S6, Ep 96: Central PA Late Summer Fishing Report with George Costa
In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa from TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for another insightful Central PA Fishing Report. George shares the latest updates on fishing conditions in the area, highlighting the significant improvements over the past few weeks. With recent high water levels dropping and temperatures becoming more reasonable, George reports that conditions are prime for late summer fishing.
George dives into the details, mentioning that popular spots like Little J, Spring Creek and Fishing Creek are in excellent shape with good flows and a touch of green. He notes that nymphs, particularly greenie weenies and small mayfly patterns, are performing well during the day. On the dry fly front, late summer terrestrials such as beetles, ants and crickets are proving effective. Additionally, anglers can expect to see some white flies, sporadic caddis, olives and tricos in the mornings.
Looking ahead, George discusses the anticipation of October caddis hatches and the potential for isonychia hatches as temperatures continue to cool. He also emphasizes the importance of streamer fishing during low light conditions, which should yield good results given the current water levels and temperatures.
Marvin and George also touch on the excitement of the fall fishing season and the various classes and events TCO Fly Shop has planned. From tying classes to on-the-water instruction, there's something for everyone looking to brush up on their skills. George encourages listeners to check out the shop's website for more information and to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities.
Don't miss this episode packed with valuable fishing tips, local insights and a touch of humor as Marvin and George navigate the ever-changing fishing conditions in Central PA.
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Marvin: Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of the Articulate Flower,
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Marvin: back with another Central PA Fishing Report with George Kost of TCO Fly Shop
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Marvin: 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: And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble, and you have a new job
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Marvin: title. You're the Cupcake Man.
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George: I am the Cupcake Man. Today was Cupcake Day for a staff employee's birthday.
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George: So we have cupcakes. It's going to be delightful.
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Marvin: Yeah, I thought maybe you had put like, you know, we're doing Kool-Aid and cookies
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Marvin: and like nap time mats in the back of the shop.
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George: That's every day that we don't need a birthday for that.
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Marvin: So, you know, I was out fishing. We didn't kind of speak on our kind of regular schedule.
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Marvin: So it's probably been a month since we chatted and you were telling me that
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Marvin: conditions have improved significantly in central PA.
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George: No, for sure. In the past couple of weeks, we had some high water a couple of
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George: weeks ago, which has since dropped and temperatures are much more reasonable
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George: than they were a few weeks back.
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George: So conditions are really, really good everywhere. All the levels are above seasonal.
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George: So Little J, Spring and Fishing Creek are all really prime right now.
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George: Pens has dropped really nicely and that's prime
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George: right now so we've got really good flows and the
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George: colors great got a little bit of green everywhere so conditions
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George: are good nighttime temps have been in the 40s and 50s the past few days so temps
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George: right now are not an issue so good flows good temps and the fishing has been
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George: really good the past couple days and by you know nymphs have been really working
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George: very well during the day with your standard things you know You know,
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George: greenie weenies and small mayfly patterns are working well on the nymph front.
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George: And dry fly action, terrestrials, beetles, ants, crickets, things like that.
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George: Those late summer patterns are working really well for us right now.
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George: Mayfly hatches, we're starting to see a handful of white flies here and there.
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George: And caddis have been around. There's some olives sporadically here and there.
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George: Tricos are still good in the morning.
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George: So plenty of action in the morning and throughout midday with the cooler temps
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George: has been great. So conditions are prime right now in central PA.
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George: Some really good late summer fishing.
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George: So I would not avoid fishing for the next week or so. Temperatures look like
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George: they're gonna be good for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
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George: So get out there if you can. Conditions have been great.
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Marvin: Yeah, and it's interesting, right? I mean, everyone's excited because of this little chill in the air.
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Marvin: Everyone's hopeful that this brutally hot summer we've had is gonna go into the books.
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Marvin: But do you guys get like an October caddis hatch up there? Is that something
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Marvin: people ought to start looking for?
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George: Um, I wouldn't start looking for them for a few more weeks. Um,
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George: they're definitely, you know, October caddis, we're going to see them in October.
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George: Um, so we should start seeing some ISOs maybe in the next week or two.
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George: I heard of a isolated hatch about a week ago of ISOs. So they're popping up
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George: sporadically this time of year.
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George: Um, and we'll start seeing them as it gets a little cooler, the leaves start
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George: turning a little more. I think we're a couple of weeks away from seeing them more consistently.
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George: Um, and you know, tank caddis have been around sporadically here and there.
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George: And the Octobras, you know, we're not going to see until mid to late September.
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George: But they're right around the corner. And I think the cooler water is,
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George: you know, and the higher water has definitely put the streamer bite on for sure.
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George: So low light conditions with the streamers should definitely move some fish.
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Marvin: Yeah, so October caddis is slightly ironic, right?
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George: It's very much ironic.
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Marvin: So, you know, folks, we love questions at the Articulate Fly.
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Marvin: You can email them to us or DM us on social media. And if we use your question,
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Marvin: I will send you some articulate fly swag.
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Marvin: And we are drawing for some cool stuff from the shop at the end of the season.
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Marvin: And, you know, a couple things happen, right? Fall, people start to get excited
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Marvin: again about, like, really getting after it.
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Marvin: But then it also means people are preparing for instruction and classes and
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Marvin: there might even be some sales. What have you got going on in the shop?
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George: Well, we got all sorts of classes going on this fall. We got a bunch of tying classes.
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George: We're going to have some more broom bugs on the schedule. We just had one last
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George: week that we had a great turnout for. So if you're looking to brush up on any
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George: of your skills, games, tying on the water, nymphing classes,
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George: streamer classes coming up, check out the website, pcoflyfishing.com.
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George: Under the Education tab, there's all sorts of stuff from all five of our stores
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George: now. So check that out and, you know, get yourself ready for fall.
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Marvin: Yeah, how about nunchuck skills?
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George: That's a private lesson, and I charge a pretty penny for that.
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Marvin: Well, there you go. Well, before I let you go, George, I just thought I had
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Marvin: to sneak that in there. My kids hate that movie.
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Marvin: But I couldn't resist. And before I let you go, and, you know,
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Marvin: I don't want to steal your thunder and tell people store location and hours
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Marvin: and all that kind of good stuff. So you want to let the folks know?
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George: Absolutely. So if you're in State College, we're here 9 to 6,
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George: Monday through Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sundays. days.
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George: We're right up here on State College Avenue and all our other stores have similar
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George: hours. So check us out online at tcoflyfish.com.
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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: Take it easy, Mark.
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