S8, Ep 75: Autumn Angling Insights: George Costa's Tips for Central PA's Changing Waters
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This Central PA Fishing Report from The Articulate Fly, a fly fishing podcast, catches up with George Costa, manager of TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for an early-fall look at trout conditions across the region. Falling leaves, wind and dropping flows made for a slower week, but rain in the forecast should freshen things up just as the streamer bite and the first redds of the season approach.
Costa explains how leaves turning and falling into the water, pushed along by steady wind, have made clean drifts difficult as flows ease toward the lower side. Nymphing has stayed consistent for anglers who can work their flies through the leaves, while dry fly action has been hit or miss despite caddis, olives and Isos on the water. A forecast half inch or more of rain on Sunday should deliver a welcome bump clearing out leaves, adding a bit of color and kicking the streamer bite into gear.
He also flags a key seasonal milestone. Early redds traditionally show up around the end of October, and Costa expects to see them within the next two weeks, especially on Spring Creek, where trout tend to start building redds on the earlier side. With great water all year and comfortable fall temperatures, he calls this a great time of year to get out.
Marvin and George close with TCO's busy fall and winter class calendar, including new classes at the Reading location plus fly tying and on-the-water classes in State College, along with fully stocked shops and State College hours.
Key Takeaways
- How to keep nymphing productive in early fall by working flies through the leaves that are fouling drifts on windy days.
- Why a half inch or more of rain can reset Central PA streams by bumping flows, flushing out leaves and adding the color that switches on the streamer bite.
- When to expect the first trout redds in Central PA, with Spring Creek typically leading the way ahead of the traditional late-October timing.
- Why dry fly fishing remains hit or miss right now even with caddis, olives and Isos on the water.
- How to find TCO Fly Shop's fall and winter fly tying and on-the-water classes in State College and elsewhere.
Techniques & Gear Covered
Nymphing carried this report, with George Costa noting that subsurface rigs have produced consistently for anglers who can get their flies down through the leaves drifting in Central PA streams. Streamer fishing is the technique to watch as fall progresses, with Costa expecting the streamer bite to pick up on calmer days and after Sunday's rain adds color and flushes out leaves. Dry fly fishing has been hit or miss, with caddis, olives and Isos present but few reports of strong surface action. No specific fly patterns or rigs were named in this report, but TCO Fly Shop's locations are fully stocked for the fall and winter season, and its fly tying classes offer a way to sharpen bench skills over the colder months.
Locations & Species
This report covers Central Pennsylvania trout water around State College, with Spring Creek singled out as the stream where early redds typically appear first. Early-fall conditions include falling leaves, windy days and flows easing toward the lower side, with a forecast half inch or more of rain expected to bump flows and add color. Early trout redds traditionally show up in Central PA around the end of October, and Costa expects them within the next two weeks on Spring Creek. For anglers looking for fall fly fishing strategies in Central PA, the approach is to nymph through the leaf litter now and be ready for a streamer bite as rain and cooler nights take hold.
FAQ / Key Questions Answered
How do falling leaves affect fly fishing in Central PA during the fall?
Leaves turning and falling into the water, especially on windy days, make it difficult to get a good drift. George Costa says this contributed to a slower week on Central PA streams. Nymphs have still produced for anglers who can get their flies through the leaves.
What fly fishing methods are working best in Central PA in early fall?
Nymphing has been the most consistent method, as long as anglers can work through the leaves in the water. Dry fly action has been hit or miss even with caddis, olives and Isos around. Costa expects the streamer bite to start picking up soon, particularly on days that are not super windy.
How will fall rain change fly fishing conditions in Central PA?
With flows easing toward the lower side, Costa sees a forecast half inch or more of rain as a great little bump. The rain should clear out leaves, add a bit of color to the water and get the streamer bite going.
When do trout start building redds on Spring Creek?
Early redds traditionally appear in Central PA around the end of October. Costa expects to start seeing them within the next two weeks, especially on Spring Creek, where trout tend to build redds on the earlier side. Now is the time of year for anglers to start watching out for them.
How can anglers find TCO Fly Shop's fall and winter classes?
TCO lists its classes under the Education tab at tcoflyfishing.com. New classes were just posted for the Reading location, and the State College shop offers fly tying and on-the-water classes. The State College shop is open 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday and 9 to 3 on Sunday, and TCO's other shops keep similar hours.
Related Content
S8, Ep 71 - Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa on Streamers, Hatches and Safety Tips
S7, Ep 94 - Rain Dance Revelations: George Costa on Central PA's Fishing Forecast
S7, Ep 89 - Fall Fishing Forecast: George Costa's Insights on Low Water and Seasonal Strategies
S7, Ep 86 - Navigating Fall Waters: George Costa's Tips for Low and Clear Conditions
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 the man himself, George Costa.George, how are you?
George CostaI'm amazing as always.Marvin, how are you?
Marvin CashAnd as always, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble and took a peek at your weather.You're cooling off.You're getting those nice nighttime lows.You're going to get some rain this weekend, so things ought to be looking pretty good, right?
George CostaYeah, I mean, it doesn't look too bad.This past week's definitely been kind of on the slower side.We're starting to get those leaves turning, leaves falling.It's been a little windy, so a lot of leaves in the water make life a little difficult to get a good drift.So a little slow this week.Water is definitely starting to ease, you know, towards the lower side.But we got a little blast of rain coming on Sunday.Supposed to get about maybe half inch, maybe a little bit of more, which would be a great little bump.Clear up the water a little bit and, you know, clear out those leaves a little bit, maybe add a little bit of color.Should really get the streamer bite starting to pick up a bunch.So otherwise, you know, dry fly action has been kind of hit or miss.There's caddis around, there's olives around, there's Isos around.Haven't heard of too much good dry fly action lately.Nymphs have been good when you can get it through the leaf piles and everything like that getting in the water.So nymphing has been consistent, you know, on the wind.The days where it's not super windy, streamer bites should definitely start picking up here pretty soon.You know, traditionally we start seeing some early redds, like end of October, so just about time of year to really kind of watch out for them.I expect start seeing some of them probably within the next two weeks, especially on Spring Creek.They tend to start building redds there on the earlier side.But, yeah, we're pretty much right in fall.Temps are great.Everything's great.I mean, all things considered, we've had great water all year, so really no complaints.Man, it's a great time of year to get out.
Marvin CashYeah, absolutely.And I'm sure you've got all kinds of stuff.You probably, like, got the last of the seasonal sales going on in the shop.You probably got a fully chocked class calendar.You want to let folks know what's going on there.
George CostaYeah, lots of classes going on at all of our shops right now.We just had a bunch go up for our Reading location.We've got a bunch of good tying classes, a bunch of good on the water classes here in State College.So take a look at our website, tcoflyfishing.com under the Education tab.You know, if you're near any of the stores.We got a lot of stuff going on this fall and winter, so that should be great to get you out, get you tuned up and, you know, get you learning something that you maybe haven't thought of before.Um, yeah, and the sales are, you know, always got some stuff on sale.We've got all our fall and winter stuff in here.Shops are all fully stocked for the fall and winter season.So yeah, come on to the shop and check it out.
Marvin CashThere you go.How many pumpkin spice lattes have you had so far?
George Costa17.17 This morning.
Marvin CashThat might be why your anxiety level is a little bit high today.
George CostaThere's.There's a list of things why it's.
Marvin CashHigh, but you don't want to share, do you?
George CostaNo, because we don't have that.This is not the kind of thing we.For that.That's a different type of podcast altogether, Marvin.You know that.
Marvin CashYeah, it's an.It's an inappropriate forum.We don't.We don't need to know why you have Ajita and why you're verklempt.
George CostaExactly.
Marvin CashWell, before I let you get back to.To retail bliss, you want to let folks know shop location and hours and all that kind of good stuff.
George CostaAbsolutely.Here in State College, we're open 9 to 6 Monday through Saturday, 9 to 3 on Sunday.All of our other shops are open similar hours.Get us on the web at tcoflyfishing.com and get out on the water, man.Fall is here.It should be great time of year.So go fish.
Marvin CashYeah, absolutely.Tight lines, everybody.Tight lines.George.
George CostaTake it easy, Marv.
