Planning For and Fishing the Cicada Hatch

There’s nothing subtle about a cicada hatch. When they come, they come in force. Buzzing, clicking, flying, falling, and filling the air with that distinct summer roar. But what makes the cicada hatch truly special isn’t just the spectacle. It’s the window of opportunity it creates for anglers.

Fish key in. Trout throw caution aside. Bass crash the surface. For a short stretch, the fish are tuned into one thing: the biggest, slowest, highest-calorie meal they’ll see all season. But hitting that window means more than just luck. It means knowing where the cicadas are and when they’re hitting the water.

That’s exactly what the new Cicada Hatch Layer in the OnWater app is designed to do.

What Triggers a Cicada Hatch?

Let’s start underground.

Cicadas in Brood XIV spend 17 years beneath the soil, feeding on tree roots and waiting. When they finally emerge, it’s not random. It’s biological clockwork. The trigger? Soil temperature.

Specifically, cicadas begin to tunnel upward when soil at 7 inches deep hits 64°F and holds for five or more days. That combination of depth, temperature, and duration is what kicks off a synchronized emergence that can blanket entire regions.

The key word there is sustained. A single 64-degree day isn’t enough. Cool spring rains or a late cold snap can stall the process. Warm rain with rising temperatures? That’s when they start to move.

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How the Hatch Layer Works

A first of its kind, built for anglers in select states. See where cicada hatches are happening and when they’re about to. Timing it right has never been easier.

The Cicada Hatch Layer is a real-time soil temperature map, built to help you track the hatch from underground to surface. It uses two depths: 7 inches and 21 inches. Both offer unique insights, and together they give a complete picture.

• 7" Depth: This is where cicada nymphs live. When soil temps here hit 64°F, they start getting active and move closer to the surface. It’s the best indicator for emergence that's just around the corner, anywhere from hours to days out.
  
  
• 21" Depth: This deeper layer helps confirm whether warming has been sustained long enough to trigger a true emergence. If it’s been holding near 64°F for several days, that means the hatch isn’t just starting, it’s happening now..
  

The layer shows color-coded zones for pre-emergence, peak emergence, and post-emergence based on real-time and past soil temperature data. You can use this to:

• Anticipate where and when a hatch is about to start
  
• See where it’s currently happening
  
• Know where it’s winding down
  

And because onWater shows you soil temp history and forecasts, you’re not guessing, you’re watching the pattern unfold.

How to Use the Layer in Your Trip Planning

The best way to use the Cicada Hatch Layer is alongside the tools you already rely on: MyWaters for streamflows and weather forecasts, offline maps, and access points for where you’re heading.

Here’s a simple process:

1. Open the Cicada Hatch Layer

The map view is default to 7" depth, use the color scale to find areas that are pre, peak, or post emergence.
Zoom in close to tap on individual counties to see both 7" and 21" graphs.
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Start with the 21" depth map to spot regions where soil temps have held near 64°F for multiple days. That’s the signal that an emergence is likely in motion or starting soon.

Then check the 7" map to pinpoint where nymphs are moving toward the surface. If that zone is also hovering around 64°F, the hatch is close, potentially days or even hours away. If temps are above 64 you should plan on getting to the water soon.

3. Factor in the Forecast

Check the weather forecast for the area you’re watching. Warm temps and warm spring showers means temps are likely to continue climbing. Cooler temps or cold spring storms may stall progress. Planning 5-7 days out based on warming trends gives you the best chance to hit the hatch right.

4. Plan Your Window

When both depths align and the weather is holding steady, you’ve got a green light. That’s when cicadas are starting to hit the water and fish are adjusting their behavior.

But remember: fish don’t immediately recognize cicadas as food. Trout in particular may take a day or two before feeding aggressively. Use this to your advantage. Hit it early to beat pressure, or time your trip mid-window when fish are in full feeding mode.

What to Expect on the Water

Fishing a cicada hatch is visual, loud, and sometimes chaotic. Cicadas fall from trees. They bumble across the water. They land in the wrong place at the wrong time and fish take full advantage.

Here’s what you might see:

• Surface eats in places fish normally wouldn’t rise
  
• Big fish in shallow water, tight to banks or under overhangs
  
• Slow drifts or twitches drawing exciting eats
  
• Fish gorging, then disappearing as they recover
  

Cicadas are high in protein and calories. Fish will binge, then vanish. If the bite slows, don’t give up. Come back a day later. That same fish might be ready for round two.

Tips for Fishing the Hatch

• Use large, buggy patterns: Foam-bodied cicada flies with rubber legs, big beetles, or poppers work great.
  
  
• Target the shade: Fish will tuck under trees where cicadas are dropping.
  
  
• Be patient: Cicadas aren’t fast, and neither is the eat. Give fish a chance to eat and turn with it.
  
  
• Don’t overfish a flat bite: If it goes cold, switch locations or come back later. Gorged fish rest.
  
  

When to Go

Cicada hatches don’t happen every year. For Brood XIV, this is a once-in-17-years event. Depending on where you are in the region, emergence can start as early as late April and continue into early June.

Considering that they only live 3-4 weeks, that’s a narrow window, especially for planning around flows, weather, and fish behavior.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about catching more fish. It’s about reading the system. Connecting soil, weather, and water conditions into one clear picture. The cicada hatch is a natural event that only happens under very specific circumstances. When you hit it right, it’s unforgettable.

And now, it’s trackable.

Final Thought

Fishing the cicada hatch is about timing, understanding, and preparation. The Hatch Layer doesn’t give you the answer, it gives you the tools to see what’s coming and decide when it’s worth going. There are a lot of variables to watch, and even when everything lines up, it doesn’t always mean the fishing will be perfect. All you can do is take the information you have, make your call, and see what happens.

So when you see the 7" depth hit 64°F and hold, pay attention.

The bugs are coming and the fish know it.

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