The Articulate Fly

• S7, Ep 97: The Winter Transition: George Costa's Tips for Central PA Anglers

  Join The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast for a timely Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly Shop in State College. As late fall transitions into winter, George breaks down current conditions across Central PA's streams and provides essential guidance for navigating spawning season responsibly. With rivers running low and clear, he shares proven techniques including nymphing with smaller mayfly patterns, deploying egg patterns in deeper runs and timing your streamer fishing for low-light conditions to maximize success. George highlights the ongoing afternoon olive hatches that offer quality dry fly opportunities when temperatures warm and emphasizes the critical importance of avoiding spawning redds to protect trout populations. Whether you're targeting Central Pennsylvania limestone streams or freestone waters, this report delivers actionable intelligence for winter fly fishing success while promoting ethical angling practices during the spawn.Related ContentS5, Ep 145 - Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly ShopS6, Ep 118 - Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and TacticsS6, Ep 129 - TCO Fly Shop's George Costa Discusses Prime Fall Fishing ConditionsS6, Ep 138 - Central PA Fishing Report with George CostaAll Things Social MediaFollow TCO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck?Check out our consulting options!

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• S7, Ep 96: The Art of the Dry: Mac Brown's Winter Fishing Insights

  In this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash connects with Mac Brown from Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, for another Casting Angles segment exploring an often-overlooked winter fishing strategy: dry fly fishing in cold weather conditions. Mac reveals why winter dry fly fishing deserves more attention, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains where low, clear water and selective trout make stealth presentations with dries surprisingly effective. The discussion covers critical winter hatches including midges, blue wing olives and October caddis, with Mac emphasizing that BWOs in the Smokies are exceptionally small—requiring size 30 patterns for selective fish rather than the typical size 18 parachutes many anglers default to. Both anglers share insights on dry dropper techniques for precision nymphing in skinny winter water, explaining how light rigs allow far more accurate presentations than indicator setups when targeting specific fish. Mac reflects on how his most memorable catches throughout his guiding career have come on dry flies during fall and winter, challenging the modern trend toward nymph-only approaches. The conversation also touches on late-winter black stonefly hatches and Mac's upcoming 2026 fly fishing show schedule including Boston, Edison, Denver, Bellevue, Pleasanton and Lancaster.Related ContentS7, Ep 28 - Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac BrownS6, Ep 130 - Casting in Color: Mac Brown's Fall Fly Fishing StrategiesS6, Ep 141 - Mastering Cold Weather Fly Fishing with Mac BrownS6, Ep 145 - Navigating Winter Waters: Unconventional Strategies with Mac BrownAll Things Social MediaFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the

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• S7, Ep 95: Navigating the Bite: Ellis Ward's Guide to Catching Big Browns

  Join Marvin Cash on The Articulate Fly fishing podcast for an East Tennessee Fishing Report with guide Ellis Ward, covering exceptional streamer fishing conditions on the South Holston River. Ward breaks down the perfect storm of factors creating explosive brown trout action: pre-spawn behavior, shad kills from dissolved oxygen events and ideal atmospheric conditions that produced multiple fish over 20 inches in single sessions. This fly fishing podcast delivers expert troubleshooting for anglers struggling with streamer refusals, as Ward addresses a detailed listener question about converting follows into hookups. Learn critical techniques for maintaining direct line contact, the importance of "kill" pauses in your retrieve and strategic fly placement near structure where predator-wary browns feel secure enough to eat. Ward explains why jerk stripping and shooting line sabotage hookups, how to adjust retrieve cadence for moody fish and when to dramatically change fly size to trigger strikes. The episode covers post-shad kill windows, lake turnover impacts and prime January-February post-spawn streamer opportunities on Tennessee tailwaters.To learn more about Ellis, check out our interview!Related ContentS7, Ep 14 - The Streamer Playbook: Tips and Tactics for Targeting Big Trout in East Tennessee with Ellis WardS6, Ep 142 - Winter Musky Adventures and Streamer Tactics with Ellis WardS7, Ep 50 - The Art of the Follow: Streamer Strategies and Fishing Tales from East TennesseeS6, Ep 139 - Exploring East Tennessee's Changing Waters with Ellis WardAll Things Social MediaFollow Ellis and Flyzotics on Instagram.Follow Ellis on YouTube.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand?

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• S7, Ep 94: Rain Dance Revelations: George Costa on Central PA's Fishing Forecast

  Join The Articulate Fly's latest Central PA Fishing Report as host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa from TCO Fly Shop in State College for critical fall fishing updates. With much-needed rain finally arriving in central Pennsylvania, George breaks down how the changing water conditions are transforming local trout streams. Streamer fishing is heating up as flows increase and water gains color, creating ideal conditions for aggressive fall trout. George reports consistent olive hatches providing sporadic dry fly action throughout the day, though nymphing remains the most productive technique for anglers targeting Pennsylvania limestone streams. Listeners learn essential spawning season etiquette as redds begin appearing, plus insider timing on when streams will clear for optimal weekend fishing. George also provides updates on the developing steelhead run in Lake Erie tributaries as fish begin stacking in the system. Whether you're planning a Central PA trout outing or curious about regional fall conditions, this quick fishing report delivers actionable intelligence for maximizing your time on the water.Related ContentS7, Ep 36 - Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly ShopS6, Ep 118 - Central PA Fall Fishing Report: George Costa's Tips and TacticsS5, Ep 145 - Central Pennsylvania Fishing Report with TCO Fly ShopS7, Ep 14 - The Streamer Playbook: Tips and Tactics for Targeting Big Trout in East Tennessee with Ellis WardAll Things Social MediaFollow TCO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck?Check out our

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• BONUS: Designing the Perfect Glide: Chase Smith and the Spiral Spook

  Discover the Spiral Spook: Innovation in Topwater Fly FishingJoin Marvin Cash on The Butcher Shop fly fishing podcast as he interviews Chase Smith, inventor of the innovative Spiral Spook fly pattern. Chase bridges conventional and fly fishing by adapting the classic walk-the-dog action into a deadly topwater fly for bass and other predator species.Expert Design Insights from Chase SmithChase shares his journey from conventional fishing to creating one of fly fishing's most unique topwater patterns. Learn how he solved critical design challenges including weight distribution, foam construction and hook positioning to achieve authentic spook action on a fly rod.What You'll LearnDiscover the precise retrieve technique required for walking the fly—short, sharp strips just three inches long with rod tip on the water. Chase reveals why leader material matters, explaining why soft monofilament outperforms fluorocarbon and stiff materials. Get the complete leader formula: 2 feet of 50-pound to 2 feet of 35-40 pound, finishing with 2 feet of 20-pound soft mono.Advanced Tying TechniquesChase breaks down the complete construction process, from embedding weights in foam bodies to creating the signature spiral wrap. Learn about material selection including EVA foam, Gorilla Glue clear coating and wide-gap offset hooks that dramatically improved hookup ratios. Understand the precision required—weight placement within millimeters affects the entire action.Topwater Strategies for Predator SpeciesGet Chase's preferred setup: 55-millimeter bone-colored spooks on 6-7 weight rods with floating lines with aggressive tapers. Discover why smaller sizes catch more fish and how to adapt the pattern for varying conditions. Chase shares his 90% commitment to bone color and explains the strategic advantage of downsizing.Master the Walk-the-Dog RetrieveThe most common mistake anglers make is stripping too long. Chase emphasizes the critical importance of short, sharp strips—just a wrist flick of three inches. Learn how to initiate the walk with fast strips then vary tempo for different actions. Understand why loop knots are essential and how tippet diameter affects glide.Ready to add this deadly topwater pattern to your predator fly arsenal? Tune in for Chase's expert insights on creating and fishing one of fly fishing's most innovative surface patterns.SponsorsThanks to Schultz Outfitters, TroutRoutes and OnX Fish Midwest for sponsoring this episode. Use artfly20 to get 20% off of your TroutRoutes Pro membership.Related ContentS6, Ep 124 - Fly Tying with Chase SmithBONUS - Tying the Circus Peanut: Streamer Secrets and Fishing Strategies with Russ MaddinS6, Ep 101 - The Chocklett Factory: Fly Fishing Travels, Conservation and New VenturesS4, Ep 4 - Matt O'Neal of Savage...

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