Customizing Your NRS Raft Fishing Frame
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been boating for years or you’ve just bought your first fishing raft, figuring out which accessories you’ll need to dial in your setup can be a daunting task. We’ve compiled a list of tips and suggestions that anyone who enjoys fishing out of their raft will find helpful, no matter where you live or what fish you target.
Customizing Your Frame to Fit Your Needs
Whether you’re planning a weekend float near home, or you just pulled that trip-of-a-lifetime river permit, customizing your NRS fishing raft frame to fit your needs can help make your time on the water far more enjoyable. Doing so can optimize the performance of your boat and how your gear is organized, allowing you to focus on the most important task at hand: putting fish in the net.
NRS Frames are modular, which means you can mix and match different frame parts depending on the needs of your trip. Here’s a list of common frame parts used to customize your fishing frame setup.
Seating
Proper seating isn’t just about comfort, it’s also about convenience and making sure each seat is best suited for the task at hand, whether that’s rowing, casting or just kicking back.
Low-Back Seat
Back support is important but not as important as having the range of motion needed to safely row tricky sections of whitewater. Low-back seats are the best option for a rower, balancing comfort and support with excellent range of motion. The NRS Low-Back Padded Seat is cushioned and covered with durable, waterproof vinyl that can withstand anything the elements throw at it.
High-Back Seat
High-back seats provide the most comfort for passengers and rowers. If your home water lacks anything technical, high-back seats are for you. Constructed from the same materials as the low-back seat, NRS High-Back Padded Seats come with a built-in drain hole and are extremely durable while maximizing comfort.
Folding Seat
Folding seats are great for transporting and storing a raft while also offering a smooth ride down to the pod of risers around the next bend. The Wise Padded Fold Down Seat is constructed with injection molded plastic covered with compression foam and marine-grade vinyl for an extremely comfortable and durable seat.
Swivel Seats
Tip: Most NRS Seats can be mounted to a swivel plate, giving anglers and passengers the ability to rotate 360° for getting into a perfect casting position or accessing different parts of the boat. While they’re great for anglers and passengers, we wouldn’t recommend them for rowing.
Flip Seat Mount
To maximize accessibility to a cooler or dry box, the NRS Frame Flip Seat Mount is the solution you need. The mount attaches to a crossbar and raises the seat to perch perfectly on top of a dry box and also accommodates seats with different back heights. To get into your cooler or dry box, just stand up and flip the seat forward. It’s as easy as that!
Stern Seat Mount
Stern seat mounts can easily be added to your fishing frame if your buddy suddenly gets a day off from work and can hit the river with you. They provide an additional seating option on the boat’s stern and typically feature a swivel seat, giving anglers 360° mobility for unobstructed casting or quick access to gear in the stern.
Bench Seat
Bench seats are a great way to secure gear without compromising seating options on your fishing raft. The 12-inch-wide NRS HDPE Frame Bench Seat attaches to two crossbars with conduit clamps and carriage boats that can be adjusted for placement and balance. A great option for passengers, kids and securing extra gear.
Foot Bars & Thigh Bars
Foot bars help rowers access their full power by giving your feet something to brace against. Thigh bars increase stability when casting by giving anglers something to lean against, holding you in place so you can direct all your focus and energy on the cast at hand.
Foot Bar
Foot bars are designed to accommodate rowers of all shapes and sizes and integrate easily with your frame setup.
Tip: Taking the time to adjust the foot bar’s distance from the rower’s seat ensures you can easily use your legs to maximize power and stability behind the oars.
Deluxe Foot Bar
The NRS Deluxe Foot Bar adds another level of control and balance capability when rowing. The added foot pegs allow you to brace for a big hit or improve your balance in a rough wave train.
Foot Pegs
Foot pegs can be attached to your existing foot bar and typically have grooved etchings to maximize grip with your feet.
Thigh Bar
Thigh bars in the bow and stern give anglers the ability to stand and reach that feeding fish in the far seam. Thigh support gives extra stability to safely manage minor bumps while floating so you can focus on your cast without worrying about falling in. Thigh bars come in a few different styles, some are simply for leaning against while others lock you in tight.
Gear storage
Any angler knows that having somewhere to put your gear is almost as important as remembering to bring it. A well-organized setup will not only save time when trying to find things, but also keep everything secured and safe when cruising rapids or winching the boat at the take-out.
Dry Boxes
When it comes to keeping valuable gear dry, secure and easily accessible, a dry box has no equivalent. Gasketed seals and two tension-adjustable latches protect your gear from all moisture, while two bolted and spring-loaded carry handles make unpacking the boat at camp quick and easy.
The NRS Adjustable Dry Box Mounts are a great solution for mounting a dry box to your raft frame’s crossbars. These elevate the dry box to protect the floor of your raft while still giving you access to the box’s contents.
Tip: Dry boxes can also replace the rower’s seat, maximizing storage space for busy day trips or extended multidays. Many boaters opt to add foam padding to the top of a dry box, providing comfort and grip for the rower.
Side Rail Racks
Side rails racks are another great way to keep your raft or cataraft organized by maximizing available space. Boxes, ammo cans, dry bags or any other type of storage can easily be strapped down to NRS HDPE Frame Side Rail Racks, keeping your gear organized without getting in the way of the oars.
Tip: Side rail racks can also double as a step for getting in and out of your boat more easily.
Fishing Rod Holder
Frame-mounted rod holders are ideal for safely storing rods when they’re not being used. Keep multiple rods rigged for different scenarios and increase your fishing efficiency by not having to cut off flies and re-rig rods. Frame-mounted rod storage also prevents unused rods from taking damage and keeps them secure when tackling whitewater or floating under tree branches and thick brush.
Oars
Figuring out your preferred oar setup comes with experience and time on the water. Here are a few of our favorite accessories to make rowing safe and enjoyable.
Grips
Quality grips help reduce fatigue and keep hands blister-free when putting in the hours in the captain’s seat.
Tip: Inspect your grips at the start and end of each season and replace them when they start to wear.
Oar Sleeves
Investing in oar sleeves can increase the lifespan of your oars and save money in the long run. NRS Molded Oar Sleeves come with an integrated oar stopper that can be adjusted to fit any rower’s size and reach. These can also help keep your strokes consistent and make sure you don’t miss a critical stroke when navigating rough water.
Spare Oar Keeper
Having immediate access to a spare oar isn’t just a helpful accessory, but one that could prevent a dangerous situation on the water. The NRS Spare Oar Keeper ensures your spare oar is always right there when you need it.
Oar Tethers
Tethering your oars to your raft ensures that you don’t find yourself upriver without a paddle. Literally. Shooting an oar in whitewater is never fun. By utilizing NRS Oar Tethers, you’ll ensure oars won’t be lost if they pop out of their oarlocks, which can make all the difference in a tricky situation.
Oar Rests
Whether you need to rest your oars quickly and grab something out of the cooler or you simply need a break, NRS Oar Rests are a convenient and secure place to rest your oars, making your life that much easier.
Tip: For an in-depth look at the advantages of different oar setups, check out Success on the Oars: What’s the Catch? by K.M. Collins.
Other accessories
The following accessories are must-haves across the board, whether you’re simply headed out to catch the evening hatch or prepping for an extended multiday adventure.
Drink Holders
Never lose another well-deserved beverage to the river again. The NRS ClampIT™ Drink Holder attaches directly to the frame, securing and covering your drink while keeping it within reach at all times. Have a cold one on us!
Winch Strap
The NRS Boat Winch Strap makes loading your raft onto the trailer by yourself a breeze. Two webbing loops go over the frame’s oar towers for a simple, secure connection. Attach the strap’s D-ring to your winch and crank it up. It’s that simple!
Stripping Basket
Line management can sometimes make fishing out of a boat difficult, and the last thing you want is to hook the fish of the day only to find out your line is wrapped around your feet. NRS Frame Stripping Baskets attach to thigh hooks to keep your line from becoming a tangled mess at your feet or wrapped around loose items at the bottom of the boat. Adding a stripping basket to your setup is an easy way to save time and improve angler safety on the water.
K-Pump
Never leave the boat ramp without a pump! K-Pumps are portable, well-built and have no hoses to get kinked. They also come in different sizes depending on the needs of your trip and the size of your raft. K-Pumps fit most valves and are great for topping off your boat without taking up valuable room and can be easily stowed in a pinch.
It’s Your Turn to Dream Big
Now it’s time to start dreaming up your perfect raft fishing setup. If you have any questions or would like more suggestions for setting up your fishing frame, reach out to our customer experience team. We’re always happy to chat!