S8, Ep 58: Central PA Fishing Report: George Costa's Summer Strategies for Success

Episode Overview

George Costa of TCO Fly Shop returns to The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast for another Central PA Fishing Report with host Marvin Cash, checking in on mid-summer conditions across the region's limestone streams. It's a mixed picture: recent weekend rain has pushed the Little Juniata River high and essentially unfishable for the next few days, while Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek remain in solid seasonal shape with manageable flows.

Costa reports classic mid-summer fishing, with mornings through late-morning and evenings producing the most consistent action. Tricos are showing sporadically, especially on Spring Creek, alongside a scattering of blue-winged olives and small quills. The terrestrial bite is picking up, with ants and beetles drawing steady interest from trout. Costa's go-to approach right now is a dry-dropper rig: a size 12 or 14 Chubby Chernobyl or beetle pattern up top with a small ant or Greenie Weenie dropped underneath, a setup that pulls fish on both the dry and the nymph.

Beyond the stream report, Costa previews TCO's free Fly Fishing and Outdoor Festival this weekend at the Boiling Springs shop on Children's Lake, plus ongoing summer sale pricing as the shop transitions its inventory toward fall. He also flags a strong smallmouth bass bite on Pennsylvania's bigger rivers, including good topwater action despite elevated flows on the West Branch and the Juniata.

Key Takeaways

• How to fish Central PA limestone streams during mid-summer high-water conditions by targeting Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek while avoiding a blown-out Little Juniata
• When to be on the water for the best mid-summer dry fly action, focusing on first light through 10 or 11 a.m. and again in the evening
• Why a dry-dropper rig combining a size 12 or 14 Chubby Chernobyl or beetle with a small ant or Greenie Weenie dropper is an effective search strategy right now
• How to identify a viable mid-summer smallmouth bass alternative on Pennsylvania's larger rivers when trout water runs high
• When to expect terrestrial patterns like ants and beetles to outperform sparse trico and olive hatches on Central PA streams

Techniques & Gear Covered

Costa's core mid-summer strategy centers on a dry-dropper rig built around a size 12 or 14 Chubby Chernobyl or large beetle pattern as the top fly, with a small ant or Greenie Weenie dropped off the back to cover both surface and subsurface feeders. He notes that most of the action is currently coming on the dropper rather than the top fly, though occasional risers will still take the dry. On the hatch front, sporadic tricos, a handful of blue-winged olives and small quills round out the surface options, while the terrestrial bite on ants and beetles continues to build as summer progresses. For the smallmouth side of the report, Costa points anglers toward topwater presentations on Pennsylvania's bigger rivers as an alternative when trout streams are running high.

Locations & Species

This report centers on Central Pennsylvania's limestone spring creeks, with Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek all holding good seasonal flows and cool enough temperatures to fish through the heart of summer, while the Little Juniata River is running high and unfishable following recent weekend rain. Wild trout are the primary target across these limestone waters, with dry-dropper presentations and terrestrial patterns proving most effective during the current mid-summer conditions. Costa also highlights a secondary smallmouth bass opportunity on Pennsylvania's larger river systems, including the West Branch and the Juniata, where elevated flows haven't stopped a strong topwater bite from producing quality fish.

FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat is the best time of day to fish Central PA limestone streams in mid-summer?

Costa recommends targeting first light through roughly 10 or 11 a.m., along with the evening hours, as these windows have consistently produced the best action during the current mid-summer stretch. Midday fishing tends to slow considerably once temperatures peak.

Why is the Little Juniata River currently unfishable?

Recent weekend rain blew out the Little Juniata and pushed flows high enough that Costa considers it essentially unfishable for at least the next couple of days, especially if additional rain arrives. Spring Creek, Fishing Creek and Penns Creek were not affected to the same degree and remain fishable.

What rig works best for Central PA trout right now?

Costa's go-to setup is a dry-dropper rig: a size 12 or 14 Chubby Chernobyl or large beetle pattern on top, with a small ant or Greenie Weenie dropped off the back. Most fish are currently coming on the dropper, though occasional risers will still eat the dry fly.

Is smallmouth bass fishing a good option when trout streams are high?

Yes. Costa reports that despite elevated flows on the West Branch and the Juniata, the smallmouth bite has been great, with a particularly strong topwater bite producing quality fish on Pennsylvania's larger rivers.

What is happening at TCO Fly Shop this week?

TCO is hosting its free Fly Fishing and Outdoor Festival this weekend at the Boiling Springs shop on Children's Lake, open to the public with no admission charge. The shop is also running summer sale pricing as it clears out inventory ahead of fall, with winter class schedules to be posted on the TCO website in the coming weeks.

Related Content

S8, Ep 55 - Summer Secrets: George Costa's Central PA Fishing Report

S8, Ep 56 - Topwater Tactics: Captain Brian Shumaker's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report

S8, Ep 51 - Summer Stream Insights: George Costa on Conditions, Patterns and Upcoming Events

S8, Ep 47 - Central PA Fishing Forecast: George Costa's Summer Stream Insights

S8, Ep 42 - Exploring Terrestrials and Summer Patterns: George Costa's Fishing Forecast

View all Central Pennsylvania Fishing Reports with George Costa

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