S7, Ep 106: Last Minute Gifts and Winter Tips: George Costa's Holiday Fishing Insights

EPISODE SUMMARY

Guest: George Costa - Shop Manager at TCO Fly Shop (State College, Pennsylvania)

In this episode: TCO Fly Shop manager George Costa delivers the final Central PA Fishing Report of 2025, covering late December winter fishing conditions as streams settle post-spawn with fish moving into deeper winter lies. Topics include holiday retail operations, nymphing strategies for cold water conditions and what's happening in the shop during the final week before Christmas.

Key fishing techniques covered:

• Deep nymphing in winter pools
• Post-spawn fishing strategies
• Streamer fishing in low, clear water
• Identifying winter lies and fish behavior

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania streams

Target species: Trout

Equipment discussed: Nymphing flies, 5x tippet, Yeti tumblers

Key questions answered:

• Where do trout hold during late December conditions?
• What tactics work for post-spawn winter fishing?
• When are TCO Fly Shop locations open during the holidays?
• What fishing shows will TCO attend in 2026?

Best for: Beginner to intermediate anglers interested in Central Pennsylvania winter fishing conditions and holiday fishing strategies

Marvin Cash00:00:00

Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly.We're back for the final Central PA Fishing Report of the year with George Costa himself from TCO Fly Shop and State College. George, how are you?

George Costa00:00:14

I am amazing as always. Marvin, how are you?

Marvin Cash00:00:17

That is incredible euphoria. I'm catching you a little later in the day, but to be in the thick of retail madness for the holidays, you sound awfully chipper.

George Costa00:00:25

It's not so bad around here. People coming in getting their last minute gifts for, for Santa Claus to deliver to all their fly fishing friends.So, you know, it's, it's, it's good. I like it.

Marvin Cash00:00:35

It's fun. Yeah. And you know, the great thing with the yeti tumblers is you can day drink and nobody knows.

George Costa00:00:40

This is very true. Yeah, this is very true.

Marvin Cash00:00:43

So, you know, looking at your weather, I think we, I don't know what the official term, what you guys like to say in Central pa, but I would say down here in the south, we say it's pretty cruddy, right?

George Costa00:00:51

Yeah, yeah. Somewhere along those lines. Weather has been all over the place. It's been warm the past couple days.We got a good shot of rain last night, which was actually much needed. So a lot of the snow on the ground has since melted from the rain and kind of dumped into the streams.Streams were really low out the gate, so it only bumped everything up, you know, a little bit, but nothing is blown out at all. Streams do have a little bit of color from all that rain and melt last night and the water's temps have definitely been cold.Fishing has been, it's been okay. I mean, you really got to work for them right now.Fish are kind of settling in post spawn streamer fishing has been kind of hit or miss with how low and clear it's been. But hopefully this little shot of water gets some fish moving on streamers. Dry fly activity.I saw a handful of midges out yesterday, but really nothing on top or nothing much to report on that front. Nymphing's really going to be your best bet. Just get your flies down deep in some of those deeper pools.Trout definitely have moved into the winter lies. Right now they're sitting in deeper water and just kind of hugging in the bottom waiting for any food to come past them.So if you can get out and you can fish this week, I'd say do it.It's definitely not, you know, hot and heavy out there, but it's, you know, I guess it's, it's better than sitting at home with the, with the in laws, I guess, this time of year during the holidays. So go fish.

Marvin Cash00:02:08

Go fish. Yeah, it'll keep you from being really, really bitter in February, right?

George Costa00:02:12

This is true.

Marvin Cash00:02:12

This is very true. So for all the procrastinators out there, I mean, we're inside a week to, to Christmas.You know, what are kind of things they can pick up in the shop? Obviously gift cards are always great, but you know, kind of what's going on in the shop, kind of holiday hours and all that kind of good stuff.

George Costa00:02:28

Yeah, I mean, we've got plenty of little gift ideas here for whoever you're buying some stuff for. Gift cards always make great ideas. Really good gifts are all the classes and stuff we're doing here at all of our locations.We've had a ton of classes this winter and some pretty good sales going on right now.So you can check that out on our website, TC fly fishing.com and yeah, I mean, you know, buy little gifts, buy things for those you, you like and you love and it'll be great. It's gonna be a great Christmas for everybody.

Marvin Cash00:02:54

Yeah, everybody just needs an extra spool of 5x tippet, right?

George Costa00:02:58

Absolutely.

Marvin Cash00:02:59

Yeah. And you know, a magnum of BlackBerry brandy works too. Right?

George Costa00:03:03

That'll work too. I'll have that as well.

Marvin Cash00:03:04

Yeah.And so kind of as we head into the home stretch, you know, before I get you on holiday hours and all that kind of good stuff, you know, people start to think about fly fishing shows. Where is TCO going to be in 2026 if people want to come out and kind of press the flesh?

George Costa00:03:17

Oh, we will be. As always, we're at the Edison show in New Jersey and then we'll be at the Lancaster show as well in March.So if you want to come up and see us there, we're going to be there. And shop hours are pretty much the same for all our shops.We are going to be closed Christmas Day and all of our shops are open nine to three Christmas Eve. So last minute, we'll be here on Christmas Eve till 3 o'. Clock.

Marvin Cash00:03:40

Gotcha. And how about on New Year's Eve?

George Costa00:03:43

New Year's Eve, same thing. Nine to three, closed New Year's Day.

Marvin Cash00:03:46

Well, there you go. Well, listen folks, I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas. Christmas. And a Happy New Year. Merry Christmas. And a happy New Year, George.

George Costa00:03:52

Happy holidays, Marvin.