Pics and Patterns for Episode 44: Cicadas and Leafhoppers
Aug 31, 2020
So here are some pictures, both of flies and naturals and links for Episode 43. First, let me give you the link to Charles Card's contact info if you would like to book a trip with him on the Green River:
You can book him through Spinnerfall Guide Service
OK, let's look at some bugs and flies.
Here are what eastern dog day cicadas look like. These are the guys we see on a yearly basis up in Maine (although they are not nearly as common as further south):
Here are some closer views, both of a larger one and a smaller one (two different eastern species):
In contrast here is what some of Charlie's Green River Cicadas look like:
And here are some of Charlie's Cicada imitations he ties:
And for the literate trout (or sports):
And here is a link on how to tie them:
OK, let's talk leafhoppers and spittlebugs now:
Here is a gorgeous leafhopper nymph I photographed just a few weekends ago. I like it, not only because of the coloration, but also because you can see the short wings along the side - showing how those insects with an incomplete metamorphosis (depending on the species) look just like the adults but with gradually growing wings:
This is a more typical color that you see:
And one of my favorites - the Red Banded Leafhopper. I like these guys because they are also called sharpshooters.
and lastly a specimen from my collection:
Moving onto Spittlebugs - this is what you will typically see:
and these are what they guys actually look like:
OK, let's move onto imitations:
For both spittlebugs and leafhoppers (and planthoppers and treehoppers) you can use Vince Marinaro's Jassid:
Body: Ginger Hackle trimmed on top and bottom
Wing: Jungle Cock Nail
Here is a picture of one next to one I tied using a starling feather as a substitute for the jungle cock (given how hard to find and expensive legally raised jungle cock is). You can, of course, substitute any feather you want - which may have a better pattern to imitate a spittlebug, for example):
As I mentioned I'm a big fan of Rod Yerger's Leafhopper:
Body: Chartreuse Dubbing
Wings: Chartreuse duck quill
Hackle: Ginger
Or you can tie them in brown (or any color) to imitate a spittlebug or brown leafhopper:
Lastly, as I mentioned in the podcast, a small elk hair caddis would do fine. Here's my imitation using red and chartreuse deer hair to imitate those red banded leafhoppers:
Body: Chartreuse Dubbing
Hackle/Rib: Grizzly Hackle
Wing: mixed and stacked red and chartreuse deer hair
