When these terrestrials are present the fish key in on them. This is a very effective pattern and does not require a nice delicate presentation. Just slap it down on the water as you would when fishing a hopper pattern. Pay extra attention below low hanging trees and near bushes. I also like to use a wide gap hook as I think it produces a better hook up ratio. Tying instructions
- Cut a 1 inch piece of round foam in half (length-wise). At about 1/4 of an inch push the foam through the hook point and onto the hook. Place hook with foam attached in the vice.
- The cut side of the foam will be pulled up over the hook shank and the smooth round side will be the bottom of the fly. Start 1X Uni-stretch (orange) thread at the eye and lay a thread base wrap to hook bend and then back to the hook eye.
- Leave a space behind the hook eye and tie in the foam. Take several good wraps at the tie in point. Take the 1X Uni-stretch thread and begin making rib wraps towards the bend of the hook and then working your way back to the hook eye. Do this by wrapping around the foam then crossing over the foam to create the next rib. Do these 2-3 times evenly spaced. This should give you a Criss Cross pattern across the belly of the fly. Should look like a square with an ‘X” in the middle of it. Be sure not to over tighten the rib wraps. This will remove the air cells from the foam and the fly will tend to sink or partially submerge when fished. Firm but not too tight.
- Tie off and cut the 1X Uni-stretch thread. Behind the eye start the 8/0 Uni-thread (Fire orange). Let the bobbin hang. Add head cement to thread wraps behind the hook eye.
- Trim the rear of the foam body to a short triangular shape.
- Cut an oval shaped piece of Bills Skiltons wasp wing material and tie in just before the head. This should be the same length as the foam body.
- Cut, clean, and stack the Elk hair for the wing. This will be tied in just before the head. With the hair tips pointing to the back of the fly and the same length as the fly body. Cut the elk hair butt ends and cover wrap them.
- Cut, clean, and stack the deer hair (black) for the head. Spin the deer hair to create a bullet head. Length should be shorter than the body length.
- Tie the rubber legs in at the head.
- Tie in a small foam (red) indicator at the same point as the leg tie in.
- Whip finish and head cement.
- Trim the underside (hair points) of the black deer hair head to help show more of the under body and the orange thread wraps. Trim back to the thread wraps at the tie in point for the legs. Be careful not to cut the legs.