S8, Ep 19: Spring Fever: George Costa on Central PA's Fishing Conditions and Upcoming Hatches
Episode Overview
This fly fishing podcast episode delivers a timely early spring conditions update from Central Pennsylvania, featuring George Costa, Shop Manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College. George reports on improving but variable conditions across the region's premier trout waters — Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata — as the season teeters between winter's last grip and the first genuine hatch activity of the year. Water levels are running near average for the time of year, on the higher side as systems flush through, with clarity improving after recent runoff. Nymphing has remained consistent throughout the transition, while streamer fishing has been productive in the elevated flows. Most notably, George flags the imminent arrival of grannom caddis — expected within five to seven days at the time of recording — following scattered early caddis reports and strong blue-winged olive activity during the preceding warm spells. With temperatures forecast to climb back into the 60s and 70s, George anticipates a meaningful uptick in dry fly opportunity and encourages anglers to get their dries ready. The episode also touches on late-season steelhead fishing as an alternative option, and briefly recaps a hosted shop trip to South Andros Lodge in the Bahamas. George rounds out the report with updates on remaining spring classes and upcoming sales at TCO Fly Shop.
Key Takeaways
- Why high, off-color water in early spring shifts the most productive technique toward streamers rather than dries or nymphs.
- When to expect the grannom caddis hatch on Central PA freestone and spring creek systems and how warming temperatures accelerate its arrival.
- How to read the transition from consistent nymphing conditions to the first genuine dry fly opportunities of the spring season.
- Why late-winter and early-spring steelhead remain a viable alternative when Central PA trout streams are running high and off-color.
- When to take advantage of end-of-season sales at fly shops to stock up on last year's gear at reduced prices before spring inventory fully arrives.
Techniques & Gear Covered
George Costa covers the three primary presentations that define early spring Central PA fishing: nymphing with standard subsurface patterns (described as "all the usual suspects"), streamer fishing in elevated and off-color water, and dry fly fishing as conditions warm and early hatches emerge. No specific fly patterns are named beyond the bug categories discussed — grannoms and other early caddis, blue-winged olives and general nymph imitations — reflecting the broad-strokes, conditions-focused nature of the fishing report format. The gear discussion is brief, with George directing anglers to TCO Fly Shop's spring inventory rollout and noting that winter merchandise will be moving to sale pricing soon. The overarching tactical theme is reading the water conditions and having the flexibility to shift between techniques as flows drop, color clears and insect activity builds.
Locations & Species
The report centers on Central Pennsylvania's most productive trout waters: Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata River, all running near seasonal averages with slightly elevated, clearing flows at the time of recording. The primary target species throughout is wild trout — the conversation is framed around the approaching dry fly season that defines Central PA fishing in late March and April. George also briefly references Erie-region steelhead as a concurrent late-winter option, with shop staff actively fishing them. A hosted trip to South Andros Lodge in the Bahamas is mentioned in passing, with bonefish and barracuda as primary species, though the Bahamas content is contextual rather than instructional.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What are current stream conditions on Central PA trout waters in early spring?
At the time of recording, Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata were running on the higher side of average following a series of weather systems, with flows dropping and clarity improving. George Costa describes conditions as "okay-ish," noting that both the Penns and Juniata systems got very high before beginning to drop and clear up — typical behavior for Central PA freestones in late March.
When can Central PA anglers expect the grannom caddis hatch to begin?
George forecasts grannom activity within five to seven days of the recording, citing scattered early caddis reports and strong BWO hatches during the preceding warm spells as leading indicators. He emphasizes that a forecasted return to 60–70°F temperatures over the upcoming weekend should trigger meaningful hatch activity across the region's spring creeks and freestones.
How should fly anglers approach Central PA streams when flows are elevated and off-color?
Costa notes that fish are actively moving in the high water and several anglers have already had strong streamer days in the elevated flows. He recommends leaning on streamers when water is up and colored, while nymphing with reliable subsurface patterns remains consistent regardless of conditions — and advises anglers to have dry fly rigs ready for when flows drop and the first consistent hatch windows open.
Is steelhead fishing worth pursuing as a late-winter option in the region?
George confirms that late-winter and early-spring Erie steelhead remain a viable option, noting that water levels looked favorable at the time of recording and that TCO staff members were actively fishing them. He characterizes it as a solid alternative for anglers who want active fishing while waiting for Central PA trout conditions to fully develop.
Related Content
S8, Ep 11 – Snow Melt and Spring Awakening: Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa
S8, Ep 4 – Chilly Waters and Crafty Flies: A New Year Fishing Report with George Costa
S7, Ep 36 – Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop
S6, Ep 30 – Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
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Hey, folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly.We're back with another Central PA Fishing Report with the man himself, George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College. George, how are you?
George CostaI am amazing as always. Marvin, how are you?
Marvin CashAh, I'm getting there. Glad to be home. I think both of us traveled last week.I suspect you would have, you know, given your weather in Central pa you might have not been too upset if your plane, your flight back had gotten canceled, right?
George CostaNo, I would have, I would have very much liked to have stayed by the palm trees and the pina coladas. So it's, it's much nicer. It's much nicer down in the tropics than it is here right now. But we're getting there. We're getting there.
Marvin CashYeah, you're, you're kind of on the yo yo train.Like it goes up to 70 and then it's got to snow a few more days to just kind of make sure everybody's adequately depressed again and really appreciate spring right up and down and all around.
George CostaLast week we had high temps and then it got cold again and then it snowed again. And this week it's cold and then it's going to get warm and then it's going to get cold. So our temps have been all over the place.Stream conditions right now are okay. Ish. Spring is pretty good shape. Flows are good, colors good. Pens and the J both got really high. They're on the drop now and cleaning up a little bit.Same thing with fish and creek. So water is about average for this time of year.You know, expect on the higher side for most water right now and the color is clearing up and you know, we're starting to see bugs moving around. Last week with the warm spell, there was reports of a couple of caddis popping here and there.So I think that we're going to probably start seeing grannoms here within the next, you know, I would say five to seven days. So that's good. Olives were good last week with the warmer weather and then they kind of slowed down a little bit.I'm going to get out there today and see what's going on. So we're, we're pretty much right there.I expect next week with the warmer temps that we're going over the weekend, we're supposed to get up in the 60s, 70s again for a couple days. We're definitely going to see some good bug activity.And the fish are enjoying the high water right now, so they should spread out and start eating well. So get your dries ready because we're just about there. Nymphing has been pretty good, pretty consistent. All the usual suspects.The streamer game in the high water. A couple of guys had some really good days on streamers in the past week. So they're definitely moving fish. So we're. We're there, we're there.We're just waiting for this weather to figure out what it wants to do. And we'll have a pretty good spring, I think. Yeah.
Marvin CashIf it's any indication, the spring from last week, the. The spring steelhead game's been pretty good too.
George CostaYeah, I got a couple guys up from the shop are up there today. I think steelhead fishing. So if you want to get out and get some of those, you know, late winter, early spring steelhead, now is the time.I think levels are looking pretty good out there, so that's always an option as well. Or get on a plane and go to the palm trees.
Marvin CashTell us a little bit more about your trip.
George CostaIt was great. We were in Andros, South Andros Lodge in Bahamas. Lots of bonefish, some good cuda, other little odds and end species here and there.But we had a great trip, a great crew. Another. Another great trip hosted trip by us here. So that was a really good time.And you know, I'm always happy to be down there and you know, sitting in the sun. Sitting in the sun and out of the clouds.
Marvin CashYeah, There you go. How tall is the snow pile outside the store?
George CostaAh, it's not bad right now. There was a couple inches the other day, so it's. It's enough to make me cringe, but livable.
Marvin CashGot it. And so, so, you know, what have you got kind of going on in the store from like a product sales perspective and a class perspective.
George CostaThe classes here in state college are. We got a couple more left. We got some good on stream clinics coming up. Beginners classes, if you're thinking about learning how to fly fish.If you listen to this for, you know, the first, second, third time and you want to really tune up on some stuff, we got a bunch of beginners classes slated.Our other stores have a bunch of classes still slated up and through the next month or, you know, we definitely start winding down the classes this time of year as soon as, you know, the season really kicks in. So there's still a handful left. So check out the website tcoflyfishing.com to see what classes we got going on on all of our stores.Sales stuff, you know, all spring stuff is pretty much rolled through the door. So expect some of that winter stuff to get on sale soon. And, you know, get some good deals on what we got left over from last fall.
Marvin CashWell, that's neat. And so, you know, folks, remember, we love questions at the Articulate Fly. We want to keep George happy. Right, George?
George CostaYes, I like to be happy.
Marvin CashYeah. And everyone else likes for George to be happy, too, by the way. So email me the questions or DM me on Instagram.And if we use your question, I will send you some Articulate Fly and butcher shop stickers. And we enter drawing for some cool stuff from the shop at the end of the season. And George, before I let you go, want to test your memory.What are the shop hours and where can folks find you?
George CostaYou're going to challenge me. We here in State College, 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sunday. All of our other shops are open pretty much similar hours.We're here at 23rd East College Avenue on the web@tcofly fishing.com. stop by the shop if you're out fishing, and we'll get you hooked up for spring season.
Marvin CashWell, there you go. Well, folks, it's warming up, so, you know, you owe it yourself to get ready to get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody. Tight lines.George.
George CostaTake it easy, Marv.
