S7, Ep 86: Navigating Fall Waters: George Costa's Tips for Low and Clear Conditions

EPISODE SUMMARY

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

In this episode: Pennsylvania guide George Costa shares tactical adjustments for low, clear water conditions in Central PA. Topics include terrestrial fishing strategies, October Caddis hatches on Penns Creek and preparing for the upcoming steelhead season.

Key fishing techniques covered:

• Long leader presentations for low, clear water conditions
• Dry dropper rigs with terrestrials (hoppers, beetles, crickets) and small nymphs
• Working deeper slots and pockets in shallow water (12-24 inches)
• Downsizing flies and using lighter tippets for technical presentations
• Targeting October Caddis and Iso hatches on freestone streams

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania (Penns Creek, Spring Creek region, State College area), Erie tributary steelhead streams

Target species: Wild trout, stocked trout, steelhead (upcoming)

Equipment discussed: Long leaders, light tippets, terrestrial patterns (hoppers, beetles, crickets), small nymphs, olives, Tricos, October Caddis patterns, Iso patterns

Key questions answered:

• What fly fishing tactics work in low, clear water conditions?
• Where are trout holding during late summer drought conditions?
• What hatches are active in Central Pennsylvania in early fall?
• When does Pennsylvania steelhead season begin?
• How to adjust presentations for technical, low water fishing?

Best for: Beginner to advanced anglers interested in seasonal tactics, Pennsylvania trout fishing, low water strategies and regional fishing reports

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 Cash00:00:15

And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble. And you know, your. Your fly fishing party bus continues to roll. You're heading out of town for another event.

George Costa00:00:23

Yeah, I'm gonna be up trying to catch a muskie and the gainy, so we'll see how that goes. We get the Beast of the east tournament put on by Nittany Valley Muskie alliance this weekend. It's a great tournament.A lot of teams in it this year, so it should be some pretty good competition. Always a great event hosted by those guys.

Marvin Cash00:00:39

Very, very cool and kind of coming back home, right? I looked at your weather. Kind of dry and cool and kind of seasonable, right?

George Costa00:00:45

Yeah, it's seasonable. It's definitely cooled down a little bit. Temps at night have been chilly. It looks like we're going to be in the 40s.You know, daytime temps up in the 70s. It's dry, though. Not a lot of rain. Maybe a little bit midweek. They're calling, which is must needed because.Much needed because all of our, you know, rivers right now are low and clear. People are asking what's fishing good right now? Everything's kind of fishing. I wouldn't say anything's fishing great.Just those low, clear water is making, you know, life a little harder, more technical. Long leaders, lighter tippets, smaller flies have really been the key to success the past couple of weeks. There's still plenty of dry fly going on.We've got dry droppers are working good. So those terrestrials, those hoppers, beetles, crickets, small nymph off the back has been working good. Olives have been around.There's a handful of Tricos here and there still in the morning. You know, they're pretty spotty right now. ISOs and October Catus have been good on like pens in the J.There's plenty of those bugs around, so if you want to get some bigger dry fly action, look for them and just check them. You know, just. Just work those deeper slots. That's really where most of the fish have been. You know, anything a foot, foot and a half, two feet deep.That's where a lot of these fish are holding.And you know, conditions are not ideal because it's just low and clear, but the temps have been good, so don't have any Fear going out there and catching some fish.

Marvin Cash00:02:04

There you go. And you know, what you got going on in the shop. I think the last time we spoke, you had some classes.You were getting kind of primed for instructional season. And new inventory was showing up too, right?

George Costa00:02:13

For sure. For sure. We had lots of classes in all of our shops this coming fall into the winter.Good tying classes, you know, just all sorts of fun things to do to keep. Keep you busy over the winter and the fall months. You know, we're not too far from Steelhead Season 2.We got a great steelhead class coming up in a few weeks. So check that out if you want to get in on the steelhead action. As soon as they get some water up there, it's going to go crazy.I know all the steelhead streams have been low and clear and there's a lot of fish starting to stack up at the trib mouth, so that's getting ready to blow up too. So check out the classes online. All of our shops have some great listings, so that'll. That'll make it fun for you.

Marvin Cash00:02:48

There you go. And what's the countdown to BlackBerry brandy.

George Costa00:02:52

Two months after Thanksgiving? After Thanksgiving. Marvin.

Marvin Cash00:02:54

I gotcha.

George Costa00:02:55

Well, sorry.

Marvin Cash00:02:57

Just an eager beaver there. Well, listen, listen, folks, you know, send us your questions because we want to keep George happy.And you know, as I always say, this time of year, yo it to yourself to get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody. Tight lines.

George Costa00:03:10

George, take it easy, Marv.