S6, Ep 57: Central PA Update: George Costa on Post-Drake Season and Local Streams
Join host Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly for an insightful "Central PA Fishing Report" with George Costa from TCO Fly Shop in State College. In this episode, George provides an update on the local fishing conditions, noting that the recent rains have subsided, leaving creeks in fantastic shape. With flows around average or slightly above, anglers can expect good color and optimal conditions on streams like Spring, Penns and Fishing Creek.
As the guide season transitions into summer, George discusses the post-Drake period and the emergence of smaller sulphurs, which are showing up late in the evening. He also mentions the appearance of isonychias, cahills and tan caddis in the afternoons. Terrestrial patterns like ants, beetles and green weenies are becoming increasingly effective, making it a great time for dry fly and nymphing activities, especially on cloudier days.
So, whether you're hitting the water late for those evening hatches or gearing up for the All Fins in Fly Fishing tournament, this episode is packed with valuable insights to enhance your fishing adventures. Tight lines, everyone!
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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 Kostef,
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Marvin: TCO Fly Shop and State College. How are you, George?
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George: I'm amazing, as always, Marvin. How are you?
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Marvin: I'm living the dream, and you know, it's kind of funny, I guess finally the
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Marvin: rains have subsided and you guys are drying out, right?
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George: Yeah, not too bad. We got a little shot of rain the other night,
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George: which is good. So all of the creeks around here are actually in fantastic shape
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George: compared to last year. We had very little water.
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George: This year we are about average, maybe a little above average.
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George: So flows are good on all the local streams, Spring, Penns, Jay,
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George: Fish and Creek. Flows are good. There's good color.
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George: And no complaints on the amount of water we've had in the past couple weeks.
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George: It's been just the right amount, in my opinion.
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Marvin: Oh, well, there you go. It's like the three little bears.
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George: Exactly.
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Marvin: So you're saying you're kind of transitioning, you're kind of winding down out
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Marvin: of your, you're the busiest part of your guide season and you're starting to
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Marvin: kind of move into maybe summer hatches. What are you seeing on the water?
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George: Yep. So we're pretty much wearing that post Drake doldrums right now.
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George: Um, so Drake pretty much wrapped up the last week, not any of them left around.
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George: So we're kind of transitioning, um, into the smaller sulfurs right now.
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George: Uh, they are still around on all the local stream.
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George: You got to stay late, though. They're really not showing up on the water until,
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George: you know, 7.30, 8 o'clock at night.
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George: So, sulfurs are still around. We're starting to see some isos,
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George: starting to see some cahills around.
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George: Tank hatties are going pretty good in the afternoon. Definitely a good shift
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George: into the terrestrial game right now with ants and beetles. And greenie weenies
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George: starting to work really well here.
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George: So, we're getting that shift into our late spring, early summer kind of bug pattern.
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George: Um, dry fly activity is definitely good in the evenings. Nymphing has been good all day.
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George: Um, and just look for those, you know, cloudier days. If you want to get dry
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George: flies, they're going to be a little better.
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George: So you'd want to focus more, um, those timeframes then don't,
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George: don't expect much mid afternoon here.
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George: 12 to like five has definitely been a little on the slower side.
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George: So, um, get out late if you want to get the better hatches.
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Marvin: Yeah. It sounds like a late lunch, two IPAs and then hit the water, right?
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George: Exactly. And a nap. And a nap.
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Marvin: Are you back on the nap time program, George?
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George: I wish I could have a nap, Marvin. I wish I had time this time of year. No nap for me.
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Marvin: And we were talking before we started recording that you've got an exciting
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Marvin: event coming up in a couple weeks.
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George: Yeah, we sure do. We have next weekend, the 8th and the 9th,
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George: we have our 5th Annual Olphans in Fly Fishing Tournament here in central Pennsylvania.
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George: It's a great tournament, catching as many species as you possibly can.
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George: Again, all the proceeds from it go to Clearwater Conservancy,
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George: which does amazing work here in central Pennsylvania to protect the watersheds
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George: we have around here. So it's a really fun event.
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George: We've been doing it for the past five years. Check out our website,
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George: tcoflyfishing.com to get signed up for it.
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George: And just it's a great event. I hope more people get involved in it.
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Marvin: Yeah, absolutely. And speaking about getting involved, you know,
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Marvin: George was very disappointed that he didn't have a question today,
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Marvin: folks. So remember, he's sad, and we don't like him to be sad because then he
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Marvin: drinks, and that's not good, right?
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George: It is. Well, I mean, it depends on what I'm drinking. It can be very good.
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Marvin: So, you know, as we always say, we love questions on the Articulate Fly.
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Marvin: You can email them to us or DM us on social media, whatever is easiest for you.
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Marvin: And if we use your question, I will send you some Articulate Fly swag.
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Marvin: We are drawing for some cool stuff from the shop at the end of the season.
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Marvin: And, George, we've told people, you know, where to go to get information on
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Marvin: the fishing tournament.
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Marvin: You want to let folks know shop hours, location, and all that kind of good stuff?
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George: Absolutely. Our hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 to 6 here in State College.
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George: Sunday is 9 to 3. Our other stores are open similar hours.
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George: Get us on the web at tcoflyfishing.com. And you stop in the shop,
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George: get any questions, and we'll get you set up for the summer.
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Marvin: There you go. Well, listen, folks, as I always say, you owe it to yourself to
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Marvin: get out there and catch a few. Tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, George.
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George: All right, take it easy, Mark.
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