In depth Water Master Bruin review (1.5 years in) | Is it the best 2 person fly fishing raft?
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
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Hey everyone! In this video, I take you along with me as I share my experiences using the Water Master Bruin Raft for the past two years. As a seasoned fisherman, I was looking for the perfect fly fishing watercraft and I found it in this raft. Watch as I put it through its paces and share my honest thoughts on its performance, comfort, and overall suitability for fly fishing. With two years of experience using the Bruin Raft, I can tell you first-hand that this fishing craft is a top contender for the title of best raft for fishing. Join me on this journey and let's see if it's the right choice for you.
#flyfishing #flyfishingproducts #flyfishingaddict #flyfishingtrout #flyfishingrafts #rafts #boats #nrsframe 
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Great review, I've always been curious about these boats, thanks for taking the time to make this.
We should do a raft swap and go fish a river together!
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker Bro, now that's an idea!!!
I need to make it happen this year!
Great review Mark!
Thanks! Funny it took me like a year to make this video
Thanks great video, my head has been spinning on all the different raft choices and I’ve also been looking at kayaks. So thanks for the great info.
You bet, we are kinda lucky. There are a lot of great choices out there. Any one of those companies i mentioned make quality rafts. Nrs tecently created a new 2 person fishing raft too
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker Appreciate that I’ll check it out
Excellent review
Thanks Frank, always hard to balance being too detailed. Do you have one?
Nice job, best raft I’ve ever owned, I cut out a rear deck from treated plywood it’s strapped on top of the NRS bar, I mount gear boxes on it. Three people is too tight for fishing I think. Best upgrade is to use D rings on floor with NRS cam straps to D rings mounted to bags to support floor, it looks like you have that already, keeps floor from going into water too much. I’ve done four night trips with it and fish alone without trouble, also it slides into my F150 no problem. I’m in Montana so I hit rivers and lakes. Plus Rich the owner was great to deal with.
Id love to see a picture of the plywood deck, my email is msteudel@gmail.com
Nice review. I really enjoy my Bruin too. My son didn't feel the front seat was comfortable to fish out of. I too am looking for a rod holder solution.
Interesting. What didnt he like about the front seat? Ill let you know if i figure out any sort of rod solution. Probably will go with the nrs + scotty clamps for now
Just watched this review again. I think I am going to pull the trigger on one with the sale they're doing right now. It should be a great boat for my nephews and I to float and wade a couple "S" rivers for steelhead that I won't use the jetboat on.
It's a big purchase even with the 20%. If you have any questions feel free to email me or find me on instagram.
Good review. On-water rod storage is definitely a challenge. I've had decent experience zip-stripping in my magnetic car rod holders to the frame. I'm interested to hear if you come up with a tubed solution at least for 9-ft. rods. Also, nice coverage on the flexibility of the raft/frame, imo one of the big advantages of the Bruin. I'd add one more option that's worked well for me on extended trips on AK and UT rivers. I remove both seats and use NRS hangers to support and sit on coolers and/or semi-dry boxes. I find they are just as comfortable and serviceable for rowing, with the added advantage of hauling cold perishable food and beverages plus a lot more accessible non-bagged gear. I'd include a pic or two but don't see that option here.
Oh i love the idea of the hangers! I would love to connect and see pictures. My email is if you want to contact me that way. Thanks for the ideas!
Great and very detailed review. Thanks for that. How did you learn to row and deal with white water? Are there online courses or something to do for newbies? We don't have anything over here that I can find anyway since it's not all that popular here.
I spent a lot of time rowing smaller toons on rivers and just gradually worked my way up the difficulty scale. I'm still not as good as I want to be and plan on taking some swift water rescue and advanced rowing courses. If I were you I would look into white water rafting companies and look for any guide schools see if they have a weekend course. Or get a few buddies together and see about doing a group private course. Lastly if you have to do online checkout North West Rafting company, they have an online course: www.nwrafting.com/training/virtual-rafting-training
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker thanks, that course is perfect
Great video and review! Thanks.
How is the durability of the raft components themselves? Abrasions? Rocks?! Branches?
The fear is at some point, you're always patching and gluing and chasing small pin hole leaks or a torn this or a worn that!
As a solo fisherman - mostly - I'm wondering if I shouldn't just get a small jon boat as I don't always have someone to shuttle a rig, etc...
Mostly on small reservoirs or a river with plenty of access to the boat launch I launched from.
Thanks and have a great weekend!!
The durability has been great so far. I do this trip every year that is really low water and there is lots of dragging and bumping rocks. The boat has done great. I think some of it comes from your skills on the oars, but if you aren’t doing anything crazy the boat will last a really long time.
Jon boats seem great for stillwaters, but rivers I do, you wouldn’t want a jon boat. But again comes down to types of rivers you do.
Hi, great video! have you ever checked in the boat as a luggage when flying to another country to go fishing?
I have not had the opportunity to do that yet.
You said you upgraded the oars. Which one you got and what size? Thanks!
I got the sawyer stealth carbon fibers oars. I got them through Watermaster, forget what size
Nice review. I recently got a used bruin, it doesn't have the newer floor style, wondering if it's worth adding those D-rings and straps. I haven't tried fishing up front standing up, but I imagine it will be pretty wet. Also, while it's on lighter end of rafts(this is our first raft ever), we still have trouble hauling it on top of 4runner and bringing it back down, scratches on paint and what not. Now I am wondering if it's worth to just inflate/deflate for each trip and carry the assembled frame on the roof rack. What do you think of driving down the highway with frame on the top, shouldn't be a problem right with properly strapped down. I do have a electric pump but for D7 leaflet valves. Wouldn't mind if you can drop a link to the pump you are using, especially like that it shows the PSI reading. And Lastly, worth upgrading to sst oars? If nothing else, I like the 2 piece design so it fits better in our car. Also I haven't seen how the NRS frame anchor system works, this raft comes with the attachment and rope and all. I've yet to put it to test, for now I've taken out the anchor system trying to shave off some weight. Would love if you have any pointers on that or how you use it. Thx
Definitely worth getting the floor d ring s, just keeps everything out of the water more. Pretty sure Rich can send you all the stuff to install them.
Ive put the raft up top on backroads and one bit of highway driving, but in general i wouldnt travel very long with it on top, a. Gas efficiency, and like tou scratching up the too of the car. We actually caused a leak because we leaned the raft on our antenna in the back.
putting the frame up top is easy and perfectly fine to do. Be prepared to clean off the leading edge of bugs and stuff when you get to the river. I traveled from seattle to the John day river with the frame on top no problem. I did remove the angler seats but left the tower seat on since it has a lower profile.
the anchor system is great, i use a 25 tornado anchor which works pretty well.
I do like the carbon fiber oars mainly for breaking them down in storage or in the car. I never used the other oars so cant really comment on differences.
Ill track down the link to the pump and post it
Let me know if i missed any questions, answering on my phone …
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker Nope, that's it. thanks for answering them.
@@nandayadav3209 you bet! Enjoy getting out on the water!
Have tried the flycraft boats? Seems comparable and curious if you have experience with it.
I have ridden in a older stealth on a lake. My main issue was that it didn’t have self bailing floors and not rated above class ii. But i think they improved that with the 2.0. Would love to take both out side by side and see how they compare.
The NRS slipstream delux package comes with a two rod holder setup…check it out if you haven’t already. May be able to make something similar with pvc? Good review
Thanks! I actually got to try out two riversmith’s swiftcast rod holders on my last trip! They are nice (though pricey). Im editing the video now about the rod holders.
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker oh cool!! Yah I’ve seen those…as much as I like the setup that came with my slipstream 120, most of my fishing is with two handers on western Oregon steelhead rivers. And they won’t accommodate anything over 9.5 feet long. As mentioned, I got one of NRSs’ slipstream packages a month ago or so, and I have to say, it’s a pretty amazing product. These bruins you reviewed are pretty popular around here for size on small coastal rivers and lake fishing. Thanks again for your time.
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker subscribed…keep up the good work
@BrianPeters110 i was able to break my my 14’ spey rod in half and at least lay it in the holder, but gonna he hard for any small raft to accommodate a fully put together spey rod
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker yep…a little pipe insulation on the frame and at least I can break them down. There wouldn’t be much opportunity for casting from the raft with a Spey rod so breaking it down for drifting from hole to hole will be the routine.
Have you done a video on the pump?
Havent yet will get to that
I have an list with some of the accessories i am using you can check it out here, it has the pump in it: www.amazon.com/shop/theflyfishingfilmmaker/list/3PHTW5J4MWOI4?ref_=aipsflist_aipsftheflyfishingfilmmaker
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker thank you kindly, great channel
@@chrishartman6700 aww thanks!
Would it be possible to transport on a roof rack?
Yes i have done it. The wider the bars the better it rides. I wouldn’t want to travel highway with it up there on top of my minivan, but short carrys should be fine
@@TheFlyFishingFilmmaker thanks!