Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: Night goat on September 03, 2019, 06:59:08 PM
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anybody mess around with packrafts?
found a great little fishing lake this weekend, and there is just too many log jams and dead trees thanks to an army of beavers that live up there, was able to make a few casts, but, spend an hour hammering an area the size of a truck because thats the only spot where i could get a fly in...
thought it would be great if i had a small pack raft that wouldnt pop the moment a tree branch touched it to get me out to the middle of the beaver pond where is saw some larger fish jumping but have absolutely zero experience in this department
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No experience with schlepping rafts, but you could get a float tube up there easily. I think they make CO2 kits to inflate tires or a small hand pump if you are patient. You would either need some type of waders or reasonably warm water.
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I bought a packraft last year for fishing and duck hunting. Don't have much experience with them, but they are pretty amazing. mine weighs just short of 5lbs and rolls up to about the size of a sleeping pad. Awesome for acess and surprisingly sturdy construction. I really need to get out and float a river on it before it gets too cold out!
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yeah im not really looking for something white water grade, although that could be alot of fun... i got a great spot with a little white water that would be fun to learn in thats relatively safe...
mainly looking at getting something for packing in to lakes that wont send me to the bottom if it snags on a submerged tree or something
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https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/
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https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/
lol i was just looking at alpacka.... the scout seems like what im looking for. thats actually on my other tab.
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I think that's the go_to pack raft nowdays.
@skyvalhunter would probably have some good input.
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Yes I own 2 of them they are great. I have the Alpacka pack rafts, there are different brands out there but Alpackas are pretty much indestructible which for me is important. Nothing worse than paddling to one end of the lake and get a leak and have to find a way back to your starting point. They are pretty light weight 4 or 5 lbs depending on the size of the raft. I use mine quite a bit for surveying high lakes. I used mine also last year in Alaska on a moose hunt to get to different hunt sites on the lake we camped at. I have taken mine to the Canadian rookies to use on the lakes there it allows me to get away from the people sides of the lakes. I will say they are not cheap at least one of the ones I purchased which was a larger model ran around $1000. I won the scout size Alpacka in a raffle which is a good size for my wife or shorter friends.. Both of mine have tie down attachments on the front so you can attach your pack. I have tied down a pretty good sized pack on mine.
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This is what I use every summer hiking into several lakes to fish. I get the stronger aluminum telescoping poles from Bi-Mart to go with it. All in about $30 bucks, can't beat that price.
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/10533482640957123240?lsf=seller:8638497,store:11143854375379269050&prds=oid:2821492337320766724&q=raft+site:big5sportinggoods.com&hl=en&ei=eX1yXdLvEcz6-gSN562QBQ&utm_campaign=Elite_Nexus_NB_LIA_Desktop-Tablet_Sporting_Goods&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&lsft=gclid:Cj0KCQjwh8jrBRDQARIsAH7BsXe_RwNNhCh9hiyKqHGpKyENqM42MyjI15ywc5soc_G-KlTHBOH0YS0aAqRSEALw_wcB
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You get what you pay for. Weight, safety, durability, are part of what I factor in.
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I've had an Alpacka for 10 years and it has proven to be really versatile. Unless your are into hike-in lakes and/or floating class i-ii rivers they are a bit of an investment. If you just want to access this one lake with room to cast a float tube may suffice. Too bad I just donated my U-boat II last week - I would have sent it to you. Bought in 1995 and still works, just wasn't using it. May be sitting at the Issaquah Value Village....
