Float fishing offers fly fishermen a means to escape the crowds and explore more water. At Flylords, we’ve fished in or rowed just about every boat on the market, including a number of rafts—our boat style of choice. We favor inflatable rafts because they are easy to transport, can be launched anywhere, and are much more budget-friendly than hard-sided drift boats. While there are several raft-style boats out on the market, NRS has been our go-to for several years now. Their boats and accessories are designed with intention, allowing any angler to customize a raft to their style of fishing. Add to that premium components, and your fishing raft will be ready season after season. Here’s our list of NRS favorites as well as raft essentials to build your own do-it-all fishing raft.
Float Fishing Gear Guide
Boats and Frames
NRS inflatable rafts come in all shapes and sizes, each with a specific purpose. Below are some of our favorite boats and frames we’ve used across every fly fishing scenario.
NRS Raft Fishing Frame
Raft Fishing Frame
You don’t always need to buy a fully ready-to-fish raft package to get on the water. Some anglers may already have access to a raft or might be on a budget. The solution for these anglers is an NRS Fishing Raft Frame. These fully customizable frames come in a variety of sizes to support just about any raft platform on the market. With a number of accessories, anglers can tune the frame to how they fish while ensuring comfort and stability on the water.
NRS Slipstream 142
Slipstream 142
At 14-feet 2-inches long, the Slipstream 142 is the biggest dedicated fishing raft that NRS makes. It has ample room for three anglers and is our pick for serious fly fishermen and guides. The Slipstream series also features the widest beam of any NRS fishing rafts, offering a stable and whitewater-capable platform. Additional features like dual rod holders and molded thigh hooks make this a ready-to-fish package out of the box.
NRS Approach 138
Approach 138
If versatility is important, choose the NRS Approach 138 Fishing Raft. At first glance, this three-person boat looks fairly simple, but a deeper dive reveals otherwise. The Approach series is designed with modularity in mind, including slot rails and a range of accessories to customize the raft to your fishing style. Just check out how we modified our raft across fisheries this summer.
NRS Boundary 100 Personal Fishing Raft
Boundary 100 Personal Fishing Raft
If you fall into the category of a solo angler, then the Boundary 100 Personal Fishing Raft is the boat for you. The Boundary 100 is a one-man boat built around the principle of versatility. It does this with an open bow design that enables anglers to row the boat or use it as a kickboat for still water. An additional slotted frame for accessories and stern storage completes this one-man fishing package.
NRS Riffle Packraft
Riffle Packraft
Sometimes less is more, and that’s the motto behind the Riffle Packraft. At just 12 pounds, the Riffle is designed for anglers who enjoy getting off the beaten path. You can hike in, inflate the raft in minutes, and fish the most remote rivers, streams, or lakes. The raft’s tube also doubles as storage, so all the gear you don’t need can be kept dry and out of the way.
Storage
On the water, storage is always an issue with fly fishing boats. Figuring out creative ways to maximize the limited space you have goes a long way in the quality of your fishing experience. Your line won’t get tangled with gear on the floor, and you gain extra space to comfortably move around. These are some of our favorite storage solutions to maximize space and stay organized.
NRS Fishing Rod Holder
Fishing Rod Holder
One of the biggest storage concerns with fly fishing rafts is where to store your rods. The nature of inflatable rafts means built-in gunwale storage is not an option. As a solution, NRS created its modular fishing rod holder, capable of holding two 9-foot fly rods. This setup mounts to your raft’s frame and is configurable for either side. Add one on each side, and you have enough storage for four rods.
NRS Boat Bag
Boat Bag
In an ideal world, you could keep your raft inflated and ready to go at all times, but this is not the case for most anglers. Rather than keeping your raft exposed to the elements, NRS created its boat bag to store and protect your raft tube from the elements. It’s available in four sizes, with the largest fitting most rafts up to 18 feet in length.
YETI Tundra 45
Tudnra 45
Adding a hard cooler to a raft is one of the easiest ways to gain extra storage. Not only does it keep food and beverages cold, but it doubles as extra dry storage when not being used as a cooler. You can also get creative with how and where you mount your cooler. Some anglers may opt to use it as a rowing seat, while others may opt to mount it on the back of the boat with the NRS Cargo Rack. Wherever you choose to mount it, a cooler is an essential piece of storage gear on our rafts.
NRS Approach Cargo Rack
Approach Cargo Rack
Some fishing situations call for extra storage, like multi-day floats. For that, NRS developed the Approach Cargo Rack specifically for the Approach series of rafts. This simple stern-mounted rack enables anglers to store extra gear, coolers, and duffels with ease. Even better, you don’t have to sacrifice the rear seat for this added storage.
Pelican R40 Ruck Case
R40 Ruck Case
The Pelican R40 Ruck Case is one of the most affordable yet crucial pieces of gear on our fishing rafts. This small waterproof case is perfect for storing valuables like phones, wallets, and keys. Floating any river comes with a certain level of risk, so securing your valuables in case you get wet is a worthy investment.
NRS Throw Back Fishing Seat Bag
Throw Back Fishing Seat Bag
Figuring out creative ways to improve storage on an inflatable raft is the biggest issue most anglers face. Luckily, NRS took most of the guesswork out with the Throw Back Fishing Seat Bag. This nifty bag slots over the seatback on your raft and has ample room for all your flies, tippet, and other fishing accessories. A slotted back can also hold gear like a net.
NRS Aluminum Dry Box
Aluminum Dry Box
Depending on the raft you have, extra storage might be a requirement. NRS created the Aluminum Dry Box as a universal answer for dry storage. It’s available in two sizes and can double as a rower’s seat. Sturdy handles on either side support heavy loads and allow anglers to remove the box for a riverside lunch or overnight camping trip. No matter the raft, this is a piece of gear all anglers can benefit from.
NRS HDPE Frame Side Rail Racks
HDPE Frame Side Rail Racks
On a hardsided drift boat, the gunwales can serve as walking or storage space. However, rafts don’t have this benefit due to the nature of their soft tubes. To solve this issue, NRS created the Frame Side Rail Racks, which act as a hard-sided gunwale on your boat. Made from HDPE, these side rails are capable of holding some serious weight for extra gear or walking room.
YakAttack x NRS Slot Rail Net Holder
Slot Rail Net Holder
Landing nets always manage to be in the way when you don’t need them and buried in the boat when you do. Figuring out secure mounting solutions keeps the net in the same place every time for easy and quick access. For rafts with a slot rail system, the YakAttack x NRS Net Holder is an excellent choice for a plug-and-play option that solves net storage once and for all.
Accessories
The right boat accessories can make a day on the water more enjoyable, but the wrong accessories add weight and get in the way. Regardless of whether you’re building a custom frame or have a ready-to-go fishing raft, the following accessories will enhance your fishing experience.
NRS Frame Raft Motor Mount
Frame Raft Motor Mount
An easy upgrade for rafts and raft frames is to add a motor mount. This expands the raft’s use to stillwater lakes and allows anglers to put through long stretches of frog water. Depending on the raft frame, NRS has several options, including the Frame Raft Motor Mount and the Slipstream Motor Mount (specific to Slipstream Rafts). Once installed, anglers can opt for a small outboard or an electric motor depending on their needs.
Down River Double Cup Holder
Double Cup Holder
Down River specializes in creating useful products for rafts, and the Double Cup Holder is a perfect example. Fishing rafts in particular tend to lack cup holders, leaving your drinks rolling around the floor when floating. When they do have cup holders, rarely are they big enough to hold large water bottles that most anglers bring on the river. Down River fixed both of these issues with the Double Cup Holder. It attaches directly to raft frames, can hold large water bottles, and is made from recycled post-consumer waste and scrap webbing.
Deschutes Step Raft Step
Raft Step
One of the most overlooked things when buying a raft is getting in and out of it. The wide tubes can be tricky to get over, especially in water deeper than a foot. The team at Deschutes Step came up with a versatile solution for this with its inflatable raft step. It mounts on the raft frame and features a folding step. Simply fold it down, place your foot on it, and you can easily hop back into the raft.
NRS Stripping Basket for Molded Thigh Hook
Stripping Basket for Molded Thigh Hook
Rafts, like any type of fly fishing boat, can lead to tangled fly lines. The best solution to avoid this altogether is a casting bucket or basket, preferably one that mounts directly to a raft’s thigh hooks. The NRS Stripping Basket achieves this with a two-part mounting system, hooks that hang over the thigh hook, and micro straps to secure it to the posts.
NRS Advantage Oar Shaft
Advantage Oar Shaft
A simple yet valuable upgrade for any fishing raft is a quality set of oars. The NRS Advantage Oar Shaft is an affordable aluminum offering that doesn’t sacrifice performance. They are available in seven different lengths and are compatible with several different oar blades. Depending on the fishery or river conditions, you can swap out oar blades to optimize performance.
NRS Helix Oar Blade
Helix Oar Blade
With record low snowfall throughout the West, low flows this spring and summer are inevitable. This can make floating rivers tricky, requiring the right boat and oar configuration. One product that excels in these conditions is the NRS Helix Oar Blade. Its asymmetrical shape is designed to deliver even pressure in shallow water. These oar blades pair perfectly with the Advantage Oar Shaft.
NRS Spare Oar Keeper
Spare Oar Keeper
On the water, accidents happen, and valuable gear like an oar can get lost or damaged. To keep you from getting stranded, carrying a spare oar is something all boaters should do. On a raft, figuring out where to store it can be an issue. Using the NRS Spare Oar Keeper enables the rower to carry a full-size spare oar securely fastened to the side of the raft. The cam buckle system that secures the spare also enables the rower to quickly access the oar when needed.
Safety
Some stretches of river are remote, others have dangerous currents and rapids, and all require safety equipment. In addition to standard items like a first aid kit and signaling devices, these are a few pieces of gear worth adding to your kit.
NRS Chinook PFD
Chinook PFD
Most life jackets sacrifice comfort for safety, especially when sitting/rowing. This can be problematic if it leads to anglers not wearing the proper safety equipment. To solve this, the NRS Chinook has a mesh lower back paired with a higher back flotation panel. When you’re sitting or rowing, this allows for a comfortable full range of motion. Two large front pockets and a tool pouch keep fly boxes and additional tackle organized.
NRS Titanium Co-Pilot Knife
Titanium Co-Pilot Knife
Every angler should carry some sort of knife on the water. Inflatable rafts and traditional knives, however, don’t exactly mix well. NRS solved this with the Titanium Co-Pilot Knife. Its blunt edge and rounded serations mean there are no points to accidentally pop your raft. The titanium blade is also corrosion-resistant for use in and around saltwater. Secure this to your life jacket for easy access.
