Meet the New Guy - Shane Clemens

TCO would like to welcome Shane Clemens to the TCO Family. He will be splitting his time Bryn Mawr and Reading. When he is not at the shop you can find him hiking the small back wood streams in Tioga County with his wife, carrying a backpack, two short 3 weights, and a few cold IPAs.  When He loves traveling out west for wild browns and cutties in the rivers of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. He is very skilled on the banjo and and guitar. His other passion is cooking on the grill or over an open campfire. Stop is and say hi.

2015 Ice Breaker Event

TCO is excited to announce the third annual Ice Breaker Event at ALL our TCO locations. TCO Bryn Mawr on March 13th, TCO Reading on March 14th and TCO State College location on March 15th. This year renowned guide and fly designer, Blane Chocklett will be headlining our event to discuss musky strategies. Blane has created revolutionary patterns like the Gummy Minnow and Game Changer to name a few. Blane is also one of the most sought out musky guides in the country. Please join us for our 2015 Ice Breaker Event and see why Blane Chocklett is one of the hottest names in the Fly Fishing Industry. This event is free to the public.


TCO Bryn Mawr - March 13th | TCO Reading - March 14th | TCO State College - March 15th

TCO Ice Breaker Event Lineup: (Reading and State College) 10:30-11:30: Musky Presentation Reading the water Understanding the mind of a musky Seasonal approaches to musky fishing Rigs and leader setups Casting and line control Retrieves Setting the hook Fly designs 11:30 - 1:30 Open Discussion and Q&A with Blane 1:30-3:00: Fly Tying Presentation Gummy Minnow Original Game Changer Feathered Game Changer T-Bone

TCO Ice Breaker Event Lineup: (Bryn Mawr Store only) 4-5pm: Musky Presentation Reading the water Understanding the mind of a musky Seasonal approaches to musky fishing Rigs and leader setups Casting and line control Retrieves Setting the hook Fly designs 5-6:30: Fly Tying Presentation Gummy Minnow Original Game Changer Feathered Game Changer T-Bone

Door Prize: Temple Fork has donated 2 Essoxs Fly Rods (valued at $320 each) to be raffled off for this event.
$5 per entry.
The Essox rod was developed by Blane to handle any and all conditions associated with musky fishing on the fly.

Embrace the Cold

Winter is here, it has been here for some time now. I looked at the extended forecast this morning and there is hope, by the weekend they are calling for upper 30s! I decided to embrace winter yesterday. I got all geared up with 100 layers and went fishing. I didn't go far just a quick jump from the shop and I was walking the banks of my favorite local gem. It was defiantly winter and the fishing was a little slow. None the less I got out and the hot fly was the Emerging Zebra Midge from the last Brew n' Bugs.

Featured Fly - Emerging Zebra Midge

A great little midge variation. We featured this one last night at Brew n' Bugs. I have fished this little guy a lot of the Tully and Big Spring with a lot of success. The piece of flash of the back gives it a little extra glimmer in the water. The Z-lon grabs air bubbles underwater and gives a natural emerging look to the fly. A great fly for tailwater fishing anytime of the year, and a awesome winter spring creek bug.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 2457 or 206bl sz. 18-24

Thread: UNI Thread 8/0 - Black 

Rib Ultra Wire sz. Small - Gold 

Bead: Cyclops Bead - Gold

Tail: Krystal Flash - Pearl 

Wing: Z-lon - Ginger or Tan 

Thorax: Peacock Herl - Natural 

Step 1:  Make a small thread base right behind the bead.

Step 2: Tie in the Krystal flash and Ultra Wire.

Step 3: Keeping the Krystal flash on top of the hook and the Ultra Wire on the side, wrap your thread back to the bend of the hook. Then bring your thread forward.

Step 4: Trim the Krystal Flash tail. Trim the tail about a hook gap in length.

Step 5: Rib the body. Leaving about a hook eye gap between the last wrap and the bead. This is where you will make the "thorax".

Step 6: Tie in the Z-lon, trimming it about the length of the hook.

Step 7: Trim the extra Z-lon.

Step 8: Tie in one strand of Peacock Herl.

Step 9: Make three wraps of the herl, tie off and trim extra.

Step 10: Whip finish and cut off!

Finished Fly: Top one is tied on a 2457 and the bottom one is tied on a 206bl

Winter Flies - Micro

Tomorrows' high is 13 and the low is -4, why not talk about some flies for the winter. During the winter months my fly selections become very simple. I fish small and smaller flies, with size 18 being a large. Most of the time I fish some form of midge larva, but sometimes the trout just want something else.

BLM Nymph, this is a quick and easy fly to tie, change the color of the body, it can be just about anything you want it to be.

SYE Sow Bug, a must have for anyone fishing spring creeks or tailwaters in the winter!

Barr Emerger, one fly that most locals love to fish on the Tully. A great little addition to the box.

Caddis Larva, they come in all different colors and sizes, the smaller the better in the winter months. 

Olive Thread Body, perfect fly to drop under a San Juan worm. Or to use when Olives are coming off. 

Micro Juan, tied by Mooser, this little guy kills it in the winter. Just ask him about it and watch how excited he gets talking about it.

Micro Pheasant Tail, size 18 down to a 22 fish these guys any day of the week.

Hot Collar Jig, a nice fly to drag along the bottom for those picky fish that don't want to move.

 Micro Copper John, also tied by Mooser, a great all around nymph for the winter.

Copper Stone, a great meal for trout on any stream with little winter stones.

Out Before the Storm

I was a little nervous to head south yesterday with the threat of freezing rain and snow. I hadn't been out for almost two weeks, so I had to go. I made a solo trip down to the Letort and Big Spring yesterday. Checking out a section of the Letort that I had never fished before. It ended up being more of a walk along the creek with a fly rod, rather than a fishing trip. About mid day the rain started and I decided to head down to Big Spring. There was no one on the creek and I was in heaven. I fished until around 2:00 pm and then headed for home. By the time I got home the car was covered in ice and the parking lot was a skating rink. Made it home just in time :)

Hot Flies: Sow Bug, Thread Body Olive, CDC Olive, and Zebra Midge

Brew n' Bugs - Recap

The first Brew n' Bugs was a huge success. Thank you to all that came out and tied with us. Looking forward to having another great turn out next Tuesday!

Fed 17^th: 6-8pm – Spring Creek Bugs – Stoudts Brew

Mar 3^rd: 6-8pm – Spring Steelhead Flies - Appalachian Brewing Company

Mar 17^th: 6-8pm – Caddis Flies – Sly Fox

Mar 31^st: 6-8pm – Spring Tailwater Flies – Victory Brew

Apr 14^th: 6-8pm – Mayfly Season – Tröegs Brew

If you missed it, here are a few pictures from the night.