Mad River Drift Newsletter – March 2025

Volume 6, Issue 4                                                                                                              March 2025

IN THIS ISSUE:

• President’s Message
• Unlock the Secret to Epic Fishing—Join Us for a Night with Dave Zielinski!
• Chasing Cicadas: A 20-Year Obsession with Fishing the Hatch
• Upcoming Events

President’s Message

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” – Hal Borland

I hope that everyone is having a fantastic first chapter of 2025.  The mercury has dipped pretty low on the thermometer the last couple of months, and many of us (myself included) have been busy loading our fly boxes in anticipation of the coming months.  While tying flies is fun, it is the renewing promise of Spring’s warmer temperatures, water that is flowing instead of frozen, and rising fish that get me the most excited about this time of year.

I am also excited about all of the things that the Mad River Chapter of Trout Unlimited has upcoming in 2025.  No matter the weather, the Board is always cognizant of our mission to protect, restore, and conserve.  As such we have used this winter season to prepare for a busy next few months.  I hope that everyone has had a chance to check out our revamped website.  It’s a significant step up from the previous one, and hopefully becomes a valuable resource for all of you.  Special thanks to our web guru, Jeremy Reger for putting the site together during the downtime he found from his real job.  

One of the items that I’m most excited for is our upcoming semi-annual gala on April 5th, 2025 at the Simon Kenton Inn in Springfield, Ohio.  This will be a night for fellowship in fishing, a way to celebrate the chapter and its accomplishments, and maybe even learn a thing or two about the upcoming cicada hatch this year.  More information and specific details on this event are included within the newsletter.  I hope to see you there!

We also have begun planning for our monitoring and stream clean up events.  We will also be continuing our in-stream habitat and restoration projects.  These events will be documented on the website as they become official.  Keep an eye out, and please join us as we are always looking for volunteers!  Not only are you helping out, but the events are both educational and fun to participate in as well.  

Keep an eye on the website for details on other upcoming events like another edition of our always fun IF4 evening on October 3, 2025 as well as more in the coming months.

I wish you all the best this Spring as you venture outside, pull on the waders, and lace up the boots.  May all of your lines be tight!

Tight Lines, Steve Moore, President 

As always, if you ever have anything you would like to contribute to future newsletters, please feel free to reach out to the fabulous Pam Allen at pamallen@tumadriver.org.  She is always looking for fun stories, experiences, fly recipes, or just photographs that can be shared for the greater good.

Unlock the Secret to Epic Fishing—Join Us for a Night with Dave Zielinski!
 

If you’re passionate about fly fishing—whether you’re chasing trout, bass, carp, or anything in between—this is an event you won’t want to miss! We’re bringing together the fly fishing community for an unforgettable evening, and you’re invited.

Here’s what’s in store:
4:00 PM – Doors Open/Social Hour
5:30 PM – Dinner: A delicious buffet-style meal to kick off the night’s festivities.
6:30 PM – TU Update: Get the latest chapter updates and hear about upcoming opportunities for anglers like you. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the amazing progress we’ve made this year, honor the dedication of our volunteers and supporters, and prepare for the important work that lies ahead.
7:00 PM – Main Presentation with Dave Zielinski: The highlight of the evening! Dave Zielinski, author of Cicada Madness, will share his fascinating journey tracking periodical cicadas and the fish that feast on them. With over 20 years of experience and a deep understanding of cicada hatches, Dave will show you how to unlock the mystery of these epic events and how to target species ranging from bass to carp, all while using dry flies to catch fish during the cicada emergence in Southeast Ohio.
8:45 PM – Raffle: Finish the night with a chance to win amazing raffle prizes. Follow our social media and the Event Page for sneak peeks! 

Tickets: BUY TICKETS HERE TICKET SALES END MARCH 21, 2025
• Standard Admission: $60
• At-the-Door Tickets: $70 (limited availability—contact us in advance to secure your spot).
Purchase tickets online now or mail your check to: 486 Dover Rd., Springfield, OH 45504

All attendees will receive a free one-year digital membership (a $20 value) to the IGFA!

  

Stay the Night:
We’ve partnered with the Simon Kenton Inn for those who want to stay the night. Call them at 937-399-9950 to reserve your room!
 
This is a night packed with incredible knowledge, networking, and the chance to learn how to take your fishing to the next level. Space is limited to just 200 attendees, so grab your ticket today before they’re gone!
 

We can’t wait to see you there!

Chasing Cicadas: A 20-Year Obsession with Fishing the Hatch
by Pat Kelly

My fascination with periodical cicadas, which, by the way, rapidly evolved into an obsession, began in 2004.  I can recall the day as if it were yesterday. It was a hot and humid early day in June. School was out for the summer, my friend and I were driving down a winding stretch of road without a care in the world. Then without warning a loud deafening sound overtook the music blaring on the radio as Cicadas began to bounce off the windshield like hail on a roof. Little did I know the next thirty minutes became a core memory that would help fabricate the frame of my fishing obsessed life!
 
As we approached my friend’s house the noise level grew louder and louder. It became almost impossible to carry on a conversation over the harmonious roar of Cicadas. Being a fishing nut already, I immediately walked down through the back of my friend’s property to where it butted up against the river. As I looked out over the river I had fished hundreds of times, it seemed as if every single fish that called this river home was out cruising along under the water’s surface carelessly, looking for Cicadas. I had never seen anything like it in my life, as if I were in some dream that seemed too good to ever be reality, but it was reality. Fish I have never seen eating on the surface were doing so with reckless abandon. I knew instantly this was something I needed to take advantage of while it was here. After a quick run home for my fly rod and the closest fly I could find to imitate a Cicada I proceeded to have one of the greatest dry fly experiences of my life!!
 
Since that day in 2004, I have learned a lot about these bugs. There are several Cicada hatch events or “broods” located all over the east and southeast. Depending on the specific species and brood these Periodical Cicadas emerge and hatch every 13 or 17 years. If you are willing to put in the time researching when and where these events take place, you’ll find that you can fish them more often than once every 13 or 17 years. The single best resource if you want to up your Cicada game is the book, Cicada Madness by Dave Zielinski. Dave will be guest speaker at the Mad River Gala on April 5th. This is an excellent opportunity to speak and pick the brain of someone who knows more about Cicada’s than anyone I know. I’m lucky to call Dave a friend, he is a great guy and is always willing to share what he knows with others.
 
Fast forward 20 years later to the winter of 2024. I found myself frustrated with the time of year and my lack of regular fishing, so what better way to shake off the shack nasties than to plan a summer fishing trip. So I began to ponder and wonder with excitement about the Summer ahead. However this was not any normal Summer, this was the Summer of the “Double Brood” or “Co-immergence” of Cicada broods VIII and XIX. What is a “co-immergence” you ask? Well, this is an event in the Cicada world that only comes around once every 221 years. Yes, you read that right, once every 221 years! As my friends and I carefully studied brood maps, satellite images and researched where we could potentially find the most prolific hatch within a reasonable driving distance. All things lead to central Illinois. This spot on the map conveniently found itself smack dab in the middle of both broods. One to the north and one to the south. After pinpointing where we would stay, we began a deep dive reconnaissance mission into what bodies of water and river systems were within range. It was perfect, almost like it was meant to be. We found countless options from large rivers to smaller streams and creeks. Little urban lakes to large reservoirs. Having lakes and other stillwater options is critical when planning a cicada fishing trip. This gives you back up options if the rivers blow out from unwanted rain events. Now that all the planning had been executed, all we had to do was wait. Which was easily and undoubtedly the most challenging part of the whole endeavor. June had finally arrived. It was hot and humid just as it was on that day twenty years earlier. With the truck loaded up and boat in tow, a friend and I made the trip west to meet up with other friends from around the country, and with a little luck, the Cicadas too!
 

Long story short, everyone made it to Illinois, even the Cicadas! Not a day has gone by since then that I don’t find myself lost in the memory of Cicada Camp 2024. This past hatch led to one of the greatest weeks of fishing I’ve ever experienced. For me, the most notable and unique part of this particular Cicada emergence was that it took place on several different river systems that were inhabited by Grass Carp. Over the years my favorite species to target during Cicada events has become the Common Carp. Up to this point I’ve never had the opportunity to fish for Grass Carp with dry flies in a river. Grass carp on average are much larger than their cousin the Common Carp, stronger, faster, like to jump and can reach weights of over 40 pounds! There is nothing more exhilarating than fishing for grass carp that are eating dry flies like their life depends on it!

Fishing for Carp with Cicadas is a little different than fishing your typical Hendrickson or Sulphur hatch on a trout stream. First, the rod of choice needs to be stout; remember, you are casting to rising fishing that might weigh over 30 pounds. Personally I carry 7 and 8 weight rods. Reels should have a large arbor and stout reliable drag systems. Unlike trout and bass, these fish will test the quality of your reels drag system. A weight forward floating line is a must. It’s worth noting that when choosing a fly line, be sure to choose one that is designed to turnover big wind resistant flies and will load your rod with ease. This makes the job of casting quickly and accurately much easier. When it comes to leaders, there are considerations that must be made when deciding what size is appropriate. In most cases, a 9 foot leader is adequate. Tippet size is something that may change but in general you’ll want to be in the 25lb-16lb range. These tippet sizes may seem large but remember, you are trying to keep very large fish away from and out of structure in a fast moving river. As you float down the river you are scanning the water in front of you, looking for signs of feeding fish. There are many ways the fish will make their presence known, but here are a few that you will most commonly see. First is no different than what you’d see when fishing a hatch on a trout river, the subtle dimple of a cautious fish rising to eat the bug. The second is one of my favorites, a gigantic wake or “v” that you certainly could never believe is a fish because it is too big, but it is! Last but not least, is what I refer to as a “roamer’’. This is a fish that is swimming around carelessly without direction or pattern drunk on Cicadas all the while looking for more! This is a fun fish to target because it is like trying to hit a moving target, exciting and challenging!   
 

Fishermen from all over the country and world for that matter, travel to fishing destinations around the world to try and catch some of our sport’s most recognizable and famous bug hatches. The Hex in Michigan, Salmon flies out west and the many famous hatches in Pennsylvania and across the east just to name a few. So why not Cicadas? Some of the most memorable experiences of my life have been fishing during these events. When it happens and you hit it right, it is one of the most incredible experiences one can have with the natural world! This year we are fortunate to be hosting Cicada Brood XIV in southern Ohio. For anyone who hasn’t experienced this incredible emergence, I encourage you to do so. It is very addicting so be careful, before it ends you might find yourself infected with Cicada Madness!.

 

Fly Recipe: Dave Z’s 17–Year-Itch Cicada
Full Instructions available in Dave Zielinski’s Book—Cicada Madness 
 

Adhesive: Wapsi Z-Ment
Hook: Gamakatsu B10s #4
Thread: 140 denier orange 
Body: 2mm sheet foam- black
Underwing: Krystal Flash- Pearl
Wing: Elk Body Hair- natural
Legs: Grizzly Flutter Legs- orange
Eyes: Enrico Puglisi Shrimp Eyes- small amber. Or strip of red sheet foam

Articles Needed!! I could use your help with future newsletters. If you’ve been on a fishing trip, or have something else you’d like to share, like a fly recipe, we’d love to hear about it. Write an article and send pictures to me at pamallen@tumadriver.org; it’s that easy 🙂