S7, Ep 57: Cicada Mania: Central PA Fishing Insights with George Costa

EPISODE SUMMARY

Guest: Regional Fishing Report - Central PA with George Costa, TCO Fly Shop (State College, PA)

In this episode: TCO Fly Shop's George Costa delivers a Central Pennsylvania fishing report highlighting exceptional cicada fishing during the 17-year emergence cycle. Topics include current water conditions, cicada fishing strategies and seasonal insect activity in Central PA streams.

Key fishing techniques covered: • Cicada pattern fishing • Dry fly presentations for seasonal hatches • High water fishing strategies • Stream temperature monitoring during hot weather • Pattern selection for 17-year cicada emergence

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania streams and rivers

Target species: Trout (implied from discussion of stream temperatures and insect hatches)

Equipment discussed: Cicada patterns, Cahill patterns, Iso patterns, golden stone patterns

Key questions answered: • How to fish cicada patterns during 17-year emergence • What are current Central PA stream conditions • When will cicada fishing remain productive • What other insects are active besides cicadas

Best for: All level anglers interested in Central Pennsylvania fishing conditions, cicada fishing strategies and seasonal hatch timing

Marvin Cash00:00:04

Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of the Articulate Fly. We're back with another Central PA Fishing report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College. George, how are you?

George Costa00:00:13

I am amazing as always, Marvin. Absolutely amazing.

Marvin Cash00:00:18

Wow. Maybe you had an extra espresso this morning.

George Costa00:00:21

I did actually have an extra one this morning. You called me out on that 100%.

Marvin Cash00:00:27

Coked up, but not in an illegal way exactly.

George Costa00:00:30

Just heavily caffeinated.

Marvin Cash00:00:31

Yeah, so you were telling me. I looked at your weather before we started recording. We've been roasting in the mid Atlantic.It sounds like maybe you got some of that, but you've got kind of significantly cooler temperatures like in the 80s and rain. So things are probably pretty good in your neck of the woods.

George Costa00:00:45

Well, the past three, four days it has been hot. It's been in the 90s here in central PA, so it's been a little roasty toasty out there. It's cooled off a little bit today.So as far as the weather goes, we've got some showers here and there. And even with the heat, the stream temps have been on the good side because we've got so much water still.Everything is two to three times above what we normally have here seasonally for water. So we're still dealing with a lot of high water, a lot of off color water.We got a splash of rain last night, but the stream temps have been holding their own. Haven't seen anything really creep up much more than 63, 64 when it was really hot the other day.But most of the streams, the temps have been good just because the flows have been so high. Um, and on the fishing front it has been nothing but cicadas. I mean the cicadas are holding strong still.I think we will get another week out of them and then I expect cicada patterns to fish for at least a few more weeks because the fish are so keyed in on them. So the cicada mania is still going strong. You gotta get out, you gotta find them.They are starting to wind down in some areas, but there's still plenty around and fish are still eating them. Other bugs, Cahills, ISOs, golden stones are around on top.And literally I've heard of nobody else fishing anything other than cicadas lately because you know, why wouldn't you once every 17 years.So if you can make it up here and catch the tail end of the cicadas, I would definitely do that in the next week because it's still fishing really, really well. And we've had a lot of good fish, a lot of big numbers days. Guys are loving it.

Marvin Cash00:02:18

Well, there you go.And I would imagine probably, you know, heading into the fourth of July weekend, you might have some special things going on at the shop you want to let folks know about.

George Costa00:02:27

Nothing crazy special as far as the fourth goes. You know, we've got a bunch of stuff on sale right now on our website, TCO Fly fishing dot com. We got a couple new classes put up for the summer.We got a good bass tying class going on here at the end of July with Caleb, one of our shop guys. He's going to be doing some small mouth patterns. So check out our website for all the deals and all the classes.And yeah, that's pretty much all we got going on up here. We're just trying to get through busy, busy season and, you know, maybe wind down a little bit in the next few weeks.

Marvin Cash00:02:58

Yeah, so you're not doing like, you know, get a free broad if you buy a pair of waiters or get a box of Roman candles if you buy a vice or saddle hackle or something like that.

George Costa00:03:06

I'm. We literally have a fireworks store right next door to us. So maybe we will do that Roman candle deal. I like this.

Marvin Cash00:03:12

I see.

George Costa00:03:12

How to get us how to get a spot on the water when it's busy as a pack of Roman candles. You just kind of scare everybody off.

Marvin Cash00:03:19

There you go. Well, you know.

George Costa00:03:20

Love it.

Marvin Cash00:03:21

Yeah, exactly. And you know folks, we love questions on the articulate fly. We didn't get one this time.And you know, if George wasn't hyper caffeinated, he'd be sad. So that'd be a bad thing, right?

George Costa00:03:29

It's true.

Marvin Cash00:03:30

Yeah. But you know, as I always say, email me or DM me on social media, whatever is easiest for you.And if we use your question, I will send you some articulate fly swag, which these days includes a sticker or two about the butcher shop, our new podcast on predator flies and all that kind of good stuff. And then we enter into drawing for some cool stuff from the shop at the end of the season.So, you know, George, you want to let us know shop hours, location and all that good stuff. And also too, since I won't speak to you again before the 4th of July if you guys are closed or have any special hours.

George Costa00:03:58

Oh yeah, for sure.So our normal shop hours are Monday through Saturday here in State College, 9 to 6, Sundays, 9 to 3, 4th of July, we will be open 9 to 3 all of our stores except I believe for Muncie will be open 9 to 3 on the 4th. And, yeah, get us on the web@tcofly fishing.com.

Marvin Cash00:04:15

Yeah. Well, there you go. Well, folks, as I always say, yo, it's yourself to get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody. Tight lines. George.

George Costa00:04:22

Take it easy, Mark.