Well, a few years back, folks got all excited over the 17 year crop of
cicadas. They were huge bugs, trout took them from time to time, and, well,
being huge, tyers tended to go a bit nuts over them. Anyhow, many were left
with the impression that nothing for 17 years approaches that phenomenon. I,
for one, wasn't all that overwhelmed, but they were fun bugs to try and
imitate.

The upshot is that I currently own, for model purposes, 3 large, very
deceased cicadas. One, I captured, two were generously given by friends to
inspire me toward cranking out cicada imitations(such efforts failed, I've
found a very big cricket pattern to work adequately). Yesterday afternoon, I
was cleaning debris from a recent rainstorm out of the swimming pool. Among
the leaves and sticks was a fine specimen of this year's crop of cicadas,
which are very numerous. Geez O Pete, this thing was huge!! Comparing this
drowned guy with the 17-year specimens, it was about 1/4 inch larger(not a
significant difference), with a tan belly and pale chartreuse legs. The
wings had a greenish tint to them, as well.
So, my questions would be these: are any of you out there lobbing cicadas at
the present?? Is this big batch of big bugs a brood limited to the
Mid-Atlantic region?

Tom
p.s OK, so it's not political. Get over it, Forty!