S7, Ep 97: The Winter Transition: George Costa's Tips for Central PA Anglers

EPISODE SUMMARY

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

In this episode: Fly shop manager George Costa shares current late fall fishing conditions and tactical approaches for Central Pennsylvania trout waters. Topics include ethical spawning season fishing, low water tactics, seasonal fly patterns and winter preparation strategies.

Key fishing techniques covered:

• Nymphing with smaller mayfly patterns in low clear water
• Egg pattern presentations in deeper runs and pools
• Streamer fishing during lower light and overcast conditions
• Dry fly fishing to afternoon olive hatches
• Avoiding spawning redds and clear patches during spawn

Location focus: Central Pennsylvania trout streams, State College region

Target species: Wild and stocked trout (spawning season focus)

Equipment discussed: Smaller mayfly nymph patterns, egg patterns, streamer flies, dry flies for olive hatches

Key questions answered:

• How to fish ethically during spawning season
• What fly patterns work in low clear water conditions
• When to target trout with streamers in late fall
• Where to find olive hatches in November
• How to adjust tactics for winter fishing conditions

Best for: Beginner to intermediate anglers interested in Central Pennsylvania fishing, ethical angling practices, seasonal pattern selection and late fall/winter trout 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 took a look at your weather before we started recording. It looks like you're sliding down the slippery slope into gray winter.

George Costa00:00:25

It is true we had a little bit of snow, a little bit of precipitation earlier in the week, but it's definitely winter out there. It's getting cold. We're starting to get temps at night down into the freezing area. So late fall winter is starting to approach.Rivers and creeks are all pretty low and pretty clear still. We haven't gotten any significant rainfall, so we're still a little behind on where water levels should be.But other than that, the fishing has been fairly consistent. We're definitely seeing fish on red, so be mindful of spawning fish. Don't fish to those clear patches. Leave those fish alone.Let them do what they want to do.We're still seeing some olives here and there, which is nice if, you know, afternoon when it warms up a little bit, you can get some good dry fly action if you're after that. Nymphing has been pretty consistent with smaller, you know, mayfly patterns.Egg patterns are definitely working well in the deeper runs and the streamer bite has been okay ish, you know, lower light conditions. Those cloudier days have been better than the bright clear ones, especially with the low water.Usually we got a little more water, a little more col in the streams, and streamer bite will be better. But try early, try late. With the streamer, you'll definitely move some fish.But, you know, stay out of those spawning areas if you're throwing a streamer because you don't want to bother them. Other than that, you know, fishing's been consistent, decent, you know, fall fishing. So get out there if you can.I mean, not going to tell you not to fish, but just watch where you're fishing.

Marvin Cash00:01:53

Yeah, there you go.And of course, you know, I won't talk to you again until we're on the other side of Thanksgiving, which means the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Anything kind of planned for Black Friday you want to let folks know about?

George Costa00:02:05

I'm sure we'll have some really good sales and deals going on here at the shop. Keep an eye on our website. We'll have plenty of opportunities there to get all last season stuff and get some Good sales stuff.We've got some bunch of fun classes and all of our shops planned over the fall into the winter. So really great time of year to brush up on those tying skills. Take one of our tying classes.And we had a really good winter class coming up on some winter fishing with a couple of our guides. So that's a great opportunity. So check out the website for all of our classes and all of our sales.

Marvin Cash00:02:36

Very cool. And of course, it always, you know, gift cards. As my grandmother would say, always the right size, always the right color.

George Costa00:02:41

Yes, sir.

Marvin Cash00:02:43

There you go. And so how many days until BlackBerry brandy, George?

George Costa00:02:46

Seconds. We're seconds away. But I told you last time, I'd rather have whiskey this year.

Marvin Cash00:02:50

Yes. So folks, remember, I don't want to get the gout. There you go. You must. You must be getting old.So remember, folks, he likes a really good rye whiskey, so.

George Costa00:03:00

No, I like the cheap stuff. I want the cheap stuff. I want the rock good. Oh, I want to know. I'm drinking it.

Marvin Cash00:03:05

You know, like, what aristocrat do they make a rye?

George Costa00:03:08

An aristocrat, indeed.

Marvin Cash00:03:13

Most people won't even put that in their well at the bar. Right?

George Costa00:03:16

That's the good stuff. Yeah.

Marvin Cash00:03:18

There you go.Well, listen, before I let you go, you want to let folks know shop hours, any kind of holiday hours, you know, other than being closed for Thanksgiving and stuff like that.

George Costa00:03:26

Absolutely. Same as always. We're here, open 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday in State College, 9 to 3 on Sundays. All of our other locations are open similar hours.We are closed for Thanksgiving. Outside of that, we're open all through the holidays.

Marvin Cash00:03:40

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

George Costa00:03:46

Take it easy, Marv.