"Frank Reid" wrote in message
...
This year is the year of the 17 year cicada brood XIV. Why do I
care? Well, it just so happens one of the core areas of brood XIV is
CENTER COUNTY PA!!!
http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fa.../BroodXIV.html

And guess what? They're starting to emerge right now so by the time
Penns rolls around, it should be cicada heaven. Big fish going after
big orange and black bugs to big for the tiddlers to gulp down. This
should be like the green drake hatch on steroids, lasting all day. No
sitting around for the evening spinner fall. So bring your cicada
patterns and be ready and forwarned.
Frank Reid

I think that late June was the timeline for the most activity around here in
2004. I had quite a collection of the loud a#% bugs in the woods behind the
house. They did emerge from the ground right before the May Clave that year
but there were not mature enough to fly, or do much at all, besides hang in
the treetops, until Mid June. Then one day, like turning on a light, or,
maybe more appropriately, like turning on a chainsaw, it turned into a type
of Cicada Madness. The loud, piercing sounds of their song in unison from
about 9:00 a.m. into the evening was a bit un-nerving. If you dared to walk
around the yard during that time you were bound to have a few bounce off of
your body, almost in mockery of anything that dared invade their territory.

If it's anything like that on Penn's, it will be a rare lifetime event. I'm
hoping the blitz holds out until early July when I return with the family.
Terrestrial fishing is always best that time of year, but I suspect it will
be a bit more fun this summer. We used to tie up flies with a coffee bean
and a hook for the local catch release section that was located right next
to a hatchery. They would take them for Fish Chow and work the water into a
churning frenzy. I suspect Penn's may be similar on a good breezy day.

It should also be a great year for fat trout in the fall......

Regardless it will be good to see one and all yet again at this year's
clave. Expect the Drake, it will happen.

Mike