S7, Ep 70: The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George Costa

EPISODE SUMMARY

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

In this episode: Central PA fishing expert George Costa shares summer fishing strategies and current conditions for technical summer fishing. Topics include terrestrial season tactics, Trico hatch timing and stream temperature management.

Key fishing techniques covered: • Morning Trico dry fly fishing • Terrestrial pattern presentations • Stream temperature monitoring • Technical summer water approaches • Seasonal pattern transitions

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania streams, Spring Creek

Target species: Wild and stocked trout

Equipment discussed: Terrestrial patterns (hoppers, ants, beetles), Chubby Chernobyls, Trico patterns

Key questions answered: • How to fish terrestrials in summer conditions • When to target Trico hatches for best results • How to monitor water temperatures for safe fishing

Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers interested in technical summer fishing strategies and Central Pennsylvania waters

Marvin Cash00:00:00

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 Costa00:00:12

I'm amazing as always. Marvin, how are you?

Marvin Cash00:00:14

And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble.You know, we were comparing notes before we started recording and, you know, while we're a little bit cool, kind of on the eastern seaboard, we've gotten a ton of rain down here. But you haven't quite gotten the same rainfall we have. But you're still in pretty good shape, right?

George Costa00:00:29

Yes, indeed. So we got all our rain earlier in the year, but it's been kind of dry the past couple of weeks.We don't have any real precipitation for looks like the next, you know, seven to ten day forecast. But stream levels from all the rain we had earlier in the year are still good. So we've got slightly above average summer flows right now.So levels on pretty much everything have been, you know, seasonal summertime on the clear side, definitely getting into that tougher, technical, more summer type of fishing, but flows are not bad. Temps on the water definitely midday temps are starting to creep up and get a little too hot, especially in like the J or pen.So check your stream temps out there midday, so levels are not bad. And fishing has been pretty good though we've got good Trico action on most of the streams around here.Spring Creek especially, seeing really good Trico's in the morning. So good dry fly activity on that and terrestrial patterns have been working great. Chubby, Chernobyls, hoppers, ants, beetles, things like that.We're right in the thick of the terrestrial season right now. So fishing has been solid, it's been steady and consistent, which is nice.

Marvin Cash00:01:33

Yeah. And so we're gonna march into the dog days of summer. Right.And which means that at the shop you're probably getting ready for kind of the kickoff of kind of fall fishing and probably like fall slash winter education, right?

George Costa00:01:45

Yeah, for sure. We're gonna have a bunch of classes this coming season.Those will all probably be up within the next two to three weeks, maybe a little more, till we kind of get everything organized. So look for all our awesome fall classes, seminars, things like that. I'm sure we'll have a bunch fall into winter this year.And yes, you know, fall season's coming up, so we've definitely got some good sales up on the website with, you know, all this season stuff going on sale, so check that stuff out as well.

Marvin Cash00:02:12

Yeah. Well, there you go. And you know, folks, we love questions on the articulate fly. We didn't get one this time, and that makes George sad. Right, George?Sad.So, you know, if you want stickers, which these days, I keep telling folks, includes some stickers for the new podcast, the Butcher Shop, and to get entered in a drawing for some cool stuff from the shop at the end season, you need to send us questions.But, George, before I let you hop and return to the bliss that is retail fly fishing, you want to let folks know shop hours, location and all that kind of good stuff.

George Costa00:02:39

Absolutely. We're here. 23rd East College Avenue and State College. We are open 926- Monday- Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sundays.All of our other stores are open similar hours, so check out our website, tcflyfishing.com for all the info.

Marvin Cash00:02:54

There you go. And as folks, as I always say, this time of year, stay cool, but show it to yourself to get out there and catch a few. Tight lines, everybody.Tight lines, George.

George Costa00:03:02

Take it easy, Marvin.