Fishing rafts, like the NRS Approach 138, are the multi-tool of fishing boats. Other boats, like a flats skiff or a hard-sided drift boat, are tailored to specific styles of fishing. While this can be great for certain species-specific fisheries, many anglers find themselves in regions with multiple water bodies, requiring different techniques. With a modular raft, anglers can add accessories and reconfigure their rig on the fly. This allows you to go from floating a river to navigating large lakes in minutes. Recently, we tested just how versatile the NRS Approach 138 is by outfitting it to tackle multiple fisheries and styles of fishing in Vermont. Here’s how we built the ultimate fishing raft.
Why You Should Choose a Fishing Raft?
Fishing rafts are arguably the most versatile boats for anglers limited to one option. For starters, a raft is much more budget-friendly than hard-sided boats. The Approach 138 comes fully rigged and ready to fish for $6,395, significantly cheaper than other boats.
When it comes to overall utility, inflatable rafts are easy to transport. You can put them on the roof of your car, in the bed of a truck, or tow them with a small flat-bed trailer. When you’re not using a raft, they also deflate to take up less space. Rafts also open up a lot more water than traditional boats. Their lightweight design means you can launch them practically anywhere, so boat ramps are not a limiting factor.
Lastly, fishing rafts stem from traditional float fishing. As a result, they are designed to float shallow and handle some serious white water. Characteristics like a self-bailing floor and shallow draft lend themselves well to open water fishing, making it a solid choice for a do-it-all boat.
Know Your Water:
If you’re not sure a raft is right for you, the best thing to do is think about how and where you fish. Anglers who frequently fish rivers and lakes can benefit from a versatile fishing rig. After you’ve identified if an inflatable raft is right for you, the next step is to determine what accessories you may need.
In determining how to best outfit your raft, think about how and where you fish. Are you sightfishing shallow flats? Do you target deep water structure? How often are you fishing certain waterbodies? These simple questions will determine what accessories you may need for your boat. It’s also worth noting that some accessory options may be used less frequently than others. This is important when deciding what takes priority and how you mount certain accessories. For gear you’ll consistently use, more permanent mounting solutions may be the best option.
How We Built The Ultimate Fishing Raft
Our particular raft build was centered around Vermont, Lake Champlain, and the various rivers in the area. We knew we wanted a boat that could comfortably float the rivers for smallmouth and trout, but also fish Champlain for pike, bowfin, and carp. With two opposite ends of the fishing spectrum, versatility was essential.
Powering The Raft
Lake Champlain is a beast of its own, spanning two states and roughly 490 square miles. Rowing between fishing spots was not a feasible option, so we knew that figuring out a way to power the boat would be our first priority. We opted for an electric outboard. These motors are relatively lightweight, don’t require a fuel tank, and are easily mounted to the rear motor mount on the NRS Approach 138. On a light boat, such as a raft, the motor also provided plenty of power.
With the motor installed, we were able to safely navigate Champlain and access different fishing spots, like you would in a traditional outboard boat. The motor also came in handy in certain spots along our float. Rather than rowing through long stretches of frog water, we could drop the motor down and quickly idle to more promising sections.
Casting Platform and Poling Platform
The next modifications we made to our raft were inspired by technical poling skiffs. When conditions are right on Champlain, anglers can pole flats and flooded timber looking for pike, bowfin, and carp. The NRS Approach 138 already had a shallow enough draft to reach these places, but we still needed the proper setup to fish them effectively.
Our solution was two-tiered—finding a way to pole the boat and creating an adequate casting platform. To pole the boat, we utilized the rear cargo rack accessory from NRS. This platform mounts on the stern of the boat and perfectly fits a YETI 45. With it, we could stand on the platform and pole the boat like you would on a skiff. Our solution for a casting platform required a little more ingenuity. For this, we removed the front seat, leaving us with a flat storage box. We added a piece of SeaDek on top for added padding and were left with a comfortable and stable casting platform.
Additional Accessories
We rounded out our boat build by repurposing existing accessories from NRS. The slotted rail system along the gunwales allows you to add accessories like the NRS net holder. We added this holder as a means to secure our push pole. The end result was a fully customized raft for stillwater fishing that could be quickly converted to a traditional drift boat-style raft.
The slot rail system can also accommodate other accessories depending on your wants and needs. While we didn’t add any electronics on this build, anglers could easily add a removable fish finder to help locate drop-offs, weed beds, and other fish-holding structure.
Final Thoughts
The NRS Approach 138 is a versatile raft out of the box. Its design allows it to tackle various fisheries across the country. However, with some innovative thinking and its modular design, any angler can transform this boat from an inflatable raft to a technique-specific fishing machine. Now that you know how and why we built our boat the way we did, get out and modify your boat to get the most out of your time on the water.
The Guide Test: The NRS Slipstream 142 and Steelhead Fishing
The Rundown: Everything You Need to Know About the NRS Approach 120
