FLYCRAFT BLOG

There’s something about floating a river in Idaho. Add women taking the oars, tossing the lines, and claiming their space on the water, and you're in for a special day.

The current slows you down. The mountains make you feel small in the best way. And every cast becomes part of something bigger than just catching fish.

In Lessons on the Water, we followed a group of women fly fishing the legendary Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and the Teton River near Driggs, Idaho — two of the most iconic trout fisheries in the West — all from the seats of Flycraft inflatable fishing boats.

What unfolded wasn’t just a fishing trip. It was a story about confidence, independence, friendship, and what it means to claim your space on the water.

Check it out:

WHY THE HENRY’S FORK & TETON RIVER ARE SO SPECIAL

These rivers are world-class for a reason.

The Henry’s Fork is famous for its technical dry-fly fishing, clear water, and wild rainbow and brown trout that demand precision. The Teton River is more relaxed — a freestone river full of cutthroat, rainbows, and brook trout, winding through farmland and mountain valleys.

Together, they make the perfect backdrop for learning, laughing, and leveling up as an angler.

Floating them in a Flycraft inflatable fishing boat opens water that wade anglers simply can’t reach.

MEET THE WOMEN ON THE WATER

Lonnie Marami: Lonnie grew up around fly fishing but didn’t fully dive in until later in life — after marriage, kids, and a desire to have something that was just hers.

“My husband taught me how to fly fish when we were in high school… but I really got into it when I had little kids and was looking for something more.”

Joining a women’s fishing group in Salt Lake City changed everything. What started as fishing became community — women who wanted adventure, connection, and confidence on the water.

Lindsay Christensen: Lindsay’s roots in fishing run deep — from worm-drowning days with her grandfather in Washington to fly fishing with her aunts and friends.

“We love to go on adventures together.”

For Lindsay, fly fishing isn’t just about catching trout — it’s about creating experiences with people who love being outside, pushing themselves, and sharing water.

WHY FLY FISHING CAN FEEL INTIMIDATING — ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN

Boat ramps. Drift boats. Technical gear. Unspoken rules.

Fly fishing can feel intimidating — and when you’re the only woman on the ramp, even more so.

“Fly fishing can be really intimidating… it’s very male-dominated… especially when you’re on a boat ramp.”

But the truth is simple:

“We’re just as good out there rowing as anybody else… after you practice, you just have to go out and do it.”

Rowing your own boat. Running your own water. Reading your own bugs. That’s where confidence is built.

WHY THE BOAT MATTERS

A Flycraft boat isn’t just transportation — it’s freedom.

Being able to row, stop, fish, and move when you want changes everything. It removes dependency. It lets anglers explore runs, side channels, and banks that would otherwise be unreachable.

The women in this film weren’t passengers. They were captains.

That’s what changes the game.

FISHING IS A BONUS — THE EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING

Yes, they caught beautiful cutthroats, rainbows, and brook trout.
Yes, dry flies were eaten.

But everyone kept saying the same thing:

“The fish are a bonus.”

Fly fishing is about being outside, watching the water, talking about bugs, laughing with friends, and feeling capable.

The river gives you space to breathe, learn, and connect.

ADVICE FOR NEW FLY FISHERS

Take a class: Learn to cast. Learn about bugs. Learn where to put the fly. Those three things change everything.

Join a community: This is a social sport. Boat ramps turn into friendships. You learn faster when you fish together.

Be independent: Stop worrying about being in the way. Stop waiting for permission. Just go fish.

“I realized I needed to be independent about it and learn everything I could.”

That’s how anglers are made.

SHARING THE WATER MATTERS

Public rivers belong to all of us.

“We all share the water… Rather than getting angry at somebody who doesn’t understand etiquette, help educate them.”

That’s how fly fishing grows — not by gatekeeping, but by welcoming.

HOW FLYCRAFT FITS THIS STORY

Flycraft boats are built for exactly this kind of fishing:

Stable for learning
Light enough to launch anywhere
Nimble enough for tight rivers
Strong enough for big water

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned angler, a Flycraft gives you the freedom to fish your way — with friends, family, or solo.

Fly fishing isn’t about perfection.

It’s about showing up, learning, and claiming your place on the river.

And sometimes… it’s about hooking a fatty and laughing your way downstream.

See the boats used in the film:

https://www.flycraftusa.com/pages/inflatable-3-person-fishing-boat

If you’ve spent any time around stillwater fly fishing, you know how demanding it can be—and Flycraft Pro Fly Fisherman, Landon Mayer is the kind of angler who thrives on that challenge.

Check it out:

Landon has guided countless days on the water and built his reputation by paying attention to details most anglers miss. He’s drawn to stillwaters because they’re never the same twice. Every day brings new conditions—wind, light, depth changes, fish movement—and success depends on how well you adapt. There’s no current helping your drift. No shortcuts. You’re responsible for your presentation, your line control, and your position on the water.

That mindset is what makes this video a true test of the Ninja One Man Fishing Boat.

The trip takes place in South Park, Colorado, where Landon targets local reservoirs like Spinney Mountain—deep water, shallow bays, sharp drop-offs, and fish that move constantly between them. These are the kinds of fisheries where boat control isn’t optional. You have to be able to slip into tight pockets, hold precise positions along drop lines, and adjust quickly as conditions change.

And, as South Park often delivers, calm conditions didn’t last long. Wind built fast, waves stacked up, and whitecaps rolled through shallow bays. Instead of backing off, Landon leaned into the conditions, using wind, structure, and protected edges to stay in the zone. This is where the Ninja’s smaller footprint, stability, and ability to reposition easily really came into play.

Throughout the day, Landon moves in and out of tight “buckets,” anchors along transition zones, and adjusts his setup on the fly—exactly the kind of fishing that exposes weaknesses in a boat. His takeaway is simple: being able to adapt inside a large body of water matters more than size, and having a platform that responds quickly makes a real difference.

This video isn’t about fishing perfect conditions. It’s about seeing how the Ninja One Man Fishing Boat performs when the wind comes up, the water gets rough, and precision matters. And it’s about why the Ninja fits anglers who want to fish stillwaters with intention, not limitation.

I’m Brandon with Flycraft, and I wanted to give you the kind of deep walkthrough of the Stealth 2.0 that you’d get if you stopped by our Salt Lake City showroom or caught me at a trade show. 

Since we don’t have dealers and it’s tough to see one of these boats in person, my goal here is to show you exactly what this boat is, why we designed it the way we did, and how it actually performs on real rivers, lakes, and even in saltwater.

If you’ve been eyeing the Stealth 2.0 and wondering, “Is this really the right boat for me?” this is the breakdown I’d want you to have before making that decision.

Check it out:

Transcript Notes:

Hey, Brandon here with Flycraft. Today I’m giving you a detailed, in-person style walkthrough of the Stealth 2.0, our two-person, self-bailing model. Think of this as the experience you'd get if you met me at a trade show, or stopped by our Salt Lake City showroom — since we don’t have dealers, we know it’s hard to see one of these boats in person.

The Stealth 2.0 is extremely similar to our classic original Stealth, but we widened it by five inches — bringing it to 51 inches wide. The hull length is 144". And yes — it’s self-bailing.

Rigid, High-Pressure Drop-Stitch Floor

One of the standout features of the Stealth 2.0 is the rigid drop-stitch floor. If you’ve only used inflatable boats with “squishy floors,” this will shock you. When inflated to proper pressure, it feels like a hard-bottom boat — giving you:

• Amazing stand-up stability

• Far less fatigue while standing and fishing

• Drift-boat-like handling and planing

• Easy anchoring and back-rowing

• Only 3–4 inches of draft thanks to the 5" thick buoyant air chamber

This also allows the Stealth 2.0 to access incredibly shallow waters other boats simply can’t float.

Despite all this, the entire boat weighs only 103 lbs. One person can rooftop it, load it in a truck bed, or tuck it into a vehicle. When disassembled, it fits in the trunk of something as small as a Toyota Corolla.

Stability: What Makes the Stealth 2.0 Feel So Solid

A lot of people look at the Stealth 2.0 and assume it’s narrow. The second you step in it, you realize the truth: every other boat feels too wide.

With its low-profile tubes and rigid floor, stability is unbeatable. I routinely stand, fight a fish off one side, my buddy leans over to net it, my dog Pasta is sniffing the fish — and the boat stays rock solid.

I can climb in and out of the boat from the water. If you’re coming from canoes or kayaks, this is going to feel like a different world.

Rocker Design: Why This Boat Rows Like Nothing Else

One thing you’ll notice immediately is the rocker in both the bow and stern. This gives you:

• More interior space while keeping the ends out of the water

• Faster spinning and pivoting

• Easier punching through waves or rapids

• Effortless back-rowing

• The ability to stall the boat mid-current with just a few strokes

• Incredible anchorability with only a 20–25 lb anchor, even on faster rivers

Flat-bottom rafts push a lot of water — which requires heavier anchors. The Stealth 2.0’s design eliminates that issue entirely.

Ultra-Shallow Water Performance

The Stealth 2.0 pairs perfectly with our shallow-water oars. These oars have a full running blade—so even in a 3" riffle, you still get meaningful bite in the water. Standard symmetrical oars only dip their tips in, making control almost impossible.

With our system:

• You can row through 1–3 inch riffles

• You rarely need to step out and drag

• You can access extremely skinny water safely and easily

This boat truly bridges the worlds of kayaks, canoes, drift boats, and small powerboats.

Built for Abuse: Durability and Construction

The Stealth 2.0 is engineered for the realities of fishing places without boat ramps — dragging over gravel bars, sliding over boulder gardens, contacting sticks and rocks.

Key durability features include:

• 1100 denier PVC

• Two-layer reinforced bottom

• Extra skid plates on all four corners

• Powder coated aluminum frame

• Stainless steel hardware (saltwater ready)

Guides run these 5–7 days a week all season. If they hold up for them, they’ll hold up for anyone.

Hooks? Not an issue. A 16" tube doesn’t give a hook anything to dig into, and punctures from hooks are essentially unheard of after years of customer use.

If something ever does happen, you get:

• A repair kit

• A 3-year warranty

• A super easy team to work with

New Feature on the 2.0: The Front Lean Bar

The Stealth 2.0 introduces a front lean bar/casting brace, which also fits the original Stealth if you add it later.

It’s a game-changer for:

• Fast water

• Waves and wind

• Getting in and out of the boat

• Stability while casting

If you’re not using it, it folds down completely out of the way.

Storage, Gear Organization & Line Management

Despite being compact, the Stealth 2.0 offers exceptional storage:

• Under-seat storage (both front and rower)

• Rear gear rack for coolers, dry bags, grills, decoys, or a third kid seat

• Optional gear trays and gear boxes

• Clean, snag-free interior with tangle-free rod management

• A two-rod fly rod holder system that protects reels and keeps line clear

Everything is designed around minimizing clutter and eliminating places where fly line can snag.

Ultra-Comfortable, Adjustable, Swiveling Seats

The seats slide forward/back and swivel 360°, which is far more useful than people expect.

Benefits include:

• Easy access to coolers and gear

• Effortless swapping between rowing and fishing seats

• Teaching new rowers while facing them

• Reduced back strain compared to kayaks or fixed-seat rafts

Most packages also include quick-release seat mounts, so you can remove both seats in seconds to lighten the boat for rooftop loading.

Premium Quality Frames & Components

Our frames are:

• Hand-built in Salt Lake City

• Powder-coated

• Welded and pre-assembled before shipping

• Designed to break down into seven pieces for compact transport

The boat uses Leaffield valves, the best in the industry — the same used on big-water expedition rafts.

Most people can completely assemble the boat from scratch in about 15 minutes.

Internal Anchor System (Safer + Tangle-Free)

Unlike rafts with exposed pulleys and ropes, the Stealth 2.0 has a fully internal anchor system:

• Zero external pulleys to snag fly line

• No foot-entrapment risk

• Cam-cleat control from the rower seat

• Centered anchor point for perfect stability

• 2:1 mechanical advantage for easy lifting

Easily switch between a river setup (20 ft centered rope) and a lake setup (single rope up to ~40 ft).

Add a Motor: Gas or Electric

The Stealth 2.0 is rated for:

• Up to a 2.5 HP gas motor, or

• Up to a 55 lb thrust electric motor, or

• Newer lightweight electric outboards (3hp class)

Speeds range from 5–8 mph depending on setup. Great for lakes, big reservoirs, or powering back upstream.

We have customers who:

• Fish saltwater off Texas

• Chase roosterfish in Baja

• Troll lakes in the PNW

• Catch stripers, redfish, tarpon, bonefish

• Fly with the boat as airline luggage

• Use it for remote fly-in bush plane trips

It is truly an all-water boat.

Transport & Storage: Works With Any Vehicle or Home

This boat fits:

• In the back of ANY truck (even short-bed Tacomas)

• In small SUVs

• Rooftop racks (even at 80 mph+ Western highway speeds)

• In apartments, garages, barns, vans, RVs

• In airline checked luggage

You can store it:

• Fully assembled

• Hanging from garage straps

• Leaning upright

• Rolled up

• Frame hung on the wall + raft rolled in a corner

Just avoid leaving it in direct sun long-term.

Loading, Carrying & Using Carts

At the water, unloading is simple. Avoid dragging on pavement or cement. Gravel, grass, and natural terrain are totally fine.

Transport options:

• Carry by the side handles

• Carry front/back with two people

• Use a $35–$65 kayak cart

• Separate frame/raft for rugged approaches

• Pack it into remote waters with backpack straps

It’s genuinely one of the easiest boats in the world to move around.

Dogs, Hunting & Multisport Use

Yes — dogs are absolutely welcome in this boat. Their nails can’t damage the materials, and the boat’s stability means no sudden dunking when they get excited.

Dogs can comfortably sit:

• On the seats (small/medium dogs)

• On the floor

• In the rower’s cockpit

• On a pad over the rear gear rack

The boat is also incredibly popular for:

• Duck hunting (great for decoys + blinds)

• Big-game access

• Cast-and-blast trips

• Crabbing

• Spearfishing

• Family floats

• Multi-day adventures

The Most Versatile Boat on the Water

Canoe, kayak, drift boat, raft, jon boat, bass boat — the Stealth 2.0 borrows the best features of each without the limitations.

It handles:

• Tiny creeks

• Big western rivers

• Class I–II rapids

• Lakes and reservoirs

• Saltwater flats

• Ocean inshore

You don’t need:

• A garage

• A truck

• A trailer

Anyone — tall, short, beginner, seasoned rower — can learn to row this boat.

Final Thoughts

The Flycraft Stealth 2.0 really is the most versatile fishing boat in the world. From storage to transport to performance in every water type, it’s designed to make boating accessible, fun, and incredibly capable for both beginners and pros.

If you have questions about your vehicle, storage situation, or fishing style, just reach out — I love helping people figure out exactly how this boat will fit their life.

When you take your kids fishing, you’re doing a lot more than teaching them how to catch fish. You’re giving them tools that last a lifetime—patience, resilience, independence, and pride. Out on the river, lessons come naturally in a way no classroom or screen can match.

And with the right boat, those adventures become safe, easy, and fun for the whole family.

Why Fly Fishing Builds Confidence

Fishing isn’t instant gratification. It’s waiting, watching, trying again, and celebrating small wins along the way. When kids learn these lessons outside, they build the kind of confidence that sticks.

Snags and tangles? Those turn into problem-solving moments. Netting their first fish? That’s independence in action. Even just rowing a stretch of calm water can give a child pride that carries over into every part of life.

One of our favorite stories is about Isla, who at only 7 years old, wasn’t satisfied just fishing—she wanted to row. Within a few trips in a Flycraft boat, she was confidently steering her family through gentle currents. The look on her face said it all: “I can do this.”

Get the Full Guide

We put together a simple guide packed with tips, family rituals, and quick tricks to make your trips stress-free and confidence-building from the very start.

👉 Check out the full guide below:

Final Thought

Confidence isn’t something you hand to your kids—it’s something they build for themselves. Fishing just happens to be one of the most fun, family-friendly ways to make that happen.

So grab your rods, bring the snacks, and hit the water. The fish are just a bonus.

A film about fishing with friends. Nothing more nothing less.

Flyfishing is a sport for the generations. A father teaches a son how to fish and later on in life a son takes his 83 year old father out on the water.

Watch it now:

Flycraft boats are truly is for everyone—whether you’re new to outdoor adventures or a seasoned pro. With its unique combination of portability, versatility, and durability, this inflatable boat will quickly become your go-to for any outdoor escapade.  Check it out:

We went out for some southern fly fishing in Nashville Tennessee and meet up with our friend Morgan Nowels, the owner of Music City Anglers.

Follow along as he takes us to some of the most amazing rivers the south has to offer. Dive into an unforgettable adventure as we explore the heart of Music City!

Join us on a fly fishing journey through Nashville’s picturesque waters, where we hunt for trout and bass in some of the most stunning fishing spots in Tennessee. But it’s not just about the fish – it’s about the soul of the South!

You'll see the vibrant music culture, meet local legends, and feel the heartbeat of Nashville’s rich musical heritage. From casting lines to strumming guitars, this film captures the essence of Southern charm. Whether you’re a fishing enthusiast or a music lover, get ready for a ride that strikes all the right chords!

 Check it out:

We're often asked how to strap a Flycraft boat on top of your vehicle. It's pretty simple.

Here's how:

Our friends at York Casting Co out of North Carolina just made the most thorough and hilarious review we've ever seen on our boats.

This is a must see!

If you were wondering about any specific Flycraft boat features, they are more than covered in this video, and we promise it will crack you up as well! While you are at it, check out some of the amazing other videos they have put out on their Flycraft Guide.

And you'll find great fly fishing and spin fishing content on their Youtube channel. 

Check it out: 

Come join us as we set out with a pair of Flycraft boats into some incredible waters with Eli, his daughter Isla and son Axle. We see beautiful landscapes, find some creepy creatures, laugh and play on the river, all while Isla ends up catching her biggest ever brown trout.

Check it out: