S8, Ep 11: Snow Melt and Spring Awakening: Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa
Episode Overview
In this Central PA Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania for a late-winter conditions update. George covers current water levels and clarity across several iconic Centre County streams — including the Juniata River, Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek — as heavy snowmelt pushes flows up and drops visibility. Despite the off-color, elevated conditions, George is optimistic: a few Blue-Winged Olives have already been spotted, nymphing has been consistent and a full late-winter/early-spring insect emergence looks imminent in the next two to three weeks. Anglers planning trips to Central PA trout water should temp the streams before wading — air temps in the mid-40s can be deceiving when snowmelt is actively cold-charging the system. The conversation also covers TCO's upcoming presence at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show, a packed class schedule across all shop locations through early spring and a first look at the new Grundéns Rock Armor wading boots, which TCO is among the first retailers to stock before they're even live on the Grundéns website.
Key Takeaways
- How to set expectations for Central PA streams in late winter when heavy snowmelt is elevating flows and dropping clarity across multiple watersheds.
- Why water temperature can be unusually cold even when air temps feel mild, and why checking water temp before wading is essential during active snowmelt events.
- When to plan your Central PA dry fly trips: George signals the Blue-Winged Olive hatch is weeks away from breaking wide open.
- How to use the pre-season window productively by attending TCO's late-winter fly fishing classes across their Pennsylvania shop locations.
- Why the new Grundéns Rock Armor boots are worth watching, with TCO among the earliest retailers to have them in stock.
Techniques & Gear Covered
Nymphing is the dominant tactic for Central PA trout during the current late-winter/snowmelt window, with George noting it has been consistent despite not yet reaching its seasonal peak. The conversation anticipates a shift toward dry fly fishing as water temperatures rise and the Blue-Winged Olive hatch accelerates over the next few weeks — a classic late-winter to early-spring transition for Pennsylvania limestone streams. On the gear side, the notable mention is the new Grundéns Rock Armor wading boots, which TCO Fly Shop in State College is stocking ahead of the general retail release; no other specific rod, reel or fly patterns were discussed in this report segment.
Locations & Species
This episode focuses entirely on Central Pennsylvania limestone and freestone trout streams in late winter. The primary waters discussed are the Juniata River (elevated and off-color from snowmelt), Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek — all experiencing increased flows and reduced clarity as the snowpack drains into the watershed. Target species are wild brown trout and rainbow trout, consistent with the Central PA catch-and-release freestone and limestone spring creek fisheries. Conditions reflect a classic late-February snowmelt transition: still cold, flows running above seasonal averages, but with early insect activity signaling the imminent arrival of prime spring fishing.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What are current Central PA stream conditions in late winter?
Multiple key streams including the Juniata River, Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek are running elevated and off-color due to heavy snowmelt. George Costa describes conditions as typical late-winter, with flows expected to continue rising over the following days as the snowpack drains.
Why should anglers check water temperature before fishing during snowmelt?
Even when air temperatures are in the mid-40s°F, active snowmelt introduces very cold water into streams, suppressing fish metabolism and activity. George recommends tempering expectations and checking actual water temp before committing to a wade, as the water can be significantly colder than the air suggests.
When will dry fly fishing pick up on Central Pennsylvania trout streams?
George spotted the first Blue-Winged Olives of the season just before the report and anticipates the hatch breaking open meaningfully within two to three weeks as water temperatures rise. Anglers should keep calendars clear for late-February into March.
How has nymphing been performing during the late-winter period in Central PA?
Nymphing has been consistent but not exceptional, which is normal for the late-winter pre-hatch window. George expects a significant improvement in fishing across the board as conditions warm and bug activity increases.
Where can anglers take fly fishing classes at TCO Fly Shop before the spring season?
TCO Fly Shop has classes running through early spring at their State College location and all other Pennsylvania stores. Details and registration are available at tcoflyfishing.com, and TCO will also have a presence at the upcoming Lancaster Fly Fishing Show.
Related Content
S6, Ep 30 - Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
S6, Ep 48 - Rain or Shine: Central PA's Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
S7, Ep 36 - Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop
S5, Ep 145 - Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
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In this episode of The Articulate Fly, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania for the latest Central PA Fishing Report. George covers late-winter conditions across the region's most storied limestone and freestone waters — including Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata River — noting that snowmelt has pushed flows up and off-color throughout most watersheds. Water temperatures remain cold despite warming air, and George advises anglers to temper expectations for a few more weeks while hinting that a blue-winged olive hatch and stronger nymphing action are right around the corner. The conversation also touches on upcoming fly fishing shows, TCO's spring class schedule and the arrival of new Grundéns Rock Armor wading boots in the State College shop.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Guest: George Costa – Fly Shop Manager/Guide at TCO Fly Shop (State College, Pennsylvania)
In this episode: George Costa of TCO Fly Shop shares a late-winter Central Pennsylvania fishing report, covering current stream conditions, expected hatch activity and upcoming events for fly anglers planning spring trips to the limestone streams of central PA. Topics include snowmelt effects on stream levels and water clarity, blue-winged olive hatch timing, nymphing strategies for cold water conditions and fly fishing education opportunities.
Key fishing techniques covered:
- Nymphing in late-winter/early-spring limestone streams
- Dry fly fishing timed to blue-winged olive (BWO) hatch activity
- Reading and adjusting to off-color, elevated flows from snowmelt
- Monitoring water temperature before fishing cold post-snowmelt conditions
Location focus: Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and Juniata River — Central Pennsylvania limestone and freestone watersheds
Target species: Wild brown trout, wild rainbow trout (central PA limestone stream trout)
Equipment discussed: Grundéns Rock Armor wading boots (new release, available at TCO State College); TCO Fly Shop spring merchandise and gear
Key questions answered:
- What are current fly fishing conditions on Spring Creek and Penns Creek in late winter?
- When does the blue-winged olive hatch start in Central Pennsylvania?
- How does snowmelt affect trout fishing conditions in Pennsylvania limestone streams?
Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers planning spring trips to central Pennsylvania trout waters, particularly those targeting Spring Creek, Penns Creek and Fishing Creek during the BWO hatch window.
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Marvin Cash
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 Costa
I'm amazing as always. Marvin, how are you?
Marvin Cash
And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble. Took a look at your weather. It looks kind of icky, like cold and rainy, slash snowy, right?
George Costa
Yeah, Nothing, nothing. Amazing. On the weather front. It's been warmed up a lot, so we are getting a lot of snow melt right now.A lot of the snow that we had on the ground is melting and getting into the water. So some of the creeks are starting to creep up a lot. Some more than others. The j came up a lot in the past few days.It's definitely high and off color. Spring and Fishing Creek are melting a little more slowly. Smaller watersheds, so they're up with off color but still on the seasonal low side.And same thing with Penns. It's definitely going to get a lot more water in the Penn's watershed in the next couple of days with that snow melting.So everything' little up, everything's a little off color. You know, typical late winter kind of conditions right now. And that's pretty much what we got going on.Dry fly action is probably going to start picking up soon. And we're starting.We saw a couple of olives the other day, so I think in the next couple weeks it'll definitely break open when it warms up a bit more. So we should see some good bugs starting to move around a bit. Nymphing has been kind of consistent.It's not been great yet, but I think we're going to break open probably within the next couple of weeks here. So keep your, keep your calendars clear.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, got it.And so is it worth giving folks the PSA that even though it's like 45 degrees outside, the water might be really, really cold with that snow melt, so they should temp it out first.
George Costa
Yeah, water's definitely going to be cold for the next couple of weeks, but we're almost there. We're almost there. The fishing is not quite beefed up yet, but it's going to be soon.
Marvin Cash
Got it. And so what have you got going on in the shop?I know, you know, last time you had, you know, loading up on classes and I guess, you know, we've done Edison together. And you guys will be at Lancaster in a few weeks, right?
George Costa
Yep. We're going to be at the Lancaster show next month. That should be great.We still got a bunch of classes in all our shops for the next month or so until we start swinging here into full season. We got some good stuff lined up here at State College. We've got all our other stores with some really good classes.So if you get some more time this late winter, early spring, sign up for one of those and beef up on your fly fishing knowledge.
Marvin Cash
Gotcha. Any new merch or sales?
George Costa
Oh, gosh, we got tons of stuff coming in right now. I'm overwhelmingly busy with the amount of product we got coming in, so we got lots of stuff coming in. There's a coup good sales going on right now.All the new spring stuff is hitting the shelves now in all of our stores. So stay tuned and, you know, check out the shop. In about another two or three weeks, we'll be loaded up for spring.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, and rumor has it you're one of the few retail outlets that have the new Grundin's boots, right?
George Costa
Yes, we do. I'm actually standing in the back room talking to you, looking at a stack of them right now.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, they're not even available on the Grunin's website yet.
George Costa
Nope, nope. They are the new Rock Armor boots. They are looking pretty good.
Marvin Cash
Have you tried them out?
George Costa
I haven't. I've seen them, but I haven't put them on my little toesies yet.
Marvin Cash
Well, well, we forgot last time to give a shout out to Brenner Johnson, who is our most regular question asker on the fishing report. And Brenner. A good old Brenner. Brenner. Brenner won again. And you know, folks, it just goes to show you can't win if you don't play.And George, you want to let folks know what Brenner won?
George Costa
Yeah. Brenner wins every year. Somebody else got to start asking me fun questions.We're going to get them a little gift card from tco, some TCO swag, and a million thanks for keeping us busy with those questions.
Marvin Cash
There you go. And so, folks, remember, we love the questions. Send them to me. Don't send them to George. George is a very busy man. He hates questions.So send them to me by email or on social media and we'll get them on. And if we use them, we'll enter in a drawing and you might be the replacement Brenner for 2026.
George Costa
Love it.
Marvin Cash
Yeah. And so before I let you hop to get back to retail bliss, you want to let folks know shop hours, location and all that kind of good stuff.
George Costa
Absolutely. We're here at 23rd East College Avenue and State College. State College here. We're open 926 Monday through Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sundays.All of our other stores are open similar hours. Check out the website, tco fly fishing.com for all of your fly fishing needs.
Marvin Cash
Well, there you go. Well, listen, folks, if it's. If it's warm and the water's warming up, get out there and catch a few. Otherwise, tie flies. Tight lines, everybody.Tight lines.
George Costa
George, take it easy, Marv.
