RAFTS vs DRIFT BOATS - fly fishing

Which one is right for you?
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things I use
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[@peterpauwels4610]

Ah yes, the affiction. I'm a sick man. After 15 boats I've lost count. But a few years ago I tried a Bris inflatable canoe. I now have 5 of them. My drift skiff and self bailing rafts don't get out much anymore. The 14' and 15'8" Bris models work best for me. I make my own frames and since the Bris is only 51" wide it uses shorter(cheaper) oars. It has much bigger tubes than the over priced Flycraft. It's light, maneuverable and stable. Rows as well forward as backward even though it has a transom. With a 6hp outboard will plane with 2 anglers. It is a bucket boat so no hard core whitewater, but class II and a little class III works fine. It's best application is skinny water. Slides between sleepers for access most other boats can't get to. Did I mention price? Dirt cheap but well made. OK, that's it, I've said too much already. I don't need more competition where the big fish live.

[@jaredettinger23]

PP, did you have drifty or normal rafts? I am trying to decide between a raft and drifty but like the idea of the kayak.

[@jameshanson8774]

I have a 14' alumacraft with a shit motor, so it's a drift boat sometimes

[@JasonSwingen]

Great timing! Just picked up a Star Outlaw 130 last week! Getting her rigged up and ready for some floats.

[@paulcolson3220]

When Ben says “…stay huge” at the end of this one, he sounds a little like Garth. It’s awesome.

[@jackwaring2457]

I pulled the trigger on a Hyde XL low profile. It’s going to be ready mid October, ready to put it in the river!

[@charlieboutin3341]

Thanks for explaining the Huge differences. I have kayak addiction now..but it’s progressing towards bigger things. Shallow draft bay boats are filtering in lately.😵‍💫 Have a good one..see ya next week Ben.👍 (I’m wondering who Dan is to earn the high water reputation 😂)

[@AboutTrout]

Hey! I recognize that 70s retro fade Ro Skiff.

[@jayfxdx]

Great vid as always. I own a 13ft NRS and a Koffler RMT, cover all the bases.

[@jonwhite53]

Very funny and informative

[@FullMoonHatch]

love the humor!

[@jeffcowles5328]

Bonus boat pro-tip: knots are like guns. If you don't know what you're doing, don't mess around with them.

[@keithnickerson1296]

Hi Ben, Do you think I could manage four people in a similar rig (142 outlaw) with two fishing? What layout do you think I should run from NRS frames? I fish the Bow River Alberta Canada. Love love love your vids!

[@ripnlip33]

This was good and I agree with most. In Idaho, the cold weather floats change things. I can put a propane heater in an aluminum drift boat unlike a raft and float year around.

[@GS-rj4dq]

Another HUGE Monday!!!

[@ghostofcheech5859]

I'm sure I can fit more shit in my 17x60 Willie than you can in a 13-14 ft raft. But you're right about one thing: More boats!

[@claudioaguilar8534]

Huge Fly fisherman: What's your take on rafts versus catarafts for fly fishing ? Catarafts are pretty popular here in patagonia....not really sure why...

[@tbutero8059]

Woohoo! Happy Huge day everyone!

[@chrisciaravino1773]

Hey Ben! I don’t really think drift boats are lighter than rafts, this definitely true when comparing a smith craft, fly craft or stealth craft hooligan to a drift boat. I could be wrong when it comes to the rafts more similar to yours but 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@tylerkidd2696]

I can pick up my 14 raft with the help of another but not my friends aluminum drift boat…

[@davidtruban5477]

Great video, but I'm curious what drift boat is lighter than a raft lol

[@EnzoMozzarella]

Sweet!!!

[@timo9355]

What are some good brands/ places to get a raft??

[@hntrains2]

What happens to the drift boats which sink? P.S. Funny video! (Educational, too!)

[@flyfishingchannel]

Nice!

[@williamrobinson4265]

awesome

[@Cousin_Gregg]

“Richard from Houston” 😂

[@pmartialburguieres5007]

Overall, good points. My only exception is that drift boats are WAY nicer to fish from. the angler's leg locks are nicer, the seats are more comfortable, there's less stuff to catch your line on... However, don't be a typical no-sunscreen wearing, marlboro red smoking, wanna-be badass guide and buy a Clacka Headhunter or similar skiff for the freakin South Fork of the Snake. Two boats were lost on that river last summer. The pillows and rip currents grab you in an instant. If you are at all timid on the oars or carry a ton or crap, he's totally spot on about a raft. They get a bad rap for some reason, but for the money I like RMR.

[@stevevaughn9093]

I believe i'ts always best to cover all your bases by multiple boats. Like rods, can you really have too many boats? Not a question to ask your significant other.

[@tedvoise7964]

7 boats and counting...lol

[@stevevaughn9093]

@@tedvoise7964 You must be single. LOL!

[@walljersey]

Very true

[@ytdom]

What is the intro song this time? Thanks!

[@swimmaster406]

Stay Huge!

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

what do you use for a boat/guide bag?

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

A backpack

[@johnhunt5856]

Bro!!!!! Like #420 from Colorado man - sooooo heady!!!!!

[@1MarkBevans]

Super funny, extremely biased, but funny. If I was fishing your wimpy waters I’d buy a rubber paddle thing. Or maybe just the same fish-rite 16’ guide model (aluminum) boat that I’ve fished out of easily for 20 years, lol! Love your videos as they always entertain me, keep up the great work!!! Tight Lines!

[@jorgesven5197]

Hi Ben, I own a Cataraft and I think is much better than a Raft or a Drift Boat. The main advantage is that you don`t put any water inside them. The negative point is that you have a limited cargo capacity, but enough for two to three day trips. What is your opinion on Catarafts ?

[@ThePorpoisepower]

What about personal inflatable pontoons?

[@noyopacific]

I haven't been getting notified when you post new videos lately. I went to the channel to see if you were still posting and here I am. Hope you didn't do something to ruffle YT's delicate algorithm feathers. Stay Huge Ben!

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Not sure what’s up with that, but you can count on a new video here every Monday morning, and occasionally some bonus stuff.

[@coreytohme9861]

What about a float tube? What are they good for?

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Target practice

[@oak8728]

Nah a float tube w: oars if you’re fishing any of Montana’s rivers is more than fine. If you’re fishing glacier melt and/or high rain basin rivers of the pnw you may want to keep those for lakes or calmer water.

[@Hrogthar]

But can you put a jet motor on a raft? Those white river boats are insane lol

[@msilva3084]

If you can dream it, you can do it. Just be sure to post it on KZbin if you do.

[@claudioaguilar8534]

there's supposed to be a motor mount for rafts. Check NRS's website.

[@baconandeggs6883]

I’ve noticed some better editing in the past couple of vids

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Purely accidental. I have no clue what I’m doing.

[@TheWanderingGeezer]

Love my Clacka, not a raft fan.

[@davemorton2804]

Both, one of each and think all ya save not having to buy a bellyboat.

[@mofoflm]

Not gonna lie. Didn’t even watch the video. Tomorrow is my first day going 100% fly fishing for steelhead this season. No salmon gear at all. Stoked to wear my “huge fly fisherman” hat I bought since I will be swinging flies all day. While packing I got accidentally shit faced on Reposado and now in gunned and I still need to pack for a ride that arrives before sun up. Tomorrow is going to be a rough day on the river. Wonder what I will forget. Ben, I’ll do you proud.

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

I expect a full report tomorrow, or maybe the next day. Good luck.

[@mofoflm]

@@HugeFlyFisherman “when you are going through hell, just keep going”. I powered through the tequila night with breakfast beers mixed with Clamato juice. Used local knowledge to get into Kispiox runs before guides could float down to them. Didn’t make a difference because we still got skunked. One tug all day in a tail out that 3 guys just fished. I’ll take it. Nap time.

[@andrewbrown6522]

Used to have a kayak to track with but recently got a small boat like thing (pelican bass raider) and basically modded it to be both. Now realizing i havr the bug a bit... lol

[@kurtjensen7930]

I’d like to hear the advantage of the design of skiff, banana shape of bow to Stern!!!!!

[@donsentner8854]

Skiffs cut through wind better on slow moving water where big winds are often prevalent.

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Hi Don!

[@kurtjensen7930]

Makes since!!! I thought the shape might resist current push. Thanks for the response!!!

[@donsentner8854]

@@HugeFlyFisherman hey Ben👋🏼

[@straithill5965]

What's your opinion of smaller rafts like the Flycraft- too small??

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Fine for flattish water and 2 people.

[@futuremetz1]

I really like the fly craft but my local fly shop bro said he’s heard nothing but bad reviews about durability and STABILITY.

[@Todd_Monson]

I have a Water Master Bruin. They are very stable. Use it on the Yellowstone all the time.

[@samhumphries1550]

I have a Flycraft which works great for smaller rivers (Truckee river, Reno, NV) and lakes . It is skinny though, and if not careful you'll dump easily. My son dumped us 2x at the green river last year, refuses to ever row again. O ended up rowing section A 3x with no problems however

[@brett9382]

​@futuremetz1 I know it'd been 2 years, but I recently got the saturn rd365 (same rubber as a fly craft) and setup a frame and oars to make a knock off flycraft stealth. I live in western montana and absolutely love it. It's surprisingly stable in calmish water and light rapids but once you get past a point it becomes super unstable while larger rafts seem to have a more gradual stability curve. For me this doesn't matter bc the 5 closest rivers to me are pretty calm. I get it 10 time again for my area but definitely wouldn't get it if I live in a place like Colorado where rapids are more common.

[@brucehaley3651]

How about a fishing Kayak on smooth water?

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

This video is not about kayaks.

[@brucehaley3651]

@@HugeFlyFisherman I would look funny in a drift boat or raft here in Nebraska. I like the videos with the boys!

[@SigmaWolfOutdoors]

Floating the Green River a section in an old wood drift boat ...throwing big fat foam cidas "s ...all day long ...

[@AnthonyTorres-bg5ou]

Can I come fishing 😂

[@bri99912]

‘78 lavro owner here shits heady

[@matth523]

"Richard" lol..

[@bananagoodluckfishing1419]

🤣🤣 97 Miata 🤣🤣

[@gregsage1605]

And then there is the sled...

[@kevinjozwiak5696]

I need to ask: are you also a “hYUUUUGE” fly fisherman? 😆 #murica

[@georgerehak1424]

Just like a girlfriend, there’s no perfect boat

[@stephensmith5856]

The only advantage of the raft is you can cut it up and use it for a condom.

[@mattpaine2107]

Thanks for the grammatical correction, that's huuuuge!

[@thereallevel27]

Anyone ever "dress" their dry line cus it's sticky and won't shoot worth a damn?

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Sounds like it’s time for a new line.

[@thereallevel27]

@@HugeFlyFisherman it is new. New and cheap...

[@wadeknupp5808]

Scientific Anglers has a dressing that is under $5. Lot cheaper than a new line and if it doesn't fix the line, you can still use it on your other lines and then the new replacement.

[@jamesbrede8700]

I had no idea black people fly fish !!!

[@575conbon]

Who looks at drift boats and says "those look cooler than rafts"...? 🤢

[@danielburgess7785]

Don't be a WHAT?