By Dave Weaver

With the brood prevalent in central PA emerging this year, it's an auspicious time to tie up some cicada patterns.

I have fished the brood that emerges in SCPA/MD in 1987, 2004, and 2021 and took careful notes on emergence and fishing results. If you have never fished one of these 17 year broods, it's an amazing, sometimes frustrating, experience. Generally, it has been my observation that the bugs are not evenly spread across the regions indicated on emergence maps. Instead, they seem to emerge in great clusters here and there. You can expect to find them very dense on a section of stream, and a half mile up or downstream, there are none. Some sections with bugs see heavy fish feeding and other sections they seem to be ignored. You will have to explore and improvise.

For the 2021 brood, I tied up a large batch of cicada flies in anticipation. As is my preference, I used foam. These 17 year cicadas are different than the typical annual cicadas that are green over white. Instead, 17 yr bugs are smaller and black or dark gray with orange legs, orange abdominal ribbing, and clear wings with an orange tint. Their body length is about 1 to 1.25" so I tied my flies in that size on somewhat long shank nymph/streamer hooks that matched the body size. I secured the body to the shank using glue and orange floss as ribbing, much like a big hopper fly or a pencil popper. This was a mistake.

I had trouble with these flies when the hatch started as the hookup ratio was very poor. Curiously, I found that fallfish were getting hooked as they were more deliberate in taking the fly, mostly coming up from behind and inhaling the rear of the fly. Trout, by contrast, tended to be much more aggressive, often charging from the side blowing up on the fly or simply slashing it, and not getting hooked. There were days when it seemed like I only hooked maybe one in ten trout...

Tina Lewis started Wayward Trading Post in hopes of offering some unique art valued by anglers in the local fly fishing region with hand-made fly fishing nets. Wayward has been expanding and growing their reach to more than just the region.

I had a chance to visit her shop last year and learned firsthand her accomplished work in making her handcrafted wooden fly fishing nets. A fun operation in the Philly suburbs working out of her father’s garage.

Follow along to learn how you can enter for a chance to win one of these beautiful artisan-made fly fishing nets from Wayward Trading Post.

Latest Updates
Since Tina opened her shop a few years ago, a lot has happened. Recently, she has developed a custom-designed net in conjunction with TCO, a keystone state fly fishing retailer. The Madison River Fishing Company has selected her nets as part of their new product catalog. The list of retailers carrying Pennsylvania-made goods keeps growing, and the biggest news has yet to drop. Wayward is now a wooden net manufacturer for Orvis. This start-up has gone from a sawdust-filled wood-shop in Philadelphia to having an account with the largest brand in our sport.


Hand-crafted Nets
All the nets at Wayward Trading Post are sourced from Pennsylvania wood, using mostly walnut, hickory, and cherry. Each net is created by gluing together strips of wood to form the hoop and adding a previously crafted handle to the glued-up hoop, setting the pieces into a mold. Once the...

Just a few pics from my trip last week to the Bitterroot on Montana. What an awesome place. My brother, a true trout sicko, lives out in Hamilton so I had a personal guide/shuttle service. Highly recommended. Generally he'd drop me off in some ridiculously gorgeous place, point me in a direction and I'd fish all day then meet up with him in the evening when he'd suddenly catch a bunch of fish that I missed. I probably waded 15 miles of that river and never fished in the same place twice (Montana's rules on wading rule). Flows were low and very few other people were out - I saw 3 other fisherman (one in a raft) over the course of 5 days. I guess everyone else was hunting so I pretty much had the stream to myself. Bonus.

I fished streamers on a 2-handed trout spey rig the entire time save for one afternoon when we found a good pod of cutthroat rising to BWOs. Those rising cutties were stacked up and I could have stayed there for hours, but it got dark. Streamer fishing was really good tho. I caught more 17"+ fish in 5 days than I catch in a year here, lol. Unfortunately I didn't get a pic of the biggest fish of the trip. It was a bad-a** brown, big hump on his back, that deeply inhaled my sculpin. I quickly got the fly out and then the fish, which was spilling out of my 18" net opening, jump out of the net. It was a real specimen. Can't wait to go back.

A very good overview from Tom Rosenbauer at Orvis on tactics for Wet Flies & Nymphs.


Check out more from the Orvis Learning Centre: https://howtoflyfish.orvis.com

It had been several years since my last visit to Harman's Cabins in West Virginia. I chose a few picturesque days at the start of fall to experience the resort's new additions and indulge in some fly fishing.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by Todd Harman himself, along with Tim Caudill, the Fly Fishing Shop Manager. They offered a brief tour of the operations, and we hopped into an ATV for a drive to the property's top ridge. The panoramic view of the area was breathtaking, with fall colors beginning to paint the landscape.


Luxurious Accommodations
We then explored some of the newly updated cabins. Each is equipped for several days of spa-like living, perfect for a getaway trip. All cabins boast well-appointed kitchens, hot tubs, fire pits, and grills. Most also include infrared saunas, steam showers, and rain showers, offering plenty of ways for the whole family to unwind.


First Cast
Late afternoon found me eager to wet a line. I had spotted some risers in one of the first pools below the bridge. The trout appeared to be sipping, so I tried a Griffith's Gnat. The water was a bit low, but recent rains had raised levels to about 100 cfs. When the Gnat proved unsuccessful, I switched to a Caddis with a Zebra Midge dropper. It wasn't long before I was landing several of the big bows that populate Harman's two-mile stretch of the North Fork. I fished productively until darkness fell, then made my way back to Cabin #12 for a relaxing evening and home-cooked dinner.

The fall season offers some great weather and outstanding fly fishing after the heat of the summer. Trout behavior and hatches change during the autumn months, but there are plenty of angling opportunities if you know what to do. If you are looking at extending your fly fishing season this fall then join Derek Eberly and Dave Kile for a presentation on Fall Fly Fishing in Pennsylvania.


Recorded 2021

Mornings at Harman's Luxury Log Cabin Resort are an exciting way to start any day, with mist rising off the North Fork and trophy trout waiting beneath the surface. This West Virginia fly fishing paradise has recently elevated its offerings, solidifying its status as a premier destination for fly fishing anglers and friends for a relaxing destination.


Harman's is a longtime partner of Paflyfish. You may recall the Harman's North Fork Invitational Fly Fishing event in 2013, where Shane Becker and PhilC from Team Paflyfish won the tournament, battling against many other nationally recognized challengers. It was certainly a memorable highlight for them and Paflyfish.

Over the last couple of years, there have been several outstanding updates to the resort. These exciting additions make it worth considering a getaway to this special destination, especially with the upcoming autumn season.


Resort Overview
Harman’s is situated within 300 acres of private wilderness next to Hopeville Canyon, bordering the scenic Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia. With over twenty well-appointed modern cabins featuring hot tubs, outdoor rock fireplaces, and full kitchens. Wellness Retreats and features like rain and steam showers, outdoor steam and indoor infrared saunas, and large soaking tubs, so your non fishing...

The Keystone Classic Fly Fishing Festival on August 17-18, 2024, in Tipton, Pennsylvania! This exciting event is a must-attend for fly fishing enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Event Highlights:

• Casting Competitions: Test your skills against fellow anglers in various casting competitions.
• Expert Demonstrations: Learn from the best in the industry, including expert casters and fly tyers, who will share their techniques and tips.
• Hands-On Workshops: Participate in workshops covering a range of topics, from rod building to fly tying.
• Raffle Prizes: Don't miss your chance to win a handmade fly rod by Shane Gray of Gray Wolf Rods!
• Admission: Tickets are just $10, granting access to all demonstrations and seminars.

This festival promises a weekend filled with fun, learning, and community. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there’s something for everyone. Mark your calendars and prepare for an unforgettable experience at the Keystone Classic Fly Fishing Festival!