BMO Spring 2024 Newsletter
- Date Written:
This Article has Expired!
This newsletter was written June 5th, 2024. Just keep in mind that much of the time sensitive info on this article is probably out of date. Feel free to enjoy the read though!
The Bonus of Bugs Bookmark this location of the page.
Warm weather is finally here, but the bugs have also gotten the memo. While day trips usually include Dragonflies and Damselflies finding a place to rest on your watercraft, anyone who's been out at dusk or dawn knows that's when the river is most active. Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies are all abundant in the Susquehanna River and create a swarm while hatching that can impact visibility. You'll want to keep your mouth closed, but these insects are harmless and beneficial. All of them, especially Mayflies, are an indicator of good water quality and keep the fish well fed to grow into lunkers. Next time you're annoyed by them, remember that you should be more worried if they aren't around.
Want to know more about our macroinvertebrate, or insect friends? The Stroud Water Research Center has a wealth of information online and offers educational experiences.
New Boats Bookmark this location of the page.
Liquid Logic - Powerslide Bookmark this location of the page.
A new 10-foot whitewater boat from Liquid Logic, the Powerslide has a hull based on old-school slalom designs but with added bow rocker and a hard chine planing hull to give it some play and modern features.
Liquid Logic Powerslide
Liquid Logic Powerslide White Water Kayak.
NuCanoe - U10 Bookmark this location of the page.
The new U10 model, a 10'10” version of the Unlimited, has the open deck, fishing features and stability that NuCanoe is known for. Perfect for the casual or professional angler to load in the back of the pick up truck and hit their favorite spot. Don't have paddling time? All NuCanoe models are motor-capable.
NuCanoe U10
NuCanoe's Latest Fishing Kayak, go unlimit yourself.
Northstar Opal Bookmark this location of the page.
A shorter version of the Pearl, the Opal is a versatile, do-it-all recreational canoe designed for a pleasant day experience. At 14'9” and symmetrical rocker, it can easily be paddled solo but still offers enough room to bring your human or furry children along.
Northstar Opal
A shorter version of Northstar's Pearl Canoe.
New Accessories Bookmark this location of the page.
Yak Attack Bookmark this location of the page.
What do you do when you've bought a BlackPak Pro box and need even more space? Add another box on top! The Shortstak is a new product that adds another 4.25” box to the top of it. In stock now, just need to know what size BlackPak you're putting it on.
Yak Attack Shortstak
Extra storage for the Yak Attack BlackPak Pro.
Still not enough room? Add the Picpocket to the side as a pouch or with a TracPak box. If you want to keep your TracPak box organized, add one of the three new trays available to the TracPak box to compartmentalize your fishing stuff.
Yak Attack PicPocket
A side pocket for your BlackPak Pro or TrackPak.
Astral Indus Bookmark this location of the page.
Every once in a while, we'll get a request for a high flotation vest, but until now we haven't had a rescue option. The Astral Indus has 22 lbs. of flotation to keep your head above water and all the rescue features to help you help someone else.
Astral Indus
A high floatation life vest (PFD).
NRS Ninja Bookmark this location of the page.
The Ninja has been one of most popular low-profile vests for some time, and now it's been upgraded. Improving fit and comfort with graduated sizing and their Orbit Fit System foam, adding reflective patches and lash points for the safety-conscious paddler, and helping the environment with sustainable material sourcing are all new benefits that are combined with the classic side entry and clam shell pockets we've known for years.
Astral Indus
A low profile life vest (PFD).
Native Watercraft Captains Bridge Bookmark this location of the page.
One thing we've learned from selling accessories for fishing kayaks is that there's never enough gear track space. Native Watercraft introduced the Captain's Bridge. It can be mounted on any two small tracks in front of you to create a 26” or 32” dual track bar to mount onto. At an elevated position, it's easier to see your screens and therefore your fish.
Native Watercraft's Captains Bridge.
Malone Forge BTB Cart and Bike Towbar Bookmark this location of the page.
Looking for another way to shuttle by yourself? Coming soon: Malone has used their Forge bunk style cart and added a tow bar to attach to your bicycle seat post. The tow bar comes in four pieces so it can be adapted to different length boats. Now there's no excuse to skip leg day after your arm work-out paddling.
Malone Forge BTB Cart and Bike Towbar
Articles Bookmark this location of the page.
New Kayak, Now Where?
One of the most common questions we get from new kayakers is “how do I know where to go?” We can point you in the right directions. If you're looking to travel around the state, we recommend Ed Gertler's Keystone Canoeing or Jeff Mitchell's Paddling Pennsylvania. Keystone Canoeing covers almost all the runnable water in Pennsylvania, although it misses some of the western streams while Paddling Pennsylvania focuses on calm water and lakes across the state.
If you're interested in the Susquehanna, we carry all four sections of the detailed maps that include campgrounds and some area information. If you're looking to go by the statue of liberty or Rockville Bridge, detailed maps are available as PDF's on our website. We also have detailed maps available for Pine Creek and the Schuylkill River available for sale at the shop.
Our Susquehanna Maps
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Susquehanna River - Duncannon to Marysville
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Susquehanna River - Marysville to West Fairview
There are also a lot of local area maps available online at pfbc.pa.gov/WaterTrail.htm. Some tributaries featured include the Swatara, Juniata, Conodoguinet and Yellow Breeches. The Pennsylvania DCNR also has information online for rules regarding canoeing & kayaking as well as information and maps of several parks which can be found at this link.
GSI Compact Scraper: Tried and True Bookmark this location of the page.
It doesn't look like much, but the GSI Outdoors Compact Scraper is the Hercules of camp kitchen clean-up. Whether you're glamping with a wide array of cookware and utensils or dirt-bagging it with a Jetboil and a spork, carry a scraper. It makes removing food crud from your pots and pans a cakewalk. The same goes for anything else you eat with or on or out of. No joke. Like slicing warm butter with a hot blade. The scraper weighs next to nothing and costs a humble seven bucks. It's also handy at home - for the same reasons it's useful outdoors.
GSI Compact Scraper
A compact scraper for scaping pots, pans and more.
Dougisms ("If it ain't a word it should be") Bookmark this location of the page.
When a house tragically burned just after Christmas here in Marysville, Doug complained that between the smoke and the exhaust from the many responding vehicles he became pixelated. Asphyxiated? Luckily no one was hurt, and the community came together in the spirit of the holidays to help out.
BMO Gallery of Fine Art Bookmark this location of the page.
We have ex-employee Kris Wolpert to thank for this one! (That's one angry goose!)
One Angry Goose!
An Angry Goose out by the water. Thanks for the photo Kris!
What do you do if you find an awesome snakeskin in your front yard? First, look for the snake (nope; didn't find it) then add it to the cedar “Tree” on the deck. (Doesn't seem to phase the songbirds at all!)
A whole Snakeskin.
A snakeskin wrapped in a dreamweaver.
Turtle Tips Bookmark this location of the page.
It's that time of year when momma turtles are making their way out of the river to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, this often includes a road crossing (which, 'cause they're turtles, takes a LONG time!) If you see a turtle on the road, feel free to rescue her. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it! Regardless of how far she has ventured, always carry her in the direction she was traveling. Also, hold her horizontally, not vertically. In order to stay hydrated during her trek, she carries a supply of water. If you pick her up vertically, you will get a case of very wet feet, and she will be in danger of drying out. No, she is not peeing on you!
Turtle Crossing
Please yield to crossing turtles at a "turtle crossing".
By the way, we know that turtles do return to the same nesting area year after year. We have one Map Turtle who lays her eggs each Spring in the middle of our firepit. Our resident mink usually finds the eggs before we do, but that's nature for you!
We hope to see you out in the Susquehanna Soon!
- The BMO Gang.
