The Articulate Fly

Episode OverviewThe Articulate Fly's Pennsylvania Smallmouth Report returns with Captain Brian Shumaker of Susquehanna River Guides, delivering a timely mid-spring conditions update for the Susquehanna River system in Central Pennsylvania. This episode cuts straight to the practical challenge facing every Mid-Atlantic smallmouth angler right now: how to fish effectively when an extreme pattern of temperature swings — 80°F one day, back to the 50s by mid-week — is compressing and disrupting the spawn, locking fish down unpredictably, and keeping the frog bite from ever materializing. Brian, a veteran guide with over three decades on the Susquehanna, breaks down how he approaches these volatile conditions with clients, from the diagnostic logic of starting with yesterday's best fly and quickly reading fish mood, to the deeper strategic pivot of going subsurface on intermediate lines when topwater won't produce. He also touches on where the spawn currently stands — with the first wave already pushing some fish into early post-spawn funk — and what anglers can expect as conditions hopefully stabilize heading toward summer. For anyone planning time on Pennsylvania smallmouth water this spring, Brian's approach to grinding through difficult conditions with a rotating bench of swim flies and crayfish patterns offers both tactical and mental frameworks worth internalizing.Key TakeawaysHow to use yesterday's producing fly as a quick diagnostic starting point and pivot efficiently to Plan B when conditions have shifted overnight.Why slowing retrieve speed and fishing deeper are the first two adjustments to make when dropping temperatures cause smallmouth to lock jaw.How intermediate sink lines provide a versatile middle ground that keeps flies in the strike zone when topwater conditions are marginal.When to rotate through a broad multi-pattern bench — swim flies, Half-and-Halfs, Clousers and crayfish patterns — rather than forcing a single presentation in unpredictable spring conditions.Why crayfish patterns like the Clawdad are producing when stomach content checks confirm fish are actively keying on crayfish as a primary food source.How the unusual spring temperature volatility in Central PA is producing an early post-spawn funk in first-wave fish while later-wave spawners are still active, creating a mixed-mood fishery that demands adaptable tactics.Techniques & Gear CoveredBrian's current approach centers on intermediate sink lines as the primary tool for getting flies into the strike zone. From there, he runs a rotating bench of approximately a dozen patterns, starting with Clousers, swim flies and Half-and-Halfs and moving through the progression until something sticks — a systematic elimination approach that reflects hard-earned guiding experience in variable conditions. When temperatures drop and fish go passive, he leads with slower presentations before working up to more active retrieves. Crayfish imitations have been particularly productive, with Brian noting that fish are showing crayfish in their gullets on inspection — a data point that drives fly selection rather than guesswork. He specifically mentions patterns in the Clawdad-style that can be fished up off the bottom and animated to mimic a fleeing crayfish. Topwater setups remain rigged as a secondary option for afternoon sessions, with Brian noting that conditions like a sulphur hatch could still prompt fish to look up even in an otherwise subsurface day.Locations & SpeciesThe episode focuses on the Susquehanna River system in Central Pennsylvania, the fishery Brian has guided exclusively since founding Susquehanna River Guides in 1993. The Susquehanna is a fertile limestone river renowned for one of the strongest wild smallmouth bass fisheries in the eastern United States, characterized by rock ledges, wide shallow riffles and abundant crayfish and aquatic insect life. Target species is exclusively smallmouth bass throughout this report. The episode is recorded during the mid-spring spawn window, with Brian projecting that spawning activity on his water will wrap up around the third week of May and that some first-wave fish are already showing early post-spawn behavioral funk — while later-wave fish are still active and available. The unusual temperature volatility this spring is affecting fish behavior across the entire east coast smallmouth fishery, not just the Susquehanna, making Brian's adaptable mid-spring approach broadly applicable.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you adapt your fly fishing approach when spring temperatures swing wildly day to day?Brian starts each session by testing what produced the day before — that gives a quick read on whether conditions have shifted. If that approach fails early, he moves to Plan B: slowing retrieve speed, going deeper and working through a systematic rotation of patterns until he finds something that matches the fish's current mood. The key is staying flexible rather than committing to a single technique.What fly line setups are most effective for Pennsylvania smallmouth in cold or variable spring conditions?Intermediate sink lines are Brian's primary tool right now, allowing him to keep flies subsurface without anchoring them to the bottom. Topwater rigs stay on deck for afternoon sessions as a speculative option, particularly when hatches are occurring. In colder conditions, he prioritizes slower patterns and quieter presentations before working up to more active swim fly retrieves.Why are crayfish fly patterns so effective for spring smallmouth bass fishing?Stomach content checks on the Susquehanna are showing fish actively feeding on crayfish, making imitative patterns a data-driven choice rather than a hunch. Patterns that can be fished up off the bottom and animated to simulate a fleeing crayfish — rather than dragged along bottom and snagged — are producing best because they remain accessible to fish holding at a range of depths.When does the smallmouth spawn typically wrap up on the Susquehanna River in Central PA?Under normal conditions, Brian expects spawning to be largely complete by the third week of May on his water. This spring's extreme temperature swings compressed the front end of the spawn but have also extended and complicated the overall picture, with first-wave fish already showing post-spawn behavior while later fish are still in the spawn cycle — creating a mixed-mood fishery that is more difficult to read than a typical spring.What should anglers expect after the spawn in terms of fish behavior and fishing quality?The post-spawn funk is real — fish that have completed spawning become temporarily lethargic and difficult to catch. Brian describes a brief early version of this pattern already affecting first-wave fish on his water. The good news is that once temperatures stabilize, fish typically come around quickly and the summer bite — including the anticipated frog bite and topwater action — can be excellent on the Susquehanna.Related ContentS8, Ep 27: The Pre-Spawn Puzzle: Captain Brian Shumaker's Tips for Pennsylvania SmallmouthS8, Ep 23: Low Water Chronicles: Matt Reilly on Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal ShiftsS6, Ep 41: Smallmouth Secrets and Streamer Savvy with Brendan RuchS1, Ep 97: All Things Smallmouth with Mike SchultzConnect with Our GuestFollow Brian on Facebook and Instagram.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If...

Episode OverviewIn this Central PA Fishing Report on The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash checks in with George Costa, manager at TCO Fly Shop in State College, Pennsylvania, for a real-time spring conditions update. With prime season fully underway, Costa delivers an encouraging picture across Central PA's limestone stream corridor: water levels are running near seasonal averages, a minor push of off-color water on the Juniata is clearing, and the hatch activity is firing on multiple fronts simultaneously. Sulphurs are coming up on Spring Creek with Penns Creek and Fishing Creek close behind; March browns, blue-winged olives, tan caddis, little black caddis and a few brown stones are all in play. Costa advises carrying a wide variety of dry fly and nymph patterns to dial in what individual fish want on a given day — a critical tactical point during a period when presentations can shift from a size-20 olive nymph to a size-12 jig between sessions. With cooler temperatures and overcast skies pushing the best dry fly action into the afternoon, he notes that warmer, brighter days ahead will shift peak hatch windows toward evening. For anglers ready to strike while the iron is hot, Costa is emphatic: this next month represents the best fishing of the year in Central PA, and the window before summer low-water conditions close in is narrow.Key TakeawaysHow to carry and rotate a broad pattern selection — dry flies, nymphs and streamers — to match the fast-changing multi-hatch conditions of Central PA's peak spring season.Why afternoon currently outperforms morning sessions on days with cooler temperatures and overcast skies, and when to expect that window to shift toward evening as conditions warm.When to reach for streamers even during prime dry fly season — particularly after rain events add color to the water.How to use attractor-style Euro jig nymphs (Frenchies and similar patterns) as a consistent fallback when dry fly activity isn't dialed in.Why the next four to six weeks represent the peak fishing window of the year in Central PA — and how summer low-water and rising temperatures will close that window by mid-to-late June.Techniques & Gear CoveredGeorge Costa covers a multi-technique spring approach anchored by dry fly fishing during active afternoon hatch windows, with Euro-style nymphing as the go-to when surface activity is absent. On the dry fly front, the current hatch slate — sulphurs, March browns, olives, tan caddis, little black caddis and brown stones — demands anglers carry a broad selection rather than betting on a single pattern. Costa specifically calls out attractor-style nymphs including Frenchies, as well as general Euro jig patterns as reliable subsurface options, noting that fish can shift from small olive nymphs to larger size-12 jigs between sessions. Streamer fishing is flagged as a productive opportunistic tactic when rain pushes off-color water through the system. Costa also references Wheatley stacked fly boxes as the organizational tool of choice for managing the diversity of patterns required this time of year.Locations & SpeciesThe episode focuses on the Central Pennsylvania limestone stream corridor centered around State College, with Spring Creek, Penns Creek, Fishing Creek and the Juniata all discussed. The Juniata was carrying slight color at the time of recording following a rain event but was dropping and clearing. Spring Creek and Penns Creek are highlighted as the primary waters for emerging sulphur hatches, with Fishing Creek also noted as part of the sulphur progression. The target species throughout is trout — the wild brown trout fisheries that define Centre County's reputation as a world-class dry fly destination. Costa notes that current conditions are tracking at or near seasonal averages, with the brief concern of summer low-water and warming temperatures expected to begin closing the prime window somewhere between mid and late June.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredWhat hatches are active right now in Central PA?Multiple hatches are producing simultaneously: sulphurs are emerging on Spring Creek with Penns Creek and Fishing Creek following closely behind, March browns are coming up, blue-winged olives are present throughout, and tan caddis, little black caddis and brown stones are all in the mix. Costa emphasizes that the diversity of activity makes pattern variety an important tool for hatch-matching precision at this stage of the season.How should I adjust my dry fly timing during Central PA's spring season?Under the current cooler temperatures and overcast conditions, the best dry fly action has been occurring in the afternoon. As warmer and sunnier days arrive, Costa expects the peak hatch windows to shift toward evening — a seasonal pattern Central PA anglers should track closely and adjust their on-water schedules accordingly.When should I throw streamers during spring dry fly season?Streamers remain a viable and productive option any time rain events push off-color water through the system, even when dry fly activity is strong on clearer water. Costa frames streamers as a situational rather than primary tactic at this point in the season — a useful arrow in the quiver after rain, but not the main focus when hatches are firing.What nymph patterns are working in Central PA right now?Pheasant Tails, Frenchies and attractor-style Euro jig nymphs are all producing consistently. Costa's key advice is to avoid getting locked into a single pattern: fish can want a small olive nymph one day and a size-12 jig the next, so carrying variety and being willing to change is the most important tactical principle for subsurface fishing during this hatch-rich window.How long will the prime spring fishing window last in Central PA?Costa estimates the best fishing of the year will continue for roughly the next four to six weeks from recording, with summer low-water conditions and rising water temperatures expected to become a concern sometime between mid and late June. The advice is clear: get on the water now while conditions are ideal.Related ContentS8, Ep 19 – Spring Fever: George Costa on Central PA's Fishing Conditions and Upcoming HatchesS8, Ep 17 – Spring Awakening: George Costa on Central PA Fishing and Upcoming HatchesS8, Ep 4 – Chilly Waters and Crafty Flies: A New Year Fishing Report with George CostaS7, Ep 36 – Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly ShopS6, Ep 48 – Rain or Shine: Central PA's Fishing Report with TCO Fly ShopConnect with Our GuestFollow TCO on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? 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Episode OverviewThe Articulate Fly returns to Southwest Virginia with guide Matt Reilly of Matt Reilly Fly Fishing for a candid late-spring conditions update covering the 2026 striper run, the smallmouth spawn transition and the tactical realities of fishing during one of the most compressed and drought-affected springs on record. Marvin Cash and Matt dissect a season that accelerated and stalled simultaneously — an extended cold February followed by an abrupt heat spike of 85–95°F days in late March and early April, paired with persistently low water, collapsed the striper run and complicated every major seasonal transition on Southwest Virginia's river systems. The weird weather and flows have made it genuinely difficult to pattern pre- and post-spawn smallmouth — the fish anglers actually want to target — because the usual seasonal cues have been compressed and scrambled. Matt provides a practical framework for identifying spawning males so you can skip them and keep hunting for fish that are actively feeding: the lazy follow, the lip-grab without commitment, the fish that trails your bug 8–10 feet off the bank and turns back are all signs to move on. He also explains why low water in an otherwise frustrating spring carries a meaningful upside for long-term recruitment if dry conditions hold through June. The episode closes with a thoughtful response to a listener question from Myles about breaking into fly fishing guiding professionally, with Matt covering mentorship, income diversification, the ethics of client and fishery stewardship and the financial realities of building a sustainable guide business.Key TakeawaysHow to recognize spawning male smallmouth behavior — lazy follows, lip-grabs and short pursuits that turn back to the bank — so you can move on quickly and keep hunting actively feeding pre- and post-spawn fish.Why low-water drought springs can actually produce strong smallmouth recruitment classes if rain stays away through June.When to move on from a fish that follows your bug or streamer and returns to the bank without committing — and why skipping those fish is both the ethical and tactically correct call.How unusual weather and flows this spring have scrambled the typical pre- and post-spawn patterns, making it a mixed-bag season where reading individual fish behavior matters more than following a seasonal playbook.Why building a guide career requires prioritizing client relationships and fishery health above daily revenue — and how that long-term ethic translates to business sustainability.How diversifying income streams (writing, multi-species guiding, year-round fisheries) protects a guide's livelihood when weather, blowouts or other factors cut into prime booking windows.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe central tactical theme of this episode is finding and targeting actively feeding pre- and post-spawn smallmouth in low, clear water — a harder task than usual given how badly the weird weather and flows this spring have scrambled normal seasonal patterns. Matt covers top water bug presentations and streamer fishing as the primary techniques for this window, but stresses that reading individual fish behavior is the key skill right now. Stomach-pump data — stoneflies, bees, beetles, damselflies and dragonflies — confirms that genuinely feeding fish are keyed on terrestrials and aquatic insects, which gives anglers confidence that top water presentations are well-founded. The critical field skill Matt emphasizes is identifying spawning males quickly so you can move on: a fish that lazily follows a bug or streamer 8–10 feet off the bank and turns back, or that lip-grabs without committing, is a spawner to skip — not a fish to continue to work. The striper run is also discussed briefly in the context of the same low-water and warming conditions.Locations & SpeciesSouthwest Virginia's river systems — the New River drainage and surrounding waters — are the focus of this report, with Matt Reilly fishing and guiding the region year-round. Smallmouth bass are the primary target species for the spring through early fall, with striped bass serving as the transitional species between musky season and pre-spawn smallmouth and the remainder of smallmouth season. The compressed, weather-scrambled spring has made it unusually difficult to pattern pre- and post-spawn smallmouth — the fish Matt and his clients are after — with conditions shifting too quickly for the usual seasonal benchmarks to hold. The season discussed covers late April through early July, with May through late June highlighted as the core window for top water, baitfish and crayfish presentations once the spawn has run its course and actively feeding fish become reliably patternable again.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow do you identify spawning male smallmouth so you can move on and find actively feeding fish?Matt explains that spawning males reveal themselves through a set of distinctive non-committal behaviors: lazily following a bug or popper without eating, lip-grabbing it without driving it down or trailing a fly 8–10 feet off the bank before turning back to their original position. A genuinely feeding fish commits. Once you recognize those spawner signals, the right move is to keep moving, because leaving them alone is the correct call during the spawn. With this spring's scrambled conditions making pre- and post-spawn fish harder than usual to pattern, being efficient about identifying and skipping spawners is especially important.What does extremely low, warm spring water mean for smallmouth spawn site selection?In low-water years, smallmouth spread their spawning activity across non-traditional structure — small mid-river rocks, exposed tailouts and spots that wouldn't hold nests at normal flows — because classic protected backwaters become stagnant and unsuitable. Understanding where fish are spawning matters less for targeting purposes and more for knowing where not to fish, and for recognizing the behavior cues that signal a spawner so you can move on efficiently. The upside of this low-water spawn, as Matt explains, is the potential for strong recruitment if dry conditions hold through June.What are the best fly fishing techniques for Southwest Virginia smallmouth in late spring and early summer under low, clear conditions?Matt anticipates top water bug presentations — poppers, damselfly and dragonfly imitations, terrestrials — dominating May through early July given the continued low and clear forecast. Streamer presentations remain viable, particularly for baitfish and crayfish patterns as water warms into the late May and June window, but the finesse of dead-drifting surface flies tight to the bank is a standout tactic for reaching post-spawn fish that are genuinely in a feeding mode. The challenge this season is that the scrambled spring has compressed the transition windows, so reading individual fish behavior — rather than relying on calendar-based seasonal cues — is the more reliable approach.What is the most important advice for someone looking to build a career as a fly fishing guide?Matt emphasizes three things above individual tactics: surround yourself with mentors who are better than you and have nothing to prove, be willing to work extremely hard and put in time on the water because print and video resources only go so far, and diversify your income streams across species, seasons and ancillary work like writing. He also stresses that sustainable guide businesses prioritize client experience and fishery health over daily revenue — those values pay off long-term even when they cost you in the short run.Why do low-water drought conditions during the spawn create an opportunity for long-term smallmouth recruitment?If spring stays dry through June, fish can complete the spawn without disruption from flooding or high flows, which can otherwise wash out nests and devastate year-class recruitment. Matt notes that this is a meaningful potential upside to what otherwise feels like a frustrating season — the same drought that hurt the striper run and compressed the musky window may produce a strong class of juvenile smallmouth if it holds.Related ContentS8, Ep 23 – Low Water Chronicles: Matt Reilly on Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Strategies and Seasonal ShiftsS8, Ep 16 – The Seasonal Shift: Matt Reilly Discusses Spring Fishing Strategies in Southwest VirginiaS8, Ep 2 – January Fishing Forecast: Weather Patterns and Musky Tips with Matt ReillyS6, Ep 71 – Adapting to Heat and Low Flows: A Southwest Virginia Fishing Report with Matt ReillyConnect with Our GuestFollow Matt on Instagram.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on...

Episode OverviewIn this Casting Angles segment of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash and Master Casting Instructor Mac Brown discuss how to adapt when an unusually warm, drought-driven spring upends normal seasonal fishing expectations across the mid-Atlantic and Southern Appalachians. It's a candid, practical conversation for anglers dealing with conditions that have scrambled hatches, compressed water temps and pushed trout into summerlike stress months early.Mac reports water temperatures in the mid-70s in Bryson City during mid-April — historically a July scenario — with corresponding low water on Western North Carolina freestone streams, including the Davidson River near Brevard where water temps were nudging the upper 60s. The practical takeaway from the conversation is concrete: when freestone streams become untenable, seek out tailwater fisheries with reliably cold, dam-regulated flows, and adjust fly selection dramatically — in this case dropping to size 28 Blue Wing Olives in April, a fly more commonly associated with winter midge-style fishing on the South Holston, after typical spring hatches like March Browns and Hendricksons failed to materialize. Mac and Marvin also encourage listeners to make a gear shift altogether when trout conditions are compromised, pivoting to panfish and bass on local ponds and lakes. The philosophical throughline is the classic fishing truism both hosts return to: you can only take what the river is willing to give you.Key TakeawaysHow to identify when warming freestone streams have become too stressful for trout and it's time to shift to tailwaters or alternative species.Why size 28 Blue Wing Olives can be the correct spring fly choice during drought years when conventional late-spring hatches like March Browns and Hendricksons fail to appear on schedule.When traditional spring trout fishing is compromised, how pivoting early to bass and panfish on local ponds offers a productive and accessible alternative.Why monitoring water temperature — not just visual stream conditions — is the most reliable guide to where trout will be feeding during abnormally warm spring weather.Techniques & Gear CoveredThe episode's most concrete tactical moment comes from Mac's report of fishing a size 28 Blue Wing Olive during a late-April outing — a winter-style presentation typically reserved for midge-focused tailwater days on rivers like the South Holston — after spotting a pod of actively feeding fish with no significant spring hatches in the air. No March Browns, no Hendricksons: just a tiny blue-winged olive and a size 28 pattern to match it. Beyond that single hatch-matching scenario, the tactical discussion centers on the broader decision-making framework of reading water temperature as a leading indicator, targeting the cold-water refuge of tailwaters when freestone streams become thermal and knowing when conditions call for switching species entirely rather than forcing trout fishing in compromised water.Locations & SpeciesThe conversation covers Western North Carolina freestone streams, including the Davidson River near Brevard and the waters around Bryson City, where mid-April temperatures had reached summerlike levels and flows were running at roughly a third to a half of seasonal norms across much of the mid-Atlantic. Mac points listeners toward tailwaters fed by large impoundments — specifically the fisheries below Fontana Dam, and waters like Cheoah and Calderwood — as cold-water refuges where trout will continue feeding more normally regardless of ambient air temperatures. Marvin references the South Holston and Watauga as additional tailwater options for Tennessee and Western NC anglers, with a caveat about reported turbine maintenance on the South Holston at the time of recording. Brown and rainbow trout are the primary targets throughout, with a passing acknowledgment that the abnormally warm March also disrupted pre-spawn smallmouth bass patterns in Virginia and the Carolinas.FAQ / Key Questions AnsweredHow warm is too warm for spring trout fishing on freestone streams?Mac and Marvin both flag water temperatures in the upper 60s as the threshold where trout fishing on freestone streams becomes unproductive and stressful for fish. The Davidson River near Brevard hit those temperatures in mid-April during this unusual spring — a full two months earlier than the July conditions those readings would normally indicate.What fly should you use when spring hatches don't materialize on schedule?Mac's answer from this episode: revert to winter-game logic. When he found a pod of working fish in late April with no March Browns or Hendricksons in the air, a size 28 Blue Wing Olive — the same pattern he'd fish on a winter day on the South Holston — turned out to be the correct call.Why are tailwaters the best alternative when freestone streams get too warm?Dam-regulated tailwaters draw from cold reservoir depths, maintaining stable water temperatures even when air temperatures are unseasonably high. Mac specifically mentions the fisheries below Fontana Dam — Cheoah and Calderwood — as reliable cold-water options when surrounding freestone streams become too warm to fish effectively.What should trout anglers do when neither the water temperature nor the hatches are cooperating?Both Mac and Marvin recommend the species shift: get out early on the panfish and bass season. Ponds and lakes close to home offer productive topwater and popper fishing for bass and bluegill when trout streams are off the table, and the change of scenery often produces fish when the usual spring program simply isn't available.Related ContentS8, Ep 25 – The Science of Stealth: Mac Brown on Fishing Techniques for Low Flow ScenariosS8, Ep 21 – Casting into Spring: Mac Brown Discusses Wild Trout Fishing and Upcoming ClassesS7, Ep 28 – Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac BrownS6, Ep 145 – Navigating Winter Waters: Unconventional Strategies with Mac BrownConnect with Our GuestFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow the ShowFollow The Articulate Fly on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and YouTube.Follow our Substack newsletter for episode updates, tips and resources.Support the ShowShop through our Amazon link to support the podcast.Join our Patreon community to support the show.If you are in the industry and need help getting unstuck, learn more about our consulting options.Subscribe & AdvertiseSubscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcast app.Think our community is a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.