11 NEWS REPORTER LISA ROBINSON AND HER PHOTOGRAPHER STEVE ADAMS TOOK TO THE WATER TO SEE JUST HOW APPETIZING THE BUGS ARE TO FISH. LISA: TALK OUABT SERENE, THE GUNPOWDER RIVER IN GUNPOWDER STATE PARK. A GREAT PLACE FOR A DAY OF FISHING. BUT BEFORE COMING OUT HERE, YOU NEED TO GET THE RIGHT Y.FL >> WINGSRE A TIED OVER THE BACK OF THEUG B. LITTLE RED ES.YE IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK. GOODORK W AND I AM HAPPY TO HAVE IT, BUT A LOT OF WORK. LISA: WHILEEF JF BRENN NAHAS BEEN BUSY TIEING THE FLIES, GREAT FEATHERS OWNER MICHAEL WATRISS HAS HAD A HARD TIME KETRISS HAS HAD A HARD TIME EPING THEM IN STOCK. >> I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THEY WILL LAST. >>LL LAST. IT IS A SPECTACLE. IT IS BARIZRE. THESE ARE KIND OF GROSS. PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LEIK BUGS ARE GOING TO BE FREAKED OUT. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A GOOD FISHERMAN TO USE THIS AND CATCH FISH. >> EVERYTHING EATS THESE. I MEAN EVERYTHG.IN TROUT, — >> PERFECT. LISA: THEO LEGARDEUR, THE OWNER OF BACKWATER ANGLER, TELLS ME HOW THE FLYS WORK. >> IT LOOKS CLOSE ENOUGTOH TRICK THE FISH ANDES CICADASRE A BAD FLYERS AND BECOME FOOD FOR THE FISH. LISA: SO I’M HOPING TO LEARN THIS SPORT AND CATCH A WILD BROWN TROUT. >> THESE CICADAS ARE PRESENTN O THE RIVER. THEY HAVE BEEN FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS BUT THE FISH EAT AS MUCH , AS THEY CAN AND THEN THEY JUST TAKE A BREAK. IT’S LIKE MOVING TO THE COUCH AFTER YOU’VE HAD A SLICE OF PIZZA. THEY’RE WAITING TO GET EVERYTHING DIGESTED AND THEN THEY WILL START FEEDING AGAIN. LISA: I’M BETTING ON HUNGRY FISH. >> WE FLICK IT OUT THAT WAY. PERFECT. >> STAR STUDENT. DIDOU Y HEAR THAT? LISA: I GIVE A SHOT, ACTUALLY A LOT OF SHOTS OR CASTS AS THEY SAY. NOTHING. >> THERE IS A FISH EATING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU. DO YOU SEE THAT? LI:SA MAYBE I JUST CAN’T FIND THE RIGHT SPOT. CICADAS ARE IN THE WATER. MY PATTERN IS A GOOD IMITATI.ON SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? OTHER PEOPLE ARE CATCHING FISH WITH THE PATTERNS. I’VE BEEN FISHING ALL DAY WHAT HAPPEN?ED >> I THINK YOU HAVE ALREADY EATEN. THEY HAD THEIR BREAKFAST AND THEIR LUNCH. THEES FISH WILL BE SET. LISA: WELL, I HAVE 17 YEARS TO PRACTICE AND HOARD THESE FLY PATTERNS TILL THE NEXT TIME THESE LITTLE BUGGERS COME FLYING THROH.UG
Cicadas helping fly fishers reel in big fish
If you fly fish, then this year’s cicada season is something you’ve been waiting for. Many cicadas are ending up in the water — and the fish are biting. The Gunpowder River in Gunpowder State Park is a great place for a day of fishing, but before going, you need to get the right fly.While Jeff Brennan has been busy tying the cicada flies, Great Feathers owner Michael Watriss has had a hard time keeping them in stock.”It has been a lot of work, good work, and I’m happy to have it, but a lot of work,” Brennan said.”It’s a spectacle. It’s bizarre. These flies are kind of gross. People that don’t like bugs are going to be freaked out, but at the same time, you don’t have to be a good fisherman to use a cicada pattern and catch fish,” Watriss said.Theo Legardeur, the owner of Backwater Angler, explains how the flies work.”Everything eats them. I mean, everything — carp, bass, small-mouth trout, chubs, muskie,” Legardeur said. “It looks close enough to trick the fish, and the cicadas are bad flyers, so they end up in the water and they become food to the fish that way.”And the cicada flies are attracting the fish.”These cicadas are present on the river. They have been for about six weeks. But the fish eat as much as they can and then they just take a break. It’s like moving to the couch after you’ve had a slice of pizza. They’re waiting to get everything digested and then they’ll start feeding again,” Legardeur said. “The fish will be set through the fall into the next spring, putting on a lot of weight right now, and now they’re going to have to work it off all winter.”
If you fly fish, then this year’s cicada season is something you’ve been waiting for. Many cicadas are ending up in the water — and the fish are biting.
The Gunpowder River in Gunpowder State Park is a great place for a day of fishing, but before going, you need to get the right fly.
While Jeff Brennan has been busy tying the cicada flies, Great Feathers owner Michael Watriss has had a hard time keeping them in stock.
“It has been a lot of work, good work, and I’m happy to have it, but a lot of work,” Brennan said.
“It’s a spectacle. It’s bizarre. These flies are kind of gross. People that don’t like bugs are going to be freaked out, but at the same time, you don’t have to be a good fisherman to use a cicada pattern and catch fish,” Watriss said.
Theo Legardeur, the owner of Backwater Angler, explains how the flies work.
“Everything eats them. I mean, everything — carp, bass, small-mouth trout, chubs, muskie,” Legardeur said. “It looks close enough to trick the fish, and the cicadas are bad flyers, so they end up in the water and they become food to the fish that way.”
And the cicada flies are attracting the fish.
“These cicadas are present on the river. They have been for about six weeks. But the fish eat as much as they can and then they just take a break. It’s like moving to the couch after you’ve had a slice of pizza. They’re waiting to get everything digested and then they’ll start feeding again,” Legardeur said. “The fish will be set through the fall into the next spring, putting on a lot of weight right now, and now they’re going to have to work it off all winter.”
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