S8, Ep 62: Late Summer Secrets: George Costa's Central PA Fishing Report
Episode Overview
On this Central PA Fishing Report from 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 summer conditions update. Water levels across the region are running well above the usual late summer norm thanks to a wet summer, keeping trout streams fishable throughout the day even as afternoon action remains the slowest window. Costa reports Tricos are still bringing fish up in the mornings, while evening hatches of caddis, olives and the season's first Isonychias round out the dry fly picture. With water levels up, terrestrials such as beetles, ants and crickets are the top producers, fished on a dry-dropper rig with small nymphs like zebra midges, perdigons and Greenie Weenies below. Streamer fishing has also been productive during low-light morning and evening windows. Costa notes that trout fishing is in unusually good shape for this time of year, avoiding the typical low, hot and stressful late summer conditions. Beyond the trout report, Costa shares that the smallmouth bite has been strong on the high water, particularly around the Juniata River, with anglers finding good topwater action by working the banks. He also previews TCO's transition into fall and winter, including new product arriving, seasonal sales and a full slate of fall and winter classes coming to the shop's website in the coming weeks.
Key Takeaways
- How to target Central PA trout during high, late summer flows by fishing dry-dropper rigs with terrestrials on top and small nymphs underneath
- When to fish for the best dry fly action, focusing on morning Trico windows and evening caddis and Isonychia hatches
- Why streamer fishing is producing right now when fished during low-light morning and evening hours rather than midday
- How to find smallmouth bass action on the Juniata River by working the banks with topwater flies during elevated flows
Techniques & Gear Covered
Costa's go-to approach for elevated, late summer flows is a dry-dropper rig, pairing terrestrial patterns like beetles, ants and crickets on top with small nymphs such as zebra midges, perdigons and Greenie Weenies below. Dry fly anglers can also find morning Trico action on Penns Creek and the Little Juniata, along with evening hatches of caddis, olives and early-season Isonychias. For anglers willing to fish low light, streamers are producing a decent bite in the early morning and evening hours. On the smallmouth side, Costa points anglers toward topwater flies worked tight to the bank on the Juniata River, where elevated flows haven't slowed the bite.
Locations & Species
This report centers on Central Pennsylvania's trout waters, including Penns Creek and the Little Juniata, which are running high and cool after a wet summer, keeping fishing viable through the middle of the day despite a typical afternoon lull. Wild and stocked trout remain the primary target, with morning Trico and evening caddis, olive and Isonychia hatches providing consistent dry fly opportunities. Costa also highlights a strong secondary smallmouth bass fishery on the high water of the Juniata River, where anglers working the banks are finding good topwater action despite the elevated flows.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
What are current water conditions on Central PA trout streams in late summer?
Water levels are running well above the typical late summer norm thanks to a wet summer, and temperatures have stayed relatively stable without the usual late summer spikes. Costa still recommends checking stream temperatures in the afternoons, but overall conditions have allowed for fishing throughout the day.
When is the best time of day to fish Central PA streams right now?
Mornings and evenings are producing the most consistent action, with Tricos bringing fish up early and caddis, olives and Isonychias showing in the evening. Afternoons remain the slowest window, so Costa recommends sticking to the low light hours.
What flies should anglers use for late summer trout in Central PA?
Costa recommends a dry-dropper rig with terrestrials like beetles, ants and crickets on top, paired with small nymphs such as zebra midges, perdigons and Greenie Weenies underneath. Streamers are also working when fished during low light morning and evening periods.
How is the smallmouth bite on the Juniata River right now?
The smallmouth bite has been great despite elevated flows, with anglers working the banks and finding solid topwater action. Costa expects the bite to keep improving as water levels drop.
Related Content
S8, Ep 58 - Central PA Fishing Report: George Costa's Summer Strategies for Success
S8, Ep 59 - Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report: Captain Brian Shumaker's Late Summer Strategies
S7, Ep 70 - The Dog Days of Summer: Trico Tactics in Central PA with George Costa
S8, Ep 61 - Smallmouth Chronicles: Matt Reilly's Secrets to Success in SW Virginia
View all Central Pennsylvania Fishing Reports with George Costa
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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 a man himself, George Costa.George, how are you?
George CostaI'm amazing as always. Marvin, how are you?
Marvin CashI'm just trying to stay out of trouble. Just got back from the annual Outdoor Writers association of America meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, and just digging out a little bit.What are you seeing? Yeah, what are you seeing on the water?
George CostaYou know, the usual late summer kind of shenanigans going on over here. Our water levels are actually fantastic right now. We've got really nice flows everywhere.We've had a lot of rain this summer, so the flows have been high. It has not been that hot, so the temps have been pretty stable. Hasn't been too much of a concern.Definitely still want to check your temps in the afternoons, but I haven't really seen much bump up, you know, that bad. So fishing has been possible all day long. It's definitely still slow in the afternoons. Stick with the mornings, stick with the evenings.We still got Tricos around here and there, and there's still fish eating them in the morning. They're kind of hanging in there. So that's still an option for dry flies out there.Evening hatches, a couple Caddis, olives sporadically, starting to see a handful of those late summer, early fall Isos on Penns and J. So dry fly action is really going to be best with, like, terrestrials, beetles, ants, uppers, crickets, things like that.Use them to search, you know, dry droppers, a great way to fish this year. Small nymphs are working good.Zebra midges, small perdigons, things like that, ants, weenies, all the usual suspects for this time of year with the higher water. Streamer bite, I hear, has been pretty decent. But stick with those, you know, lower light, you know, early morning, in the evening kind of streamers.That's when they're going to be working better. So overall on the trout front, we're in pretty good shape for this time of year.Usually it's really low, really hot, really miserable, but at least we got some decent flows to keep us occupied. Yeah.
Marvin CashAnd you were telling me you've actually been chasing smallmouth recently too, right?
George CostaYeah, smallmouth bite's been great. The water was pretty high on some of our streams here. You know, the Juniata saw a lot of water last week.But, you know, if you get out and, you know, kind of search around, you can fish the banks and stuff with the higher water. Hopefully those flows will drop the guys on the smallmouth bite have been doing pretty.Pretty good with top water action, so that's always an option as well this time of year. Go catch a nice old bass.
Marvin CashYeah, there you go. What you got going on in the shop?I imagine you guys are probably moving out the old stuff and getting ready for probably the new stuff and maybe some classes into the fall and winter, right?
George CostaYes, sir. It's sales time, so a lot of our summer stuff is on sale. So we got a lot of sales stuff in the store right now online.We're starting to get all our fall and winter product in, so looking for those sales on our websites. And classes are going to start piling up here. We should be getting all of our fall winter classes on the website within the next couple of weeks.So lots of time classes this year in all of our shops, A couple of really good educational classes. So check out the website tcoflyfishing.com for all the classes and everything we got going on.
Marvin CashYeah, and I won't get in trouble for mentioning BlackBerry brandy, but, you know, we're. It is early. I know it's early.
George CostaYou can't talk about it till it snows.
Marvin CashI understand that, but you know what? It's not too early to talk about pumpkin spice lattes.
George CostaOh, stop it.
Marvin CashI got you. You've got your gift card. You're ready to go, right?
George CostaDreaming about it.
Marvin CashFair. Fair enough. Well, listen, f. If you have a question for George, shoot it my way.We'd love to use it on the air when you're in a drawing for something cool. And you know, as I always say, yo, it yourself to get out and fish. But before I go, I don't want to steal the rest of your thunder, George.You want to give folks shop hours, location, and all that kind of good stuff.
George CostaSmurfley here at State College, we're here 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sunday. All of our other stores are open similar hours, so come down and get loaded up for the fall season.
Marvin CashWell, 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 CostaTake it easy, Marv.
