Packraft fly fishing is the ultimate backcountry or remote water fishing advantage. Why? Pacrrafts are small, lightweight easy to transport, deploy, and maneuver allowing you to access water you usually would not consider or dream off. The most rugged pacrrafts fold up to the about the size of a backpack laid fla,t and weigh in around 15-20 lbs, inflate in mins and are ready to hike into remote areas or simply push off from traditional accesses locations.
I have been fly fishing remote backcountry waters for years on years. Getting myself into some pretty tricky spots, all on foot. Time after time I ran into places where I could no longer hike on foot or wade across the rivers or found myself staring at huge alpine lakes with little to no shore access. I kept pushing and thinking there is got to be a better way to get into these waters and boom, I was introduced to a packraft.
My first trip I was blow away on how easy it was to simply cross a river and explore the other side. I dragged my boat up river, around whitewater I did not know how to navigate and into places that really opened my eyes and mind. I hiked my packraft into remote lakes and pushed off and explored shorelines rather than bushwhacking. As the trips continued I took on more challenging waters and places as I grew as a packrafter. I watched videos and read books on how to navigate rivers. I started shuttling myself back to my car with my bike and bike trailer, slowing adding on the miles of each float. I started running back to back days, inviting friends and fishing clients and teaching and sharing with them the beautify and joy of Packrafting. I just did an overnight trip with my daughter and 40 pound dog into a remote section of river that hiking into is just not an option. Packrafting has opened so much more water to my fly fishing and guiding that I never would have been able to cover on foot alone or have been able to paddle a bigger raft with oars into. Its been a game changer for exploring new opportunities and honing in sections of water that would have taken all afternoon just to access one remote run or bushwhacking lakeside game trails.
The beauty of a packrat is the simplicity of the vessel combined with the depth of opportunities it allows you. From a simple river crossing to access the other side or around the river’s bend to paddling out deeper into lakes, to full blown river trips. A packrat is the ultimate backcountry and remote water fishing tool out there.
Reach out to book or discuss a backcountry packraft flyfishing trip. I can’t wait to show you the river from a whole new perspective!
Connect: www.lostsierraflyguide.com