Any flyfishing raft guys? looking to buy one

[Dos Perros]

Also, for the NRS frames, can I custom one? For example, this one:

I don't want that single seat in the front. I want a slab of HDPE all the way across so I could put two little kids side by side if I want.

 

[Dos Perros]

Also, for the NRS frames, can I custom one? For example, this one:

I don't want that single seat in the front. I want a slab of HDPE all the way across so I could put two little kids side by side if I want.

You know what, I think I answered my own question. I want the Bighorn frame. For some reason when you select fishing frames it filters out what I am looking for.

I like that HDPE slab up front with the U-shaped thigh bar.

 

[3forks]

Would I be retarded to buy a trailer before I bought the raft? Logic: I'd have the trailer to actually pick up the raft when I buy it, assuming I buy used.

No, not a bad move in my opinion.

You need a trailer, and if you find what you’re looking for or a good deal, you may as well jump on it.

Plus, if you need to convince the wife of the need and usefulness of the trailer, tell her you need it so you can use it as a float in the 4th of July parade you’re organizing for the neighborhood (when she asks about the status of the parade at a later date, tell her the permitting process has been very difficult and you may have to postpone the parade).

 

[3forks]

You know what, I think I answered my own question. I want the Bighorn frame. For some reason when you select fishing frames it filters out what I am looking for.

I like that HDPE slab up front with the U-shaped thigh bar.

You could also put a cooler upfront with a seat cushion for the kids (I think canyon and others make some cushions that can be attached to a cooler lid).

You can never have enough cooler space, and kids are constantly rummaging through coolers or asking you to get something out. With the cooler upfront, it’s easier to access.

 

[Dos Perros]

We rented a raft for 3 days last July...I'm not even sure if we took a cooler, but it was just day floats and we weren't drinking. I really liked the frame layout on our rental. It was a NRS frame, had that HDPE slab up front with thigh bar, and then it was another individual seat on the rear with an achor bar. Also had HDPE slabs on both sides of the rower which was nice to put fishing boxes and stuff. Also had a rod tube. Pretty slick rig.

 

[finner]

If it's a fishing raft primarily get an Otter dodger, slipstream or Blackfoot strike. I have an otter dodger 13' and rowing anything else besides that or a Sotar feels like a chore. Pumas, Super Pumas, Maravia's etc. suck in comparison to a dedicated fishing raft built for rivers with wind. I've taken mine down class IV and been fine. Also took it down the Smith this year fully loaded. As mentioned previously, if you have the money get Leo at Montana Raft Frames to build you a frame. Or get one of the packages from Blackfoot River outfitters with one of his frames on a Sotar.

 

[Dos Perros]

If it's a fishing raft primarily get an Otter dodger, slipstream or Blackfoot strike. I have an otter dodger 13' and rowing anything else besides that or a Sotar feels like a chore. Pumas, Super Pumas, Maravia's etc. suck in comparison to a dedicated fishing raft built for rivers with wind. I've taken mine down class IV and been fine. Also took it down the Smith this year fully loaded. As mentioned previously, if you have the money get Leo at Montana Raft Frames to build you a frame. Or get one of the packages from Blackfoot River outfitters with one of his frames on a Sotar.

Comparing a Super Puma to an Otter Dodger what's the difference?

 

[finner]

Comparing a Super Puma to an Otter Dodger what's the difference?

Otter dodger is going to row better with more weight and be a bit more stable. It's a purpose built fishing raft as opposed to a mid-level whitewater raft that you also can fish out of with a frame. Like a Toyota Tacoma vs. an El Camino. That said, there's plenty of people who fish out of Super Pumas around me and do fine. I just prefer rowing my Otter or my buddy's Sotar with three guys

 

[Dos Perros]

Can you articulate why it rows better? Specs wise they don’t seem that different to my noob eyes.

 

[finner]

Can you articulate why it rows better? Specs wise they don’t seem that different to my noob eyes.

Drafts less with three guys, cooler and gear. I'm not a raft salesman, but my guess is bigger tubes and more width add responsiveness and ease of rowing under the same load. I don't see any guides in my area rowing Pumas/Super Pumas on 150+ days of year of two fat clients and a cooler in the boat. However, most of my guide buddies are running Sotar Strikes. That's what I would have gone with had I not gotten a screaming deal on a Dodger

 

[3forks]

Urethane vs PVC makes a perceivable difference.

Urethane is stiffer, and makes the boat feel/row more nimbler.

Urethane sucks to roll, so if you’re planning to store your raft when not using it by rolling it up, go with a PVC boat.

PVC is easier to repair (especially on the river), but urethane is more abrasion resistant and less likely to puncture.

If you’re willing to spend the money on a Sotar, they have a spring sale where boats are 15% off.

If you find a good deal on any boat that suits your needs - I’d just buy it and get it on the river. If you’re using the boat to make a living, I’d pay attention to all the details that make one row better, more comfortable, durable, etc. But, for casual users, it’s probably a better move to save some bucks that enable you to take another trip or two and be out floating.

 

[JoshOR]

Not an idiot to buy the trailer first.

You can configure the NRS frame any way you’d like. The folks there would be happy to help.

I wouldn’t call a super puma a mid range raft. It’s not as expensive as a sotar or maravia, but…. I wouldn’t get an Aire if I was running primarily sandy/silty rivers.

 

[lak2004]

At a rafting shop I heard that the founders left to RMR to start RioCraft. Is that correct or did I hear that wrong?

I'm not sure. The one owner i know had nothing to do with RMR but maybe the other did?

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

If it's a fishing raft primarily get an Otter dodger, slipstream or Blackfoot strike. I have an otter dodger 13' and rowing anything else besides that or a Sotar feels like a chore. Pumas, Super Pumas, Maravia's etc. suck in comparison to a dedicated fishing raft built for rivers with wind. I've taken mine down class IV and been fine. Also took it down the Smith this year fully loaded. As mentioned previously, if you have the money get Leo at Montana Raft Frames to build you a frame. Or get one of the packages from Blackfoot River outfitters with one of his frames on a Sotar.

My buddy drew a Smith permit a few years ago. Said the river was full of Aire boats. Mostly Pumas. Think he rowed a Super.

 

[mtnbiker208]

Raft Frames & Parts

Based on our patented LoPro™ fitting, we build the world's strongest and most adjustable raft frames. No matter the boat, the NRS frame system creates your ultimate rafting frame setup.

www.nrs.com

nrs does have a custom shop that will cut bars to any length you need.

 

[ColeyG]

@Jesse Jaymes

I've had boats for a while (15 yrs). You really need to dial in your use case. Is it going to be mostly day trips with 1 or 2 other people? Are you going to want to do long trips and really packs heavy stuff? I'll explain how I chose my boat.

- I was looking for something that would primarily do day trips with 1-2 other people (3 total).
- I wanted a boat that was narrow and could scoot through boulder fields and rock gardens in low water so I could access rivers at certain times of year (low water)
- I wanted to occasionally duck hunt out of it
- I wanted to occasionally overnight or multiple overnight in it, but with the mindset of backpack style.
- I wanted a fishing platform or frame
- I wanted to be able to run whitewater to access different/difficult areas
- I wanted the boat to be light enough to hand launch or retrieve from different access pts
- I wanted a boat that I could potentially use in AK on a float hunt

With those needs I ended up choosing an Aire Super Puma and it has been great.

When I was in the market, most of these were on my list of considerations as well. I went with the Aire Super Duper Puma (14' vs 13' on the Super Puma) and NRS fishing frame, and have been very happy with the setup.

It can be pared down for multi-day trips and/or white water, or fully rigged for functional fishing on the go. It rows very well. Better than my 20' drift boat but not as well as my 16-footer. It is low profile with a shallow rake in the front with narrow pontoons, so it won't be as capable in white water as compared to an NRS Otter or Maravia Spider which are more whitewater oriented. It is meant to be a fishing boat, which is mainly what I was after.

I highly recommend an A-Star B3 to go with it for backcountry launches and retrievals.

 

[S.Clancy]

Can you articulate why it rows better? Specs wise they don’t seem that different to my noob eyes.

Those rafts are wider (and bigger tubes) and therefore draft less (with the same weight), which means less drag when you row. It also matters the rivers you primarily fish. If you are primarily using it on the Yellowstone, Bighorn, Henry's Fork, Missouri, etc where the rivers are big, currents strong and windy it makes sense to get an "easier" rowing raft. But, you put those same wider rafts on low water on the Smith, Boulder, Stillwater etc where there are tight areas through rock gardens they are going to get hung up way more than a narrow raft (like the Puma series) just because they are encountering more rocks due to the width.

It's all trade-offs and what your target is. If you want to be able to navigate rivers in low water with obstacles, rocks, narrow rock gardens I would suggest picking your raft based on that. They can always do the bigger, fishier rivers, just slightly less comfortably than a bigger raft or drift boat. IMO

 

[tkhuntsman]

Moving down to Salmon, Idaho. Want to advance from a walking/wading fishing guy to floating. I've fished with my good friend on the Mo a handful of times and he's directing me toward what to look for. He's in a Star and admits there are better and more stout vessels.

I've skimmed over several on Down River and NRS. Trying to compare the specs and materials. And of course YouTubed.

Never piloted my own raft, just rowed his a handful of times.

Looking at the "next tier up" it seems the Aire Puma series is the exact same material and weight has the Star. Am I missing something?

I am not generally a "gotta have the best" type of purchaser. I am super cheap. But I would pay extra for durability and puncture resistance over add ons and comfort.

Overall goal is to float the easy waters and fish in the general area. Be it the Bitterroot, the Big Hole or the main Salmon. I don't see me ever needing Middle Fork type class 3/4 ability.

Would just like to take my wife and a handful of dogs on a day long float and fish. Or my buddy and his kid and reciprocate an Idaho fishing experience.

Think I am married to a 14' boat. In the mainstream for boats I see NRS, Aire, Moravia and Hyside. Maybe SOTAR also. Prices climb pretty quick.

From my brief research there aren't many/any terribly sketchy pieces of water between Challis and North Fork. That would be the area for new "home waters".

I like Maravia I guided out of one for about 5 years and liked it a lot. I don't guide anymore but still have the raft for family trips. Prior to that I had a super Puma it wasn't as durable and didn't handle quite as well as the Maravia. I've rowed a couple of the newer Odyssey models recently and they seem pretty good and are priced well you might look into them.

 

[Dos Perros]

Why are raft trailer decks set above the wheels? Seems to me it makes the deck higher, and loading/unloading more difficult because you either have to get the trailer further in the water or have a steeper angle to overcome. Sure, it's skinnier. Is it for more ground clearance?

 

[mtnbiker208]

Basically to handle the width of the raft. you can get rollers and a hand crank to make it easier.