S8, Ep 35: From Sulphurs to Drakes: George Costa's Essential Fishing Report for Central PA
Episode Overview
This Central PA Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast finds host Marvin Cash checking in with George Costa, manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for a late-spring conditions update across Central PA's limestone streams. Recorded in late May ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the report captures one of the most productive dry fly windows of the year: sulphurs, March browns and Drakes are all in play simultaneously, and Costa is emphatic that the Drake hatch on Penns Creek is just now getting started en masse. Stream temperatures are sitting in the high 50s to low 60s — ideal for active feeding — though some waters like Spring Creek briefly nudged toward 64°F before a cooldown. Conditions have been running low and clear, which puts a premium on precise dry fly presentations, but an inch-plus of rain is expected Friday into Saturday, which should add needed flow without blowing anything out. Costa walks through how light and weather affect timing, advising anglers to fish earlier on overcast days and push toward evening on bright sunny ones. The episode closes with a preview of TCO Fly Shop events this summer, including the All Fins tournament benefiting Clearwater Conservancy and the Bass Thumb tournament.
Key Takeaways
- How to time dry fly fishing around weather and light conditions — overcast days favor earlier sessions, while bright sunny days push fish and hatch activity toward evening.
- Why the current week is the critical window to target Drakes on Penns Creek and the surrounding Centre County streams before the hatch peaks and passes.
- How to read an incoming rain event on Central PA limestone streams — modest precipitation adds flow and color without blowing rivers out, making a rain jacket the only real adjustment needed.
- Why stream temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s signal optimal conditions for dry fly fishing, and when a reading near 64°F warrants closer attention as temps climb.
- When to reach for streamers during the spring hatch season — slow afternoon periods can yield fish even when hatches are dominating, but they shouldn't be your first play.
Techniques & Gear Covered
The episode centers on dry fly fishing during the season's most prolific multi-hatch window. Costa covers presentation timing strategies for both overcast and sunny conditions, emphasizing that sunlight is the primary driver of hatch activity. Streamers get a brief mention as a productive option during slow afternoon stretches or in slightly colored water following rain, though Costa is clear that with this many bugs in the air, fish are predominantly keyed on surface food. The conversation does not get into specific fly patterns or tackle beyond confirming that this is unambiguously dry fly season — anglers headed to Central PA right now should have sulphur, March brown and Drake imitations ready across a range of sizes.
Locations & Species
The primary focal waters are Central Pennsylvania's limestone streams — Spring Creek and Penns Creek in Centre County are specifically named, with the broader network of Centre County spring creeks implied throughout. Wild trout are the target species in this fishery, and the presence of sulphurs, March browns and Drakes points squarely to the limestone stream ecosystem these waters represent. Stream temperatures at the time of recording were in the high 50s to low 60s, with Spring Creek briefly touching 64°F — conditions that remain comfortable for trout but worth monitoring as the season progresses. Low, clear flows have characterized the region since early spring, making careful presentations essential, though the incoming weekend rain is expected to provide welcome relief.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What hatches are active on Central PA limestone streams in late May?
Late May is one of the busiest hatch periods on Central Pennsylvania limestone streams. Costa reports sulphurs, March browns and Drakes all active simultaneously at the time of recording, with Drake activity on Penns Creek just getting started en masse. He recommends the next five to seven days as the prime Drake window before it passes.
How does weather affect dry fly fishing timing in Central PA?
Light quality and temperature are the primary variables. On bright, sunny days, expect hatch and dry fly activity to concentrate toward evening; on cold, cloudy or overcast days, fish can be on the surface earlier and the window is broader. Costa frames this as a consistent seasonal pattern rather than day-to-day unpredictability.
Should I fish through a rain event on Central PA streams?
For modest rain events of an inch or so — the kind typical of Central PA's late spring pattern — Costa advises fishing through it. The streams can absorb the rainfall, may pick up some color but should remain fishable, and cooler post-rain conditions can actually improve hatch activity. Bring a rain jacket and don't cancel your trip.
When should I consider throwing streamers during the spring hatch season?
Streamers are worth a try during slow afternoon stretches when hatch activity is down and fish have stopped rising, or when water carries a little color following rain. Costa notes that with sulphurs, March browns and Drakes all in play, streamers are secondary — fish will be keyed on the surface the majority of the time.
What are current stream temperature conditions on Central PA waters?
At the time of this report, most Centre County limestone streams were running in the high 50s to low 60s — solidly within the optimal range for active trout feeding. Spring Creek briefly hit 64°F during a warm stretch, but a cooldown and incoming rain are expected to stabilize temps back into the ideal zone.
Related Content
S8, Ep 17 - Spring Awakening: George Costa on Central PA Fishing and Upcoming Hatches
S7, Ep 36 - Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop
S6, Ep 48 - Rain or Shine: Central PA's Fishing Report with TCO Fly Shop
S7, Ep 70 - The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George Costa
S8, Ep 30 - Central PA Chronicles: George Costa's Guide to Spring Fishing Conditions and Techniques
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In this Central PA Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa, manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for a real-time late-spring conditions update. George reports that despite a volatile weather pattern that has seen temperatures swing dramatically since March, stream temps across Central PA remain in the high 50s to low 60s — comfortable for trout — with Spring Creek touching 64°F during a recent warm stretch. Hatches are in full swing, with sulphurs and March browns already active and Drakes just beginning to show on Penns Creek en masse, making the coming week a prime window for dry fly anglers. George also previews upcoming TCO Fly Shop events, including the All Fins multi-species tournament benefiting Clearwater Conservancy and a summer fly fishing festival at the Boiling Spring store.
EPISODE SUMMARY
Guest: George Costa – Manager at TCO Fly Shop (State College, Pennsylvania)
In this episode: Shop manager George Costa delivers a real-time late-spring conditions report for Central Pennsylvania's trout waters, with a particular focus on the opening of Drake season on Penns Creek. Topics include hatch timing strategy for volatile weather conditions, how incoming rain is likely to affect fishing, and what the next week looks like for dry fly anglers targeting wild trout.
Key fishing techniques covered:
- Dry fly fishing timed to weather and light conditions (evening on sunny days; earlier on overcast days)
- Streamer fishing as a secondary option in rising or off-color water
- Fishing through rain events when blow-out is unlikely
Location focus: Central Pennsylvania — Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Centre County limestone streams
Target species: Wild trout
Equipment discussed: Dry flies for sulphur, March brown and Drake hatches; streamers for off-color conditions
Key questions answered:
- What hatches are happening right now in Central PA?
- Is it worth fishing through a rainstorm in Central Pennsylvania?
- When do Green Drakes start on Penns Creek?
Best for: Intermediate to advanced anglers planning a late-spring dry fly trip to Central Pennsylvania who need current hatch and conditions intel
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 the man himself, George Costa. George, how are you?
George Costa
I am amazing as always. Marvin, how are you?
Marvin Cash
And as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble. You know, you've just like everyone else kind of in the mid Atlantic, you've got this kind of funky weather pattern.Like it's already, I think, cooled off where you are, but it's like 90 some degrees here, but we're going to drop 20 degrees. I mean, it's been yo yoing like this since March. What are you seeing on the water?
George Costa
Yep, a lot of that. Yo, yo, hatch. And it was cold. And then we had a couple days last week that were up in the 90s earlier this week.So it's just been kind of all over the place. And you know, the hatches have been good. They've been days when it's been good. There have been days when it's been like there's nothing going on.So it's been kind of all over the place with the temps, everything like that. Stream temps are still pretty stable. Everything's high 50s, low 60s. It got warm the other day.A couple of the streams were bumping up a temp to the lower Spring Creek the other day and it was around 64 degrees. So nothing to be concerned about yet, especially since the temps dropped. We got rain coming this weekend, so temps are cold today.We've got, you know, they kind of downgraded it. We're looking at maybe a little over an inch of rain Friday into Saturday, which we kind of need because conditions are pretty low right now.Everything's been low, clear seasonably on, you know, could use a little more water. So any rain we get is kind of needed. But the bugs are in full swing, man. We've got everything going on.We've got sulfurs, March browns, Drakes are starting on pens. We're going to start seeing them en masse in the next couple of days. So if you're going to head over and get those drakes, now is the time.The next five, six, seven days should be the week to do it. So everything's happening right now. Fishing has been fairly consistent. Like I said, some days are better than others. Bright sunny days.Expect to hatch to expect dry flies to be a little better towards evening. Colder, dreary or cloudy days. Get out there a little earlier, but get out and fish should be prime week here.You know, don't be scared of the Rain this week. We can really take it. Nothing's going to get blown out.Definitely going to get a little bit of color, but I don't think anything's going to get blown or unfishable this weekend. Nothing to be too concerned about. Just bring a rain jacket.
Marvin Cash
Got it. Sounds like you might want to bring some streamers, too.
George Costa
Yeah, streamers probably would not be a bad idea, but with all the bugs going on, you know, fish might be keyed in on them. So, you know, this time of year, throw the dry fly.It's not streamer season, but, you know, depending on what it looks like, you know, if it's slow in the afternoon, you'll probably move a couple of fish.
Marvin Cash
Got it. And so what have you got going on in the shop? And anything special for Memorial Day weekend?
George Costa
Nothing super special for the weekend. All of our shops are going to be open 9 to 3 Memorial Day, so just kind of shorter hours for the holiday weekends.Sales stuff's all going strong on the web. Check out all our sales stuff online. We got a couple great events coming up this next couple of weeks here.We've got our All Fins tournament up here in central Pennsylvania that is June 13th, 14th, if memory serves me right. Really a great opportunity to help sponsor Clearwater Conservancy and all the great work they do. It's a great tournament.We try to catch as many species of fish as you can on the fly. Check the website out for all the events information on that. We've also got our Bass Thumb tournament coming up in a couple of months.I think that is almost full, but there's a couple spots open for teams in that. So some really fun stuff. And we're gonna have our fly fishing festival down at the Boiling Spring store in August.So another great event coming up this summer. So check out all those fun events online. Get you out there and get you doing something fun this summer.
Marvin Cash
Yeah, absolutely. You know, folks, we love questions on the articulate fly.You can DM me or send them to me on Instagram and we'll hook you up with some swag and a drawing because we need to keep George happy. Right, George?
George Costa
Keep me happy.
Marvin Cash
What happens when you're not happy?
George Costa
Sad.
Marvin Cash
And what happens when you're sad? Tears. BlackBerry Brandy.
George Costa
That's winter time. It's rum season, Marvin, when everyone knows that.
Marvin Cash
All right. Find you back in the stock room with a bottle of dark rum.
George Costa
I am back in the ST room, but I don't know where my rum stash is. Somebody drank it.
Marvin Cash
Fair enough. Well, listen, before I let you hop, you want to let give folks locations and remind them on all the shop hours.
George Costa
Absolutely. So here in State College, we're open 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sundays. All of our other stores are open similar hours.You can get us on the web at tcoflyfishing.com and get out and fish. Now's the time to do it. Don't call me in two weeks and ask if the drakes have started because you will have missed it by then.
Marvin Cash
There you go. Well, Internet, George, I appreciate you making the time.
George Costa
Oh, thanks, Marvin. I appreciate it, man. Have a good one.
Marvin Cash
You, too. Well, listen, folks, get out there and catch a few tight lines, everybody. Tight lines, George.
George Costa
Take it easy, Marv.
