S7, Ep 77: Fall Fishing Forecast: Navigating Low Water and Technical Tactics with George Costa

EPISODE SUMMARY

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

In this episode: TCO Fly Shop manager George Costa shares technical late-summer fishing strategies for Central Pennsylvania waters during low, clear conditions. Topics include finesse presentations, dry dropper techniques and seasonal transition tactics.

Key fishing techniques covered: • Dry dropper presentations with small chubbies or hoppers and ant patterns • Long leader stealth approaches for technical fishing • Evening caddis dry fly fishing tactics
• Morning trico hatches and blue-winged olive patterns • Finesse nymphing over heavy bottom-bouncing methods

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania streams and rivers, State College region

Target species: Wild and stocked trout

Equipment discussed: Long leaders, small hoppers, ant patterns, nymph droppers, Grundens gear, Simms equipment, Orvis products

Key questions answered: • How to fish low, clear water conditions effectively • What techniques work during late summer technical periods • When to use dry droppers versus traditional nymphing methods

Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers interested in technical fishing strategies and Central Pennsylvania seasonal tactics

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 Costa00:00:13

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

Marvin Cash00:00:15

And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble. And you're coming to me live from the storeroom in State College.

George Costa00:00:22

Oh, God, it's beautiful. Back here at scenery, I'm looking at Grundin's boxes, Sims boxes, Orvis boxes. What? What a sight. It's beautiful. We are stocked for fall. I'm ready.

Marvin Cash00:00:32

Are you ever clamped?

George Costa00:00:34

No, not so much today. Feeling okay?

Marvin Cash00:00:36

Yeah. So. So, you know, we looked, you know, it's kind of been interesting.We're going to warm up a little bit here in the mid Atlantic, but it's been nice and cool and dry, and you're actually a little cooler than we are here down in the Carolinas. And you're going to get a little bit of rain. What are you seeing on the water?

George Costa00:00:49

Yeah, we got a little splash of rain today. We're supposed to get some thunderstorms the next couple of days.The calling for maybe half an inch, maybe three quarters if we're lucky, which will be welcomed and needed. Water has been low and clear past few weeks.Temps have been really good, though, cool nights, and it's not been really above mid-70s for the past week and a half or so. So temps haven't been too much of an issue. But, you know, water's low, water's clear. It's definitely tough, technical fishing.Dry dropper has been working great with like a small chubby or a hopper, a little ant off the back, small nymphs. We're seeing some pretty good catus in the evening, so dry fly action in the evenings has been, you know, sporadic, but not bad.Tricos have been okay still in the mornings, they're definitely winding down. But some mornings are better than others as little quills around, you know, you got to work for the fish this time of year.You know, use those long leaders, stealthy approaches. You know, there's plenty of fish to be had. But now is not the time of year to be dragging nymphs along the bottom. Definitely a lot of grass.We need a good blowout to kind of clear that out. But fishing's been steady. If you know how to finesse at this time of year, that's basically the bottom line.

Marvin Cash00:01:54

Very, very neat. And we were talking before we started recording that you kind of got a little bit of the calm before the fall fishing storm.So you're doing all kinds of stuff like destination travel classes, probably sales. You want to kind of clue people in on some of that stuff.

George Costa00:02:06

Well, we're getting all our fall and winter classes lined up this year. Check out tco's website in the next couple of weeks for a full list of all our stores classes.We're gonna have a bunch of really cool tying classes here. We've got one tying class next week, which is sold out for some carp flies. That'll be fun with Trevor.And, you know, all the other stores are getting a bunch of really good classes together. Travel stuff has been good. We got some trips coming up. And, you know, check out the website for that.I've got a trip to the Bahamas coming up, and that's sold out. Montauk trip is sold out.So if you ever want to get in on any travel destinations or any questions about it, you know, give me a holler here at the shop. And it can certainly steer anybody in the right direction.

Marvin Cash00:02:45

Yeah, and if they give you 100 bucks, they can jump the line, right?

George Costa00:02:49

Absolutely, Absolutely. I love Greece in the wheels.

Marvin Cash00:02:52

There you go. And you know, in about a month, I can talk to you about BlackBerry brandy.

George Costa00:02:57

Not yet. Not till November. We know this.

Marvin Cash00:03:00

All right, well, I'll be patient. Well, folks, it's. It's a great time of the year to get out on the water. As always.Say yo it to yourself to get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody. Tight lines. George.

George Costa00:03:11

Take it easy, Marv.