S7, Ep 89: Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa's Insights on Low Water and Seasonal Strategies

EPISODE SUMMARY

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

In this episode: TCO guide George Costa shares essential technical tactics for low, clear water fall fishing in Central Pennsylvania. Topics include adapting to challenging autumn conditions, preparing for seasonal transitions and steelhead opportunities.

Key fishing techniques covered:

• Light tippet nymphing (6-7x) for low, clear water
• Long leader presentations for technical conditions
• Timing limited afternoon bite windows
• Transitioning from terrestrial patterns to fall mayflies
• Preparing for the fall streamer bite

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania, State College area streams

Target species: Trout (resident stream trout), steelhead (upcoming)

Equipment discussed: 6-7x tippet, small nymphs, terrestrial patterns (ants, hoppers), October caddis, olive patterns, Iso patterns, streamer patterns

Key questions answered:

• How to fish low, clear water in fall
• What tippet size for technical autumn conditions
• When does the fall streamer bite turn on in Central PA
• When do steelhead runs begin in Pennsylvania
• What are current bite windows in fall fishing

Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers interested in technical fall fishing tactics, low water strategies and Central Pennsylvania seasonal transitions

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, TCO fly shop in State College. George, how are you?

George Costa00:00:13

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

Marvin Cash00:00:16

And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble. And all joking aside, you guys are firmly in pumpkin spice latte land now in State College.

George Costa00:00:23

Oh, very much so. I've got my turtleneck on and everything. It is, it is fall. Our temps are dropping.We had the first little frost of the year out here in the State College area last night. So temps are dropping and it is, it is officially fall. Water is still low and clear. We haven't gotten a good push of fall rain yet.We are slated to get a little bit Sunday into Monday. You know, went from an inch forecast yesterday to about a half inch now, so I guess we'll take what we can get. Levels are seasonal.They're just kind of below seasonal averages right now. So we're not that far off. But rain would be a good thing.Fishing on the fishing front, you know, we're still seeing some terrestrials work in the late afternoons, ants hoppers when it warms up a bit. But I think with this cold weather that's probably going to shut that down. There's still some Octobers around, Some olives have been around.ISOs have been sporadic, so not a ton on top. But nymphing has been, you know, small stuff, light tippet, long leaders. That's really been the key. Right now, as you know, we're down.We're using 6, 7x. With this low clear water, it's going to be way more productive than, you know, some thicker tippets. So take your time, work the water.Well, a lot of the guides have been reporting on. I've seen it too. The past couple of weeks just bite windows have been, you know, limited.You get a two, three hour window in the afternoon and then the fishing's just been kind of on the slow end. So fishing's been tough, it's been technical, but with this cold weather, the fish should really start moving. Starting to get those nice full colors.Hopefully a little push of water is going to turn the streamer bite on because we are just about there.

Marvin Cash00:02:00

Yeah, I'd say. And the rain's also gonna turn on the steelhead bite, right?

George Costa00:02:04

Oh, for sure, for sure. I mean, they need a lot of water up there to get those fish in there.But I think, you know, steelhead should really start picking up in the Next couple weeks.

Marvin Cash00:02:12

Yeah, and as always, I know you're just a busy bee at the shop. You got probably sales getting ready for Black Friday. You got classes and trips. You wanna let folks know about all that good stuff?

George Costa00:02:22

Yeah, we got a ton of classes lined up for the fall and winter in all our locations. So check out TCO's website, tco fly fishing.com call, click on any of the stores there and all the links.They'll get you to all the classes we're offering through the fall and winter. We got a bunch of stuff lined up here at State College and I know all the other shops too, as well.So plenty of opportunity to get out, get out there and learn some stuff this winter and get you ready for next season.

Marvin Cash00:02:44

And only five weeks to BlackBerry Brandy.

George Costa00:02:47

Oh, yes. Five weeks away. It's going to be great. It's going to be great. Well, a year of mirth.

Marvin Cash00:02:53

Yeah, exactly. And you know, folks, we love questions on the articulate fly. Please send us some questions because if you don't, we don't get questions.George is sad and we don't like George to be sad.

George Costa00:03:02

Sad.

Marvin Cash00:03:02

Yeah. Seasonal Affective Disorder is just around the corner and we don't want to make it worse. Right.So folks is like, well, actually, I can't even do that yet. I actually got ahead of myself. George, you need to let folks know where to find you in hours. And if you forgot, I remember.

George Costa00:03:17

So I don't think I forgot. We're here Monday through Saturday, 9 to 6, 9 to 3 on Sundays here in State College. All of our other stores are open similar hours.Get us on the web at tcoflyfishing. Com and give a call if we can help you out with anything.

Marvin Cash00:03:32

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

George Costa00:03:38

Take it easy, Marvin.