Before jumping into the NRS Slipstream 96 fishing raft review, I want to disclose that NRS has been a partner of mine for some time. I couldn’t be happier with our relationship, but this review will be just as unbiased as all the rest.
NRS has been making high-quality rafts since the early ‘70s, and they’re definitely an industry leader in rafting.
I have a lot of friends who’ve guided fishing trips from NRS rafts. I’m more of a kayaker than a rafter. In fact, I've only rafted a few times, so keep that in mind as you’re reading this review.
I’m excited to explain how I see it fitting into my style of fishing. I will also let you know who I think it’ll work best for.
Inflating the NRS Slipstream 96
The Slipstream 96 inflates pretty quickly. I suggest using an electric pump if you're going to be deflating and re-inflating the boat frequently. However, the hand pump works well for topping off the air chambers when you’re ready to hit the water.
Of course, these boats should never be stored fully inflated. You could end up with issues based on temperature and whether or not they’re sitting in direct sunlight.
Assembling the frame took some time, but the boat came with most of the tools I needed. The process was pretty straightforward and you could definitely do it by yourself. I liked that the instructions came with a QR code. That code took me to a helpful video tutorial and detailed written instructions as well.
Slipstream 96 Fishing Raft Specs
First off, the Slipstream 96 is 9’ 6” long, 5’ 3” wide, and weighs 130 pounds.
The rafts come in Standard and Deluxe packages, and the Deluxe model we tested weighed in at 145 pounds.
The 96 is NRS’s smallest and most compact raft. It was specifically designed to fit in the bed of a standard pick-up truck. If your pick-up is smaller than normal, it’s pretty simple to remove the frame. Then you can partially deflate the raft, and get it from your truck to the water.
The Standard package costs about $3,495, while the Deluxe model like the one we tested costs about $4,495.
Fishing from the Slipstream 96 Raft
The Slipstream 96 was designed for an angler and a rower. I wasn't sure if the rower would actually be able to fish at the same time as the passenger.
Thankfully, we found that we could both fish comfortably at the same time. It was kind of tight, but you can make it work pretty easily if you know who you're fishing with. It also helps if you are used to small watercraft like rafts and kayaks.
If you're primarily a fly fisherman you already know that managing your fly line is always a priority. Nothing’s worse than getting wrapped up or snagged on something when you’re trying to make a cast. Thankfully, the 96’s streamlined design keeps things pretty snag free.
Standard vs. Deluxe Packages
Now let’s talk about the differences between the Standard and Deluxe package. More whether the Deluxe is worth the $1,000 upgrade.
The Standard Slipstream 96 package is going to get you the raft, the frame components, and seats. It also includes oarlocks and an anchor management system that allows you to run your anchor line out the back.
Deluxe Package
With the Deluxe package you get removable cup holders and two rod tubes that will accommodate fly rods up to 9-feet long. I really like that the tubes have bungees that go up and over the reel to hold everything in place so you’re not constantly dealing with snags and snarls.
In addition, the Deluxe package comes with an anchor line and a pulley system that makes raising and lowering the anchor pretty easy.
Another big plus is that Deluxe 96s come with two high-quality Cataract oars with Cutthroat blades. As an experienced kayaker, I can tell you that these are far nicer than the aluminum style paddles that generally come with boats at lower price points.
You can easily change the blades out if you prefer a different shape, but I’m going to assume that the folks at NRS chose the right paddle blade for the Slipstream 96.
Standard vs Deluxe Slipstream 96
For comparison’s sake, I went to NRS’s website and looked at the extra components that came with the Deluxe package.
Buying all those extras individually will set you back between $1,200 and $1,300, so it’s a good value because you can save a few hundred bucks just by upgrading from the Standard to the Deluxe package.
Standout Features on the Slipstream 96
Now I want to cover the features on the Slipstream 96 that I think are going to make it a really good option for me on my local rivers.
Capacity
In North Carolina where I live, we have a lot of smaller creeks and streams, and I have kids that I want to start taking fishing with me. I feel like the 96 is going to really fit into my lifestyle and way of fishing nicely.
With the Slipstream I can also take friends along as opposed to the kayak which is pretty much your own vessel.
Durability
Another thing that really stood out right off the bat was that the boat looks like it was built to withstand just about anything you could throw at it.
The material is doubled up to give you more protection everywhere there’s a wear point, both on the bottom of the raft and on top where the frame sits.
In some places on the bottom it’s even tripled up, especially on the high friction areas where it’ll take the most abuse when you’re dragging down a shallow river or sliding the raft down a riverbank to gain access to the water. So I love that it’s really been well planned and executed from a durability standpoint.
D-Rings
I also like how many d-rings there are around the boat. This makes it easy to strap things down while you’re fishing, tie the raft into the bed of your truck, and drag it to hard to reach areas.
Plus, even though it is on the smaller side I can see myself and another person strapping gear to this boat and taking it on an overnight camping trip down a river.
Stability
Another feature that I really appreciated on the Slipstream 96 was the floor.
In fact it may have been my favorite feature, and it’s pretty much the same technology used in some of NRS’s inflatable kayaks. It uses 4-inch drop stitch technology which allows you to inflate it much more tightly than the raft or pontoons themselves.
On top of that they put an EVA foam pad that I like for its durability. If you’re going to be dropping fish hooks or sharp, heavy objects, it’s going to be able to resist most punctures.
When you’re standing up it’s like being on the ground because there’s almost no flex. It also gives you lots of grip, and the floor doesn’t feel slippery even when water gets inside the boat. With all its stability and traction, you don't feel like you need a casting platform or anything like that.
Seating and Comfort
NRS definitely didn’t cut any corners when it came to adding seats to the Slipstream 96.
The Tempress brand seats are made in the USA and are as comfortable as it gets in boat seating.
I typically like to stand up while I’m fishing, but I found myself being pretty lazy because the seats were so comfortable, and they swivel easily so you can cast in any direction with ease.
The Slipstream Leaning Bar
Most fishing specific rafts have some type of leaning bar or thigh hook on the front, but I really liked the one on the Slipstream 96. It gives you a third point of contact so when you're standing up you never feel like you’re going to fall out of the boat even when you go through mild whitewater.
It just gives you that confidence to be able to stand up there and fish, but one of the things I’m thinking about is playing around with or adjusting the position of the front seat. You can't really move the seat back any further because you run out of frame, but the oarlocks felt like they were in the right place.
Of course everyone is different, and they’re all adjustable so everybody should be able to find their own sweet spot.
Air Chambers in Key Places
Another thing I like about the NRS Slipstream 96 is that they have four different air chambers.
It may seem like that would be more work because you have four different valves to deal with when you’re inflating the boat. However, it’s a great feature because if you puncture one chamber you've got three more keeping you afloat. That’ll give you the time you need to be able to patch that up and get it back on the water quickly.
The Verdict of my NRS Slipstream 96 Fishing Raft Review
At the end of the day, I enjoyed the NRS Slipstream 96. It’s a rugged, stable, and user-friendly raft from both conventional and fly fishing standpoints.
I particularly liked the seats, the high-quality oars, and the anchor system on the Deluxe package. The anchor system came with line, but even without it you have pulleys that take a lot of weight off the anchor and tubes that allow you to run your own aftermarket anchor line. Either way, it’s really easy to raise and lower the anchor.
Fly Fisherman's Delight!
One thing I might add for fly fisherman is a stripping basket because it would come in handy on windy days. I'd probably mount it on the casting brace or bar up front so I could manage my line but still have enough ready when I needed to make long casts.
I also liked that I didn’t need to have my hands on the oars when we were drifting. This allowed me to cast whenever I needed to, and there were really no issues at all fishing two people out of the boat.
The Slipstream 96 is primarily designed for the fly angler so there aren’t many places to store conventional gear and rods. However, I made a few modifications right out of the gate like adding YakAttack rod holders off the back of the rear seat.
A Natural River Running Craft
This boat is a solid choice for anyone who likes to take river trips. Especially where they put in at one location and take out at another. It's not a boat you're going to want to do a lot of what I would call single access fishing. Especially if you’d need to backtrack your way upstream for any kind of distance. I don't think I’d recommend it for that.
A Great Raft for Both Fly and Conventional Fishing
That said, if you generally put in at one location and take out another I think it’ll be a great boat. It will be perfect with some moderate whitewater or some bigger stuff along the way. Another thing worth mentioning is that I’m a fly fisherman and a conventional angler. The Slipstream 96 isn’t just a fly fishing platform for me, and it probably won’t be for you either.
Like I said, we were really impressed overall. I have ideas floating around for where this boat is going to make the most sense fitting.
If you liked this review of the NRS Slipstream 96, stay tuned because we have morereviews and comparison coming.
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Raft: NRS Slipstream 96
Life vest: NRS Chinook PFD
Shirt: NRS Varial Hoodie
Rods: Judge Crankbait Series, Eternity Series, Revelation Series
Sunglasses: Wiley X
