Welcome to The Guide Test. No one beats up gear like the guides who are on the water day in and day out. In this series, we will get a full look into some badass guides, their programs, and a full gear review of products we send to them for testing.
Initial Background:
Meet Rob Perkin, a steelhead-obsessed Pacific Northwest Guide. Rob owns and operates Connect Outfitters, a fly fishing outfitter that targets saltwater species like salmon, rockfish, and lingcod in the summer, and steelhead throughout the fall and winter. In our exclusive feature, “The Guide Test,” we delve into a conversation with Perkin. Explore the intricacies of fly fishing for steelhead and learn about his thoughts on the NRS Slipstream 142.
I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. My passion for water and the fish in it started at a very young age. I can still remember my early obsession with boats, so much so that I’d stare at any body of water wondering how I could explore it by boat. This same passion for the waters in my home state of Oregon led me to create Connect Outfitters—a full-fledged outfitter service covering everything from our saltwater fisheries to our coastal steelhead fisheries.
To me, guiding steelhead in the Pacific Northwest is a privilege I wouldn’t trade for anything, despite the challenges. Some days, you may not catch a fish, and others, you might have to fight wind and rain, but when it all comes together, it’s magical. Sharing these incredible Oregon rivers with others and having the opportunity to swing flies for both winter and summer steelhead is a truly incredible experience.
Aside from the fishing, the rivers in Oregon present their own unique challenges. Rain and water levels are major factors for steelhead. With clients, not going fishing is not an option, so being adaptable and bouncing around between rivers is the key to finding consistent success. The rivers in this region are all unique, each with its own personality. They range from large systems with classic gravel bars to small coastal streams with narrow, chunky slots. Access to these waterways varies as well, from developed paved boat launches and wooden slides to a break in the brush on a steep bank. A lightweight, three-person raft that can handle whitewater and comfortably carry gear for the day is essential for navigating these diverse river systems.
Initial Impressions—the NRS Slipstream 142
Over the last several years, I’ve been guiding out of rafts. Their durability and maneuverability lend themselves to the diverse river systems I target steelhead in. In the past four months, the NRS Slipstream 142 has been the only boat I’ve fished—that’s roughly 45 days straight of hard use and guiding.
Durability and maneuverability are key in the diverse and sometimes sketchy rivers of the PNW. The Slipstream 142 from NRS has been instrumental in adapting to changing conditions and getting my clients and I where we need to be. The Slipstream came with everything needed out of the box to hit the water with a simple setup and a bombproof design. With the demanding conditions of steelhead fishing, the NRS Slipstream has been up to every task I’ve asked of it so far.
Field Testing:
Steelhead live in wild places, and with that come some rough conditions. Whitewater, remote boat launches, and weather are daily occurrences and the perfect proving grounds for a raft. The Slipstream has opened up a lot of water on the Oregon Coast that other boats simply can’t get to. Its lightweight, high-quality materials allow me to launch from anywhere, and the boat’s design makes it possible to navigate both whitewater and shallow water with ease.
Over my 45 days on the water steelhead fishing, a few key things have stood out. As far as features go, the Slipstream anchor system is one of my favorites. It’s user-friendly, and the integration into the raft prevents it from getting tangled with other gear or passengers. The only thing I’d change here would be the size of the pulleys and the angle of exit on the anchor rope. Retrieval can be challenging when using a single rope system with a significant amount of scope.
Additionally, the Slipstream comes with a stitched, padded floor. On an inflatable boat, this creates a durable and stable platform for me and my clients. I’ve also become quite fond of the molded thigh hooks with built-in trays. They are at the perfect height to cast securely while adding additional storage for drinks, flies, and gear.
Other than its impressive number of features, I’d describe the Slipstream as durable and maneuverable. I’ve put it through the paces with launching in some areas where it requires lowering the boat down wooden ramps or through a small trail down to the river. The lightweight design of the boat, paired with quality materials, allows you to do this without worrying about tearing the raft. This same lightweight design is also responsible for the boat’s maneuverability. While rowing, I’m easily able to grab softer water and safely navigate some serious whitewater.
The Slipstream has been fishy from day one on the water, and there are many features that guests really enjoy. It can comfortably fish two anglers and myself rowing, with ample gear storage for a short day trip or a multi-day float with a friend. In fact, it is so comfortable that I haven’t had to make any modifications to the seats, something I typically do on my other boats before they can be put back into service.
While the Slipstream is a ready-to-fish system out of the box, I did make a few modifications. The first being a custom rod rack behind the oarsman seat to hold 12 ‘ + two-handed rods. I also added TRiB airCap Pressure Gauges with solar-powered digital readouts on the three chambers for easy pressure monitoring, and a rope wrap around the oarsman’s foot bar to prevent boot cleat scratches.
Final Thoughts:
With a full fall season on the horizon, the NRS Slipstream 142 will certainly become a useful tool to expand the water I can access. The lightweight and durable design lends itself to the demanding conditions of Oregon steelhead rivers. Combined with ample storage and a well-thought-out design, I’d recommend this boat to any steelheader looking for a comfortable raft that can handle anything on our coast.
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(MSRP: $5,995)
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