The RMR Angler: Stealth, Stability, and the Spring Hatch
After a long winter spent nursing a severe case of cabin fever, spring temperatures have finally come to the rescue. The initial thaws and early spring rains have come and gone, leaving behind them more agreeable flows. Despite the still-cool water temperatures, hatches are now coming off with regularity. With all of these seasonal cues in place, we anglers are invariably drawn toward the water. Rocky Mountain Rafts are made for such an occasion. The RMR rafts designed specifically for anglers are more than up to the task of getting you and your gear into places where fish live and many other anglers can't access. These rafts are customizable to the nth degree. Different frames, floors, rigging options, colors, lengths, etc. will allow you to drift within striking distance of your ideal casting location
Customization that never ends
The beauty of owning a Rocky Mountain Raft is that it can serve multiple purposes. Even the CatPhish, which is an absolute fishing machine, can be rigged in such a way that it becomes an excellent big-water cataraft. The SB-120 and the SBDS-120, which have a reputation as all around whitewater rafts can quickly become dedicated fishing crafts, so much so that some fishing guide services use them exclusively.
The key to RMR’s versatility is the different ways that they can be set up. The frames are a big part of the customization process. Fishing frames are available for a variety of different sized whitewater rafts that may have initially not been set up for fishing. The SB and Storm models have been especially popular for adapting into fishing rafts. Crossbars can be set further forward or back to create larger bays to store gear. Smaller bays can be created if an angler wishes to have a tighter casting area that feels secure. Lean bars up front are an option for anglers to have a sturdy point they can lean into while casting through rough water, or just peace of mind when putting some “oomph” into a long cast. Seats for both the rower and angler can be placed according to how much space each person needs. Even the oar towers can be angled or raised to a position that best accommodates the rower. Seats and oar towers can be quickly removed to allow multiple boats to be stacked on a trailer.
The drop stitch floor models offer footing for anglers to stand and cast even through choppy water. Casting platforms are available for other models to enhance your stability. Anchor ropes and pulleys are available from RMR and can be employed a number of different ways. The CatPhish has a front anchor system which frees up the back of the boat for a motor mount. Motor mounts are available as an option for many different frame set ups.
Advantage of Inflatable Fishing Rafts
It’s not just about getting to the fish, it also matters how you arrive on scene. Some rivers get run relentlessly by commercial trips and the fish that live there are more forgiving of anglers making a noisy entrance with their boat. Even these highly pressured fish shut off temporarily as boats float over. Other waterways that are not as heavily run harbor fish that do not tolerate a sloppy approach. Hard boats can and will scrape the bottom and thud off of rocks. These vibrations travel through the water and upon reaching the lateral line of fish, alert them of your presence. RMR’s inflatable line of fishing rafts do not create such a disturbance. Collisions with subsurface objects and protruding boulders and logs are absorbed and deadened with the compression of the raft tube. The CatPhish is designed specifically to navigate tight runs, allowing you to avoid collisions and run the exact line you need to get into position to cast. This cataraft is unmated in its ferrying ability which is clutch when a particular section of river is boiling with rises during an early BWO hatch.
Inflatable rafts also hold an advantage at the put-ins and take-outs. Underdeveloped launches are significantly easier to tackle with an inflatable raft. The RollCast, for example, is a smaller craft not requiring a trailer that can be carried and dropped just about anywhere. Even the bigger rafts can be moved by hand a considerable distance beyond where the trailer may have to stop.
