Cricket

Crickets (Gryllidae) are the night-shift workers of the terrestrial world. While hoppers rule the day, crickets become active as the sun sets. These large, black insects provide a substantial calorie bomb for trout in late summer and early autumn. Field crickets and Mormon Crickets (actually a katydid) are the most common species encountered by anglers. A cricket pattern is one of the most effective terrestrial options for evening fishing or dark, overcast days.

Crickets prefer cool, damp areas in tall grass, agricultural fields, and along riverbanks.

• Dark Places: They hide under logs and rocks during the heat of the day.
• Grassy Banks: Like hoppers, they thrive in bank-side vegetation.
• The Night: They are nocturnal/crepuscular, becoming most active at dusk.

Crickets are loud and clumsy.

1. The Chirp: While you can't fish the chirp, it tells you they are present.
2. The Fall: They often fall in while navigating steep banks in low light.
3. The Kick: Like hoppers, they kick violently on the surface.
4. Nocturnal Drifting: They are often available in the drift well after dark, making them a top choice for night fishing.

Seasonality Late Summer through Fall (August - October).

Tactics

• Evening Patrol: The "Golden Hour" until dark is prime cricket time.
• Tight to the Bank: Fish the grassy edges where they fall in.
• The Twitch: A black cricket silhouette gently twitched on the surface is deadly.
• Mormon Crickets: In the West, Mormon Cricket migrations can cause massive feeding events similar to a cicada hatch. Use large (#4) patterns.
• Indicator: A foam cricket supports a dropper well and is visible in low light.

Recommended Patterns

• Foam: Morrish Hopper (Black), Black Chernobyl Ant.
• Natural: Letort Cricket (Deer hair), Dave's Cricket.
• Attractor: Fat Albert (Black).

Cricket populations are generally stable. They are an important food source for birds, reptiles, and fish.