Welcome back to “The Rundown,” a Flylords original series where we take an all-encompassing look at the latest and greatest products from your favorite brands in fly fishing. We review high-level info and tech specs here while sharing our initial impressions. To cap off each installment of “The Rundown,” we hear from product designers who brought their vision from blueprints to the showroom floor. 

In this Rundown, we’ll look at the newest release from Idaho-based fishing and whitewater vessel company, NRS, to bring you an all-encompassing look at their latest release: The Approach 120 Fishing Raft Two-Person Package.

Table of Contents

1. Background
2. What’s New
3. Tech Specs
4. Our Experience
5. Interview with NRS

Background:

If you’ve done any float fishing, chances are you’ve come across an NRS raft. Inflatables like the ones NRS is known for are a mainstay on the rocky rivers of the West. Their ability to navigate rough terrain and white water is unmatched, and they have amassed quite the following. 

NRS, or NorthWest River Supplies, was founded in 1972 and released its first production raft in 1983. Since then, NRS has been manufacturing rafts and watercraft, as well as technical items such as life jackets, apparel, and more. It is headquartered in the small town of Moscow, Idaho, and has been entirely employee-owned since 2014. Building on its love for watercraft and its passion for innovation, NRS has since begun strategically expanding its raft line.

The newest generation of rafts means technical fishing machines tailored to the adventure angler. Guides and enthusiasts no longer need to kit out a whitewater raft to make ends meet while fishing. The newest addition, which we’ll be diving into today, is the Approach series of rafts. This line includes two sizes, the 100 and 120. Of the two, we took the 120, a two-man fishing raft, for a spin to see how this lightweight raft stood up to our rocky rivers.

What’s New:

Today’s fly anglers are constantly on the move. While a drift boat is great for accessing water, trailering one around is not always an option. That is exactly what NRS set out to fix with the Approach series of rafts. They are designed to be lightweight, rugged, ready to fish, and, most importantly, easy to travel with. The Approach 120 can easily be transported in a truck bed or on the roof of a vehicle.

In addition to its lightweight and portable design, the Approach is rugged. Like any NRS product, the Approach is built to last, with a 6″ drop-stitch floor, Leafield™ C7 inflation valves, and three main air chambers in case of a puncture.

Now that you know the what and the why, we will dive into some exciting new features that set the Approach apart:

Dry Storage:

Fishing rafts, particularly small ones, are notorious for lacking good storage options. This usually means wet gear at the bottom of the boat. NRS made solving this issue a priority when designing the Approach. The result is a nifty dry storage system incorporated directly into the seats. 

The Approach 120 gets two of these dry boxes, one for each seat. They work with a simple closure system that unlocks ample dry storage. It is perfect for a bag, extra layers, a life jacket, and anything you need to stay dry. While this raft is on the smaller size by design, having gear out of the way makes it feel like a much larger boat.

Internal Anchor System:

A good anchor system is a must for any raft or drift boat. To maximize the Approach’s efficiency, NRS developed a slick internal anchor system that won’t snag on gear or anglers. It works with a simple Spinlock Anchor cam attached to the side of the boat. This system is quick and easy to engage and disengage on the water. 

Additionally, the anchor lock is fully enclosed, meaning the cam system encloses the anchor line. This is designed to prevent your line from “jumping the lock” and rapidly deploying. The result is a smooth and easy-to-operate anchor system capable of deploying easily with single-hand operation. 

Adjustable Slot Rails:

NRS is known for building adjustable and customizable rafts, and the Approach is no different. Built with integrated slot rails, users can adjust seat position and oar locks and add additional accessories for the ultimate use experience. Despite being a smaller raft, the ability to customize your configuration allows users to fish in various fishing conditions. In addition, the adjustable seats help manage weight distribution for the smoothest possible rowing experience. 

Built-in Rod Racks:

One of our favorite features of the Approach 120 is the built-in rod racks. On a small raft, optimizing storage and protecting gear is key. Rod holders are incorporated into both sides of the frame rail via strategically placed cutouts. These are paired with loop closures to secure fully rigged fly rods. On a float trip, when you are switching between techniques, added rod storage keeps you fishing rather than rigging. Simply switch out pre-rigged rods, and you can go from nymph fishing to streamer fishing in seconds. 

Rower’s Package:

If you want to take the guesswork out of dialing in your raft setup, NRS offers the Rower’s Package. This package comes with everything you need to start rowing to the best of your ability. The packages are sized specifically to the size raft you get, so the Approach 120 package is tuned for the 120 size raft. This includes 7.5’ Advantage Oar Shafts, Helix Oar Blades, a 2:1 anchor assist pulley, and an 18lb Tornado Anchor. While this is an add-on package, having everything you need to optimize the water performance more than makes up for the hassle of dialing it on your own.

Tech Specs:

Here is the full tech spec sheet from the NRS website.

(Note: these are the specs for the Approach 120 Raft, which is the raft shown in the photos within this article. For other models, please reference the “specs” noted on the NRS Approach 100 Raft page. These specs do not include the Rower’s Package, see website for more details).

Our Experience:

It was about a year ago that we first got our hands on the NRS Approach Raft, and since then, our team has collectively logged hundreds of hours, both in the rower’s seat and at the bow. With those experiences in mind, if there was only one word we could use to describe this watercraft thus far, it would be versatile. 

The NRS Approach Raft, specifically the Approach 120, was designed to take the slogan of its cousin, the NRS Slipstream, “No Boat Ramp necessary,” and go one step further, leading to the Approach’s mantra: “No trailer necessary.” To try to explain why a raft that doesn’t need a boat trailer warrants special attention seems superfluous, but we’re going to talk about it anyway.

The NRS Approach 120 is noticeably smaller than most fishing rafts. Coming in at 12 feet in length and 165 pounds fully loaded, it’s the second shortest fishing raft NRS offers (just behind the Slipstream 106, which comes in at 10’6” and 145 lbs). However, where it adds on in length, the Approach 120 makes up for in width. Coming in at only 49 inches from side to side, the Approach 120 is over a foot slimmer than the Slipstream 106 (5’3”), making it ideal for pushing into the back of truck beds, as well as on top of roof racks and cabs. This is where the “no trailer needed” slogan comes back into play. 

Throughout our adventures, be it a quick float in the backyard or a weekend trip to Idaho, having the ability to leave the trailer behind has been paramount both in finding new fishing spots to float and fueling our desire to do so. There’s nothing more freeing than being able to stop on any random pull-off and decide, “This’ll be a good place to start today,” and it’s a right we like to exercise regularly. Not only does this ability lend to added creativity with our fishing spots, but it’s also given us more control over how long our floats are. What was once a 5-hour float that would’ve taken us into the dark after putting on post-work is now a 2.5-hour or shorter float and can be replicated repeatedly. Having this ability to dictate just how long we’ll be on the water by altering our put-in location (as opposed to how fast we forward-row) is an unbeatable advantage in its own right. However, the size advantage doesn’t end there. 

Because the raft is both lightweight and extremely durable, your ability to be creative when it comes to put-ins broadens even further. There have been multiple times where a roadside pull-off perfect to house a few vehicles was over 100+ yards from the river. Does this mean giving up? Not with the Approach 120. With the desire to break a little sweat before a long ride on Easy Street, a small 2-man portage is more than manageable with the 160-lb raft. We’re speaking from experience; making the quick waddle to the water is more than worth it. Even in instances where we didn’t have a willing and able buddy to help carry the raft, because of the extremely high-quality PVC that the raft’s made out of, it can be dragged like a sled with no worry necessary. 

Our favorite features:

We’ve talked a lot about the size and weight, but the NRS Approach 120 really outshines the competition in its features. This raft is built with a lot of consideration toward angler-specific use cases, but a few features stand out above the rest—specifically the leg braces, the under-seat storage, the integrated rod storage, and the motor mount. 

The new and improved leg braces are molded in a more function-focused manner than the metal “U” braces of standards past. The new system features a strong plastic base featuring cup holders and different wells for fly boxes, tippet, or other important gear. Their design is more reminiscent of a drift boat as opposed to your run-of-the-mill raft. 

One of our favorite features, the under-seat storage, is where anglers get a refund for their storage space lost with the lessened width of the vessel. Both seats in the NRS Approach 120 feature a metal storage box that can be accessed simply by lifting the seat. Extending to the boat floor, these boxes can fit PFDs, large Streamer Boxes, first aid kits, jackets, and much more. They’re also sealed with a rubberized gasket, so they’re a great storage option for keeping valuables dry during harsh weather conditions or through big waves.

Moving down the list, the integrated rod storage on these boats is a game changer. Rod holders on boats aren’t a new invention, with offerings previously available from NRS itself, as well as some 3rd party players such as Riversmith, but what makes the Approach’s rod storage solution so much better is that it’s integrated right into the frame. Not only does this design create fewer line catch points, but it also offers a strong and durable storage solution that you can be sure will never bend or loosen.

Last but certainly not least, we want to mention the new transom built onto the back of the frame. Again, this is a design we’ve seen in drift boats before but never really on a fishing raft. The incorporation of this motor mount really proves that NRS wants these boats to be taken ANYWHERE. This feature is especially helpful for anglers who like to fish in medium to large lakes. By just strapping a transom-mount trolling motor or even a 4-stroke kicker, the Approach 120 can be turned into an effective stillwater craft. Now, not only can you get to your favorite spots on the reservoir that much faster, but you don’t have to blow out your shoulders in the process (save that part for the endless casting you’ll be doing for hunkered down musky). 

The slot rail frame is another feature we didn’t mention on our shortlist but really deserves some recognition. Unlike any boat before it, just about everything in the boat is attached to the frame via T-nuts and a slot rail. The reason we want to talk about this is because it allows anything in the boat to be adjusted with extreme ease and without taking anything apart. The seats, oar locks, bars, and anchor system can be adjusted to accommodate different anglers by loosening the nuts. This is great for our team as every rower and angler can be balanced and comfortable every time they step into the boat. 

A Short Interview with NRS:

Having used this raft for over a year and thoroughly enjoying every minute of it, we were eager to learn more from the team behind NRS. We sat down with Mike Dolmage, the NRS Director of Fish, to learn more about what it took to bring this product to life.

Flylords: What role(s) did you play in bringing the Approach 120 to life? 

NRS has a passionate design and development team that works together to bring user-focused solutions to the fly fishing watercraft industry. As the Director Of Fish, I work closely with Kirk Turner (Senior Industrial Designer), Will Root (Senior Development Specialist), and Rob Gleason (Fabrication/Manufacturing). 

I was responsible for researching what fly anglers value in easy-transport fishing rafts with smaller platforms. Once there was an understanding of what features and attributes fly anglers were looking for in easy-transport fishing rafts, I was able to set the vision for the Approach 120. As a team, we began the design and development of the raft, which provided key features that fly anglers were seeking in watercraft. We logged hundreds of hours in our frame shop and on the water, creating and testing prototype watercraft. The NRS design/development team worked tirelessly to deliver the most complete and versatile fly fishing watercraft.

Flylords: Where did the idea for this raft begin? How did it evolve? 

The idea for Approach 120 originated with the desire to eliminate the need for transportation with a trailer (focused on a “truck launch” concept) and create new possibilities for launching a fishing watercraft in rugged conditions. With every journey on the river, there’s gear that’s critical to the pursuit of fish. The Approach 120 concept evolved to focus on solving the dilemma of keeping the watercraft lightweight and easy to transport while incorporating areas for storing gear. 

Another aspect of Approach 120 that evolved with the project included adjustability for the positioning of the oar mounts, rower’s seat, and angler’s seat to account for onboard weight distribution and different-sized rowers/anglers. The Approach 120 is a complete departure from the way NRS has constructed frames for over 50 years. Instead of using standard NRS tube side rails, we designed the Slot Rail to add quick component adjustment along the side rails of the watercraft. The new NRS Slot Rail provides a track that allows components and accessories to easily move along for adjustments and then securely lock in place.

Flylords: What was the most difficult part of bringing this project to life? 

The most difficult part of the Approach 120 development was keeping the watercraft transportable and lightweight while creating storage areas to protect critical gear. Every adventure requires gear, and it was a delicate balancing act to keep the watercraft lightweight while still providing storage areas for onboard gear.

• We integrated storage capacity for rigged fly rods into the frame, keeping rods fully protected and ready for fly anglers. 
• We drew inspiration from our 50+ year whitewater heritage to put dry box storage for both the rower and angler, keeping critical gear dry and out of the way. You always need space to store PFDs, technical layers, fly boxes, tools, and a first-aid kit.
• We provided quick-access storage areas for the rower and angler with dry box side trays, a thigh hook with a storage reservoir, and two cup holders notched out to accommodate beverage containers with handles (your morning coffee mug with a handle).

Flylords: What was the most exciting part of bringing this project to life? 

The most exciting aspect of developing the Approach 120 was seeing the versatility that the watercraft provided for fly anglers on any adventure in pursuit of fish. Layers of the Approach 120 can be stripped off to reduce weight for ultralight journeys.

• A transom for an outboard motor was integrated into the frame, allowing anglers to change their means of transportation for long stillwater sections.
• Layers of the Approach 120 can be stripped off to reduce weight for those ultralight journeys (steep embankments, longer portages, or fly-in trips).
  • The bow thigh hook can be removed.
  • The rod holder exoskeleton frame portion can be removed.
  • The motor transom can be removed.
  • The stern anchor system can also be removed. 

Flylords: What key components of this raft make it stand out from any others in its class?

In the easy-transport class of multi-person fly fishing rafts, NRS stands out from the current competition (Flycraft, SmithFly, and Stealth Craft). 

• Fully adjustable frame components can even out the weight distribution and adjust areas for rowers or anglers of different sizes.
  • Bow dry box seat
  • Rower’s dry box seat
  • Rower’s oar mount locations
  • Rower’s foot bar
• Dry box storage – keep gear out of the way of the rower and angler (eliminate trip hazards)
  • Stores on-board essentials – PFDs, bags, gear, technical layers, tools, etc.
• Fully protected rod holders – Eliminate the risk of breaking/damaging on-board rigged fly rods.
• Made In The USA – NRS whitewater frame craftsmanship is built in Moscow, ID, with 50+ years of experience.
• NRS World-Renowned Custom Service – There’s an NRS team available 6 days a week to support any customer need or answer any question.

Flylords: What type of angler does this raft serve to accommodate?

The NRS Approach 120 is designed for the fly angler looking for a watercraft with the versatility to handle any condition. If you can imagine the adventure, the NRS Approach 120 is the watercraft that will turn it into reality. NRS worked hard to listen to the needs of fly anglers/boaters and deliver the watercraft to support their adventures to the fullest extent.

Final Thoughts

All in all, no boat is perfect for everything. Would we suggest taking the approach 120 down a large river with class 3-4 rapids? No (although we have done it). If we were to consider the Slipstream series from NRS, the Multi-tool of fishing rafts, we’d probably consider the Approach 120 a scalpel. This is because it’s a raft that’s built to be specialized. The general features of this raft suit the needs of any angler, but the ability to fine-tune it to meet specific angling scenarios, such as skinny rivers and large lakes, is really what makes this raft stand out. Couple that with its size and portability, and you have something that’s going to change the standard of fishing rafts forever. Overall, we really have nothing bad to say about the Approach 120, and we would recommend it to just about anyone looking for a more specialized watercraft. 

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