Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Boat decision

Thanks so much for your post, Andrew. Helpful for me to consider. It seems like the Big Shoals and Flycraft Stealth X are comparable in size, whereas the Little Shoals and regular Flycraft Stealth are more the same dimensions. I'm worried about being able to manhandle the Big Shoals or Stealth X by myself, which is why I'm looking at the smaller boats. Have you tried the Little Shoals? I'm curious to know a bit more specifically about why you like the design more for the Smithfly. 

I appreciate your insight! It's a lot of money to sink into something I can't try out. 

Matt

On Wed, May 5, 2021 at 1:42 PM Andrew R <andrewreichardt88@gmail.com> wrote:

My two cents: Get a Smithfly Big Shoals. Richie at District Angling is a smithfly dealer and can hook you up. 

The smithfly is pretty much the same as a Flycraft but better materials and design (in my opinion), particularly the frame, plus it's American-made too. I've also found the flycraft to be less stable than the smithfly due to its smaller tubes and narrower footprint. The Stealthcraft Hooligan and Hooligan XL are in the same class as the smithfly and flycraft (light enough to carry apx 125-150 lbs) and very good options, just slightly more expensive. I've fished out of all three (and own the Smithfly) and the Smithfly is my favorite hands down. 

I previously owned an Outcast PAC-1300 (similar to an NRS, RMR, or other more "traditional" fishing raft"). It's a great boat but much less versatile in terms of the water you can fish than a Smithfly or Flycraft. Super stable and can run class 5 whitewater but weighs over 300 pounds and you'll need a trailer. The bigger tubes and wider width make it drag in flatwater so it's really only good for moving water. 

You can put a 2.5 or 3 hp motor on the smithfly (or flycraft or Hooligan). I've used mine on tidal creeks for snakehead, reservoirs for pike and largemouth, the NB Potomac for trout, the upper Potomac, Rappahannock and Doah for smallmouth. You can get a poling platform and casting platform to turn it into a carp poling skiff, or even fish certain out of the way places on the bay (tribs, inlets, etc). 

If you want strictly a one man boat, I'd suggest a Dave Scadden or Watermaster. 

Dalton, you and I both agree that Misha is the man, but the sea eagle foldcat is not nearly as a good a boat as the aforementioned three, hence its much lower price. Its oar tower system is not well designed at all (I was scraping my thighs on every stroke) and those cheap aluminum oars have pretty much no backbone. Misha likes his and will likely strongly disagree with my disparaging comments of his boat. 

Keep in mind that any boat you order is likely going to take at least a couple months to deliver. COVID has screwed up supply chains everywhere and recreational boat demand is through the roof. 

Tight lines,

Andrew R

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 11:27:33 AM UTC-4 Dalton Terrell wrote:

I'll throw one more boat into the mix: Sea Eagle Foldcat - https://www.seaeagle.com/FoldCat/375fc

I've fished on TPFR member Misha Gill's Foldcat and it's a sweet rig. It's much more maneuverable than the 3-person Star and NRS rafts I've rowed, and the coolest feature is that it's symmetrical--the oars are half way between the two seats. To swtich from angling to rowing, you just spin the boat and seats around; no crawling over seats or getting out of the boat. I think Misha modified his so both seats are elevated to make this possible. It's also pretty compact compared to rafts and frames, and not too complicated to set up.

Maybe Misha can weigh in on this as well.

Dalton

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