Visitors

Interview With George Daniel

1)      What makes Central Pennsylvania such a great place for fly fishing?

The limestone and spring creeks in our area offer some of the best trout angling opportunities east of the Mississippi and are all within a 30 minute drive of State College.  Anglers from all over the world travel to Centre County every year to fish some of the famed hatches that our streams are known for. For example, the green drake hatch that occurs on Fishing and Penns Creek is a chance for anglers to witness one of nature's greatest mayfly phenomenons as millions of these giant mayflies take flight to the water, often creating some of the most exciting top-water action during the season.  

2)      Where are the best places to fish near State College? What makes them the best?

We tend to focus on Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek, and the Little Juniata. These are limestone-spring creek influenced streams which means they are nutrient-rich and provide the elements necessary to sustain literally a great "bug factory" for the fish. The wild trout caught in these areas are very healthy and this can be attributed to the excellent water quality of the streams that they reside in. Spring Creek possesses one of the greatest volumes of wild trout in the state, flowing mostly through residential areas providing very easy access only a few minutes away from State College. On the other hand, Fishing Creek, Penns Creek, and the Little Juniata offer more of the wilderness feel; access is a bit more limited but these areas provide excellent wild trout opportunities and great "matching the hatch" experiences. 

3)      What are the best seasons to fish?   Why?

The answer is a like a double edged sword.  For example, one of the most popular times starts in April when the Blue Wing Olive hatch begins to occur and continues through the second week of June when the Green Drakes taper off.  While weather and stream conditions during this season often provide the best chance to catch fish...the angling traffic is also at its peak and the most popular sections are often crammed with anglers.  However, good fishing spots can still be found if one is patient and is willing to do a little bit of walking.

With that said, trout fishing is great all year long as these spring creek-limestone influenced streams keep cool in the summer months and stay warmer than freestone streams in the winter months.  Also, the fall is a beautiful time for fishing the streams while gazing at the flaming foliage.

4)      Are some species of trout harder to catch while fly fishing? 

Brown trout are the most abundant species and are known for their moody feeding habits.  The streams in our area do receive a decent amount of pressure and that will often equate to a more educated fish.  However, due to the amount of fish in the area, beginners can be assured that they will have an excellent opportunity to catch a trout - if not several - in a day's worth of fishing.

5)      What equipment is recommended to be a well-rounded angler in your area? What are the must-have setups?  

A 9 foot, 5 weight rod is the standard for most of our waters but many are finding lighter weight outfits (e.g. 9 to 10 foot, 4 weight) a more enjoyable fishing tool.  We also recommend a good pair of fishing glasses as many stream conditions allows anglers to sight fish, which is one of the more exciting fly fishing experiences.

6)     Can you recommend any books on the area? Local authors...

Pocketguide to PA Hatches by Charles Meck and Paul Weamer is a must have for anyone who wants to understand the local hatches and the tactics necessary to be effective while fishing.  PA Trout Streams by Charles Meck and Daniel Shields Spring Creek and Penns Creek River Journal are excellent resources. 

7)     What can people expect while on a guided trip in the area?  

First, please make sure to do some homework on any guided trip you intend to book by making sure they are licensed and First Aid and CPR trained.  For example, with a trip from TCO Fly Shop one can expect 8 hours of not only being guided, but also educated on the local streams - information that has taken years to develop.  A good guide operation is flexible.  For example, we take the lead as to what stream and time to fish if an individual is new to the area or fly fishing and want some general direction to get started. However, for the more experienced angler, a good guide operation will listen to the wishes of their clients.  For example, many of our clients know they want to fish the Green Drake Hatch on Penns Creek during Memorial Day Weekend and want to fish from 2:00 to 9:00 P.M.  As a result, our guides will often plan the trip around the wishes of our clients, no matter what time that means our guides will be getting home.            

8)    Would you recommend any fly fishing classes? 

 Most fly shop will offer a variety of classes starting with a complete beginners course all the way to a specific skill (e.g. nymphing being one of the most popular).  This is a great way to refine those techniques before the season starts. 

9)    What are the most popular flies that are must-have to be in any angler's fly box?

      Flies are dependent on season but here's a general list:

      #12-20 Pheasant Tail nymphs

      #12-20 Hare's ear

      Blue wing olives #18-22

      Sulphurs dries and nymphs #14-18

      Caddis dries and nymphs #14-20 in tan, black, olive, and brown

      Trico #22-26

      Walt's worm #12-18

      San Juan Worm #12

      Beetles, Ants, Hoppers (during the terrestrial season)

      Sculpin Patterns including Wooly Buggers and other Sculpin patterns in Olive and Black.        

10)   What are the prettiest places to fish in the State College area?

They're all awesome and all offer a different feel! The gorge area between Benner Springs and the Paradise is one of my favorites and also offers some of the best fishing in the state. Again, the Little Juniata, Penns Creek, and Fishing Creek also offer a wilderness feel and also great fishing. 

11)  What are some mistakes visitors often make and should try to avoid?

Call the shop for the latest/up to date information.  Sometimes weather systems can change stream conditions within an hour, long before the staff has an opportunity to correct the changes on stream update site.  Also, the local shop has the insight as to what "particular" areas are fishing better than others and this can save traveling anglers many frustrating hours of slow fishing.  A reputable shop will be honest when discussing stream conditions and tell you when it is not advised to come up and fish.