S6, Ep 40: High Waters and Hatch Hopes with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop
Delve into the heart of Pennsylvania's fly fishing scene with host Marvin Cash as he checks in with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College on The Articulate Fly. George is buzzing with excitement as he reports from Muncy, PA, preparing to launch a new TCO location set to open its doors on April 26. Despite his travels, George brings us back to State College where the streams are swollen but promising, with spring creeks offering fishable conditions and hatches beginning to flourish.
As the waters slowly recede, George paints a picture of green, pushy flows and the challenge of navigating high levels. Yet, for the determined angler, there's reward to be found working the edges where Grannoms and Hendricksons are making their timely appearance. The duo discusses the recent weather's impact on the hatchery opener and the hopeful forecast ahead, suggesting clearer skies and better fishing days are on the horizon.
As Marvin celebrates the 800th episode milestone of The Articulate Fly, he extends an invitation for listener questions, with the promise of swag and the chance to win something special from the shop at season's end. So, whether you're a local or planning a visit to central PA's waters, tune in for the latest updates, sage advice and the camaraderie that comes from a shared passion for the perfect cast.
Remember to visit TCO Fly Shop for all your fishing needs, and when you're out on the water, stay safe and tight lines!
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Marvin: Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of the Articulate Fly,
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Marvin: and we're back with another Central PA Fishing Report with George Kost of TCO
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Marvin: Fly Shop and State College. George, how are you?
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George: I'm amazing as always, Marvin. How are you?
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Marvin: Ah, you're just happy because you're on the road, right?
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George: I am doing a little traveling today. I'm up here in Muncie, PA.
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George: We are getting our new TCO location up and running for opening on April 26th.
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George: So we're out here getting the store set up and excited for that to happen in about a week.
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Marvin: Very, very cool. And to kind of bring things back to State College,
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Marvin: you know, from all the questions I've gotten, it sounds like you still have
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Marvin: a pretty significant amount of water, right?
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George: Yeah, it is dropping slowly. So levels are dropping slowly on all of our streams. Spring is fishable.
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George: It's up and green. It's really pushy on the lower end. So below Belfont,
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George: downstream of Belfont, definitely a lot of water, kind of hard to get around, but fishable.
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George: Penns is fishable, but it is high and pushing. You're kind of limited as far
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George: as where you can go. You've got to kind of stick on the edges there.
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George: Little Jay is pretty much still kind of out of the question.
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George: It's pretty high. It bumped up a little bit more last night with last night's read.
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George: And now Fishing Creek is up and dirty. So everything is high and pushing and
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George: kind of tough to get around. But we are seeing some good hatches if you want to go work the edges.
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George: Granums are still good on spring. They're picking up on pens.
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George: They should be starting on the J.
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George: Not a lot of guys have been fishing the J since we have the high water.
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George: But there should be granums. There's Hendrickson's going.
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George: Olives have been really strong everywhere still. So we're getting into real prime hatch season.
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George: But the water just needs to cooperate. We need a couple days of clear weather
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George: to let these trees soak everything up and get the levels down to good fishing.
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Marvin: Yeah, but I guess, you know, the good news is looking at your weather,
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Marvin: you've probably got a relatively clear forecast for the next week to 10 days or so, right?
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George: Yeah, we're supposed to get a little bit of rain tomorrow morning or,
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George: you know, I don't think it's going to be much at all.
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George: They're calling for less than a quarter of an inch, but it looks fairly clear until mid next week.
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George: They're calling for more showers. You don't know what's going to happen until,
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George: you know, two hours before when the rain's moving in.
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George: So hopefully we get a little break in this rain and can really get our season underway.
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George: I mean, it's fishable. It's just, you know, limiting as far as how far you can
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George: get around in the stream. So just be careful wading out there.
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Marvin: Yeah, and I would imagine if you've had that much water, it kind of messed up
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Marvin: opening day for the hatchery folks, right?
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George: Oh, yeah, they had a hard time. We were really blown out on opening day.
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George: I know a couple people were kind of bemoaning it, but I mean,
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George: not much we can do. We can't control the weather. At least I can't yet.
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Marvin: You should work on that, George. I have faith in you.
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George: I'm trying to, man. I'm trying to.
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Marvin: Just add that to your repertoire. That would make you like guide of the year, you know?
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George: I like it. I like it.
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Marvin: You know, just a little hand movement, clouds come over, hatch goes off,
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Marvin: client's happy. That would be awesome.
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George: Let me get my staff.
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Marvin: Yeah, exactly. And so, you know, I know that, you know, you probably have some
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Marvin: lingering sales in State College, but I also know you're kind of gearing up
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Marvin: with your kind of how-to classes for fishing season. You want to let folks know about those?
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George: Sure. We've got some beginners classes still available for May in State College.
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George: We've got our NIMS classes.
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George: All of our other stores have tons of classes available this coming season.
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George: So check out the website for all of those.
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George: Again, we're really excited for the new Muncie store here in the Williamsport
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George: area to get opened up on the 26th. So make sure you guys come down for the 26th
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George: and check out the new store at the Euro Optics building in Muncie.
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George: We're stoked for that. And, you know, anything online on our sales page,
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George: we've still got plenty of things going on. And yeah, thanks for listening to
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George: Marvin and I talk every couple of weeks. We appreciate it.
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Marvin: Yeah, it's funny you say that. I think I texted you this morning.
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Marvin: You'd asked me, I think the last time we recorded, like, how long have we been
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Marvin: doing this? We've been doing this for four years.
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George: Yeah.
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Marvin: And this episode is the 800th episode.
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George: Congratulations. That's awesome, Marv. 800 episodes of the Articulate Fly.
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George: I know I've been on at least three of them.
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Marvin: And, George, I think the only thing we haven't covered today are state college
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Marvin: hours and all that kind of good stuff.
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George: Yep, and same as they ever are. Nine to six, Monday through Saturday,
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George: nine to three on Sundays.
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George: All our other stores are open similar hours. So check us out in the shop or online.
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Marvin: Yeah, I like that little talking head lead-in you had there at the beginning.
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George: Mmm.
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Marvin: Well, listen, folks, if you get out there, be careful waiting and catch a few.
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Marvin: Tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, George.
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George: Take it easy, Mark.
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