It’s no secret we love our rafts and watercraft. They’re a critical tool for accessing water and finding fish. Recently, we met with our friend and fellow angler Mike Dolmage, Director of Fish & Hard Goods Product Manager of NRS Fishing at Flylords HQ in Basalt, CO. Mike gave us an in-depth look at the newest rafts from NRS, the redesigned Slipstream Series. We learned the ins and outs of this new series and, of course, had to take them out on the water for a test drive.
When it comes to drift boats, the biggest issue is versatility. A particular style of boat may be great for your local river but not for various conditions—the answer is a quality raft. At NRS, the Ultimate Utility Philosophy is a key piece in every product. This means anglers get a rugged, purpose-driven, and user-focused product tailored to various fishing scenarios.
The Slipstream Series is designed to be whitewater-capable and handle various conditions. Whether you’re fishing on a day trip or multi-day expedition, fishing on a solo mission, or with multiple anglers, there’s a perfect Slipstream for you.
Slipstream Breakdown:
The Slipstream is available in three sizes: 142, 129, and 106. Streamlined to reduce weight and provide easy transportability, it keeps anglers focused on fishing.
The largest in the series is the Slipstream 142, designed for big-water rivers, multi-day expeditions, and maximizing storage on board. It is 14 feet 2 inches long, 6 feet 7 inches wide, and has large 20-inch tubes. It is designed to fish up to three anglers. The craft comes ready with bow and stern angler thigh hooks, padded seats, and a 6-inch drop-stitch floor for added stability.
The Slipstream 129, the midsize package, has a 12 ft 9 in length, 6 ft width, and 18.5 inch tubes. It provides all-water versatility while maintaining enough room onboard for multi-day expeditions. Like the 142, the Slipstream 129 can fish up to three anglers. It features the same bow and stern angler thigh hooks, padded seats, and a 6-inch drop-stitch floor but in a downsized version. This raft still has adequate storage for multi-day floats but in a smaller, more versatile package.
The Slipstream 106 is the smallest, most nimble package at a length of 10 ft 6 in, 5 ft 3 in width, and 17 in tubes. The 106 has room for two, an angler and a rower. This raft is designed to access skinny waters without needing a trailer.
Specs and Features:
The welded PVC construction for the tubes and drop-stitch floor meets industry standards for running whitewater. With its EVA non-slip texture, the drop-stitch floor provides positive traction for anglers to stand up and cast confidently.
The new molded thigh hooks keep anglers locked in a standing position while casting. Two cupholders in a center reservoir add storage, keeping essential gear at the ready.
All Slipstreams come with an internal run anchor system running through their new spin lock cam, eliminating the potential for the anchor line to ever jump the lock. The quick and easy toggle and release lock give rowers peace of mind that the anchor will always stay in the locked position.
Fly anglers never launch with one rod, so all Slipstreams come equipped with two-rod holders, keeping rigged rods stored and fully protected. Folding and padded seats with a swivel base are included in all Slipstreams, keeping anglers comfortable for long days on the river.
NRS provides optional Rower’s Packages that include a Tornado Anchor, 2:1 assist pulley, NRS Advantage Oar Shafts, and Helix Oar Blades combined with oar sleeves and oar rights for an easy assembly. NRS even included a ClampIt Drink Holder for the rower’s position.
Test Drive/First Impressions
With all this information in front of us, we were itching to hit the water and test these crafts for ourselves. We headed to our local river, oars in hand, to see how the Slipstream Series performed on the rocky rivers we call home.
Having rowed several boats, from low-profile drift boats to high-sided hulls and two-person rafts to big expedition boats for float trips in the Alaska wilderness, we know what to look for in a boat. The Slipstream series of fishing rafts is the answer for anglers who want to get out and explore in a light and affordable package. Inflatable boats are known for their whitewater capabilities, and the Slipstream is no different. For anglers wanting a smaller boat without needing a trailer, you can check out the NRS Approach.
NRS designed its first iteration of Slipstream boats years ago, and this past spring, they released their new iteration, learning from anglers, guides, and industry professionals what improvements are needed to make the second go-around that much better. Aesthetically, you notice the difference in lean bars, the anchor system, boat design, and intentional no-snag catch points around the entirety of the raft. After rowing the new iteration of the Slipstream 129, I was genuinely impressed with how it tracked in the water and how you could crab (moving the boat laterally off of banks while keeping the bow squared downstream).
This boat is extremely light—at 215 lbs, it beats most drift boat hulls on the market. Not only did it row well, but the floor has been re-engineered to provide a super stable and slip-resistant platform for two anglers to fish.
After releasing the brand-new Approach Series of fishing boats this past spring, one component I would like to see as a consumer or even as an add-on feature is a dry box underneath the rower’s seat. Additional storage for rain gear, extra PFDs, spare K-Pumps, medical kits, etc., would be a great feature to add to this boat. Another great feature would be to add a spare oar and give anglers a choice of premium oars for the package. Whether that’s counter-balanced Cataract Oars with Shoal Cut Blades or Sawyer Square Top Oars, giving consumers a premium oar choice would only make this boat row better.
Overall, the Slipstream Series opens the door to anglers looking to get into float fishing. NRS has spent years developing, engineering, and testing the Slipstream to see what it can do. In my opinion, the Slipstream can get through about anything—beating its competitors with quality materials, utilizing premium accessories, and coming at an unbeatable price point for a full-packaged boat.
From the big water 142 to the go-anywhere 106 and the do-it-all nature of the Slipstream 129, NRS sets the standard for taking adventure anglers off the beaten path.
For more information or to find a dealer near you, visit NRS.com.
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