S6, Ep 111: Fall Fishing Forecast and Steelhead Prep: George Costa's Central PA Report
In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash catches up with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College for another Central PA Fishing Report. George shares his humorous take on his health regimen and dives into the current fishing conditions in Central Pennsylvania. With cooler temperatures and a bit of rain, the fall fishing season is shaping up nicely. George highlights the effectiveness of terrestrials like ants, beetles, crickets and hoppers, while smaller nymphs are also producing good results. Streamer fishing is still a few weeks away, but the fish are beginning to prepare for pre-spawn, making it an exciting time on the water.
George provides updates on the local hatches, including Isos, caddis, olives and October caddis. He also shares information about upcoming classes at TCO Fly Shop, such as tying classes, on-the-water instruction and specialized courses like the streamer and Euronymphing classes. Notably, Steelhead Steve will be conducting a steelhead-specific class on October 19th, perfect for those looking to gain in-depth knowledge about steelhead fishing.
Marvin encourages listeners to send in their questions to keep George happy and to get a chance to win some Articulate Fly swag and be entered into a drawing for cool shop prizes at the end of the season. Don't miss this episode packed with practical fishing tips, local insights and a touch of humor.
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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 Costa of TCO Fly Shop
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Marvin: and State College. George, how are you?
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George: I look and feel fantastic, Marvin. Thank you so much for asking.
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Marvin: Wow, look and feel. That's amazing. So what are you doing? Are you doing like super greens, you know?
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George: Everything. I'm on the paleo diet. I'm on the Atkins diet. I'm on the super greens diet. it.
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George: I'm biking 60 miles a day. Um, and I'm also a liar.
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Marvin: Yeah. And you're chasing the dragon's tail. We know.
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George: Exactly. No, I'm not chasing the dragon.
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Marvin: Uh, well, you know, it sounds like you've, uh, you got a little,
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Marvin: uh, kind of shop, uh, shop nasties today, but, uh, it looks like you're kind
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Marvin: of, you're consistently cooling off, getting a little bit of rain.
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Marvin: So probably kind of perfect fall conditions in central PA.
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George: Yeah i mean the temperatures are great have
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George: been great the past week it's not been really above 80 degrees nights
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George: have been cool foggy misty for the past
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George: couple days and we got a little bit of rain hopefully come
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George: in next week early which will be welcome we could use a little water everything's
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George: pretty much at seasonal levels pens are still seasonally high which is nice
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George: and it's been fishing really well um the jay spring um fishing creek are all
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George: low and clear so the typical early Early fall, late summer conditions,
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George: you know, tougher technical fishing, but the fishing has been really good.
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George: Terrestrials are still really dominating what's been working well with ants,
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George: beetles, crickets, hoppers in some spots working really good.
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George: Smaller nymphs have been working well. Haven't heard a lot of people really
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George: using streamers the past couple of weeks. The water's so low and clear, really.
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George: We're not quite into streamer weather yet. I think maybe two or three more weeks
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George: when it starts really chilling down, those fish are going to start getting pre-spawn
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George: mode. and streamers will start working great.
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George: Bugs on top, iso, caddis, olives, some October caddis have been around.
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George: So plenty of opportunities.
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George: And, you know, with the nice cooler temperatures, fishing has been solid and
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George: steady the past few weeks and should continue to be so.
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Marvin: Well, there you go. You know, you would think those October caddis would get
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Marvin: a calendar at some point, right? Yeah.
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George: I really don't know how to read. That's the problem. I blame the Romans.
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Marvin: Yeah, we'll work on that. And so, you know, as we always say,
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Marvin: as you head into fall, you've got probably end of season sales and probably
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Marvin: classes and probably some broom bug stuff you want to let folks know about.
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George: Oh, yeah, for sure. We got a lot of good classes coming up this fall.
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George: Plenty of tying classes, some on the water instruction.
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George: We've got a streamer class, Euro class. last.
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George: Broom Bugs is on the 17th. We're doing steelhead patterns with Steelhead Steve.
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George: He's also doing a steelhead specific class on the 19th.
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George: So if you want to really learn some good steelhead knowledge,
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George: he's the guy to get the class from. So that's coming up on October the 19th.
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George: And all of our other shops have tons of other classes as well.
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George: So check out pcoflyfishing.com. Look at all the classes and see everything we got to offer.
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Marvin: Yeah, it's interesting. All the steelhead guides I know are getting excited
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Marvin: because the fish are starting to show up, right?
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George: Yep, yep. We're pretty close. There's plenty of salmon coming in up on Pulaski in New York.
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George: Salmon have started coming in. I think we're, you know, one big rainstorm and
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George: a couple weeks away from steelheads showing up, probably mid-October,
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George: but they're right around the corner.
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Marvin: Yeah, and you know, folks, we love questions on the Articulate Fly.
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Marvin: And when we don't have a question, it makes George sad.
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Marvin: So we want George to be happy. And so, and if we use your question,
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Marvin: I will send you some articulate fly swagging or drawing for some cool stuff
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Marvin: from the shop at the end of the season.
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Marvin: And George, I don't want to keep you from your retail bliss.
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Marvin: You want to let folks know shop hours and all that kind of good stuff?
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George: Absolutely. Monday through Saturday, 9 to 6.
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George: Sunday, 9 to 3. All of our other shops have similar times. And yeah, come see us. We're here.
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Marvin: There you go. Well, listen, folks, as I always say, yo it to yourself to get
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Marvin: out there and catch a few. you. Tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, George.
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George: Take it easy, Mark.
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