Over the years, I’ve rowed plenty of friends’ boats on day excursions and various multi-day trips, so it was a treat to take NRS’ Approach 120 raft for several spins this summer. One of my favorite places to be is rowing a raft, for as long as possible. Go ahead, you can fish, let’s float to the ocean. Take-outs are the worst place in the world if you ask me.

We had a ton of fun getting to know the Approach on local bass missions, some bigger anadromous fish rivers, and Washington state’s premier trout stream, the Yakima (as seen in the video above). For over 50 years, NRS has been producing gear for boaters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, and they’ve learned a few things. Their team of designers and boaters built the Approach for those that want a light, customizable and very portable boat and freedom from a few of those typical break-out-another-thousand-dollars problems.

Above: The NRS Approach taking a break and looking good in its preferred environment, loaded up with all the gear for a day on the water.

The Approach 120 is a capable two-person raft, very maneuverable, with plenty of storage and options. Since it comes as a package, you’re free from having to shop for and make decisions on accessories that typically don’t come with a raft. NRS has done the hard work for you. Our set-up came equipped with frame, seats, two dry boxes, rod holders, anchor system, motor mount and a lean bar for the angler. Pick your oars (despite it being a package, oar and anchor choice are left up to you), load it up and you’re set. I don’t know if I’d consider it a whitewater raft, and with my limited experience I would hesitate to launch on a section of river with bigger drops and heavier rapids. I’m sure it could fare well enough in the hands of someone versed in that sort of environment, but NRS makes plenty of other boats for the whitewater enthusiast, you’ll just have to hem and haw over all of the other accessories to go with it.

Above: The NRS approach fits nicely in the bed of a standard pickup, no trailer needed.

A great thing about the Approach, and a main draw, is that it doesn’t require a trailer. It can be shuttled in the back of a truck. Or on top of it. You may not even need an actual launch, as it’s narrow and light enough for two people to load/unload and move around, allowing for improvised put-ins on smaller water, or different length floats to beat the crowds or time restraints. With the tubes slightly deflated, it slid easily into various standard-sized Toyota pickup beds. Tie it down with a few straps and a red visibility flag for safety and compliance, and the highway miles fly by. You’ll forget there’s a raft in the back.

Above: Some of the well-designed details of the NRS Approach, fly rod holders, the modular frame system and rugged PVC construction will provide many good days for the memory bank.

The frame is smartly built around and incorporates two dry boxes and seats, which are easily adjustable. Loosen a couple bolts, and both seats/dry boxes, a foot bar and oar towers can slide along the frame’s track system, allowing anyone to easily dial in comfortable rowing and fishing positions—handy when switching rowers during a day on the water. You know the saying: if you don’t row you don’t go. While the Approach 120 is a narrow, smaller boat, between the stern and the dry boxes there is plenty of room for a day cooler, backpacks and all the other odds and ends anglers like to have in a boat. There are also the typical D-rings to lash straps to if you’re bringing the kitchen sink, or inclined to do a light-weight overnight type trip.

The rod holders are configured into the frame, and can be accessed from both directions so each person aboard can swap a rod in or out, depending on the way they’ve been stowed. Alongside each seat is a nice foam-lined tray, perfect for those items you want at a moments’ notice. Many nice details like these are found throughout the boat, but I wish the oar towers had a bit more flexibility in how they’re positioned. Aside from fore/aft adjustability, they’re locked in at the angle and height they come. The drop stitch floor was stable and comfortable to stand on, and it wasn’t slippery with the hard, sea-deck type foam on top.

Above: Bridget Moran and Copi Vojta on the Yakima river, enjoying the comforts of the Approach and the fishing.

Simply put, I would be pretty happy to actually own this thing and not have to deal with a trailer.

Click here for NRS Approach 120 specifications, options, pricing and more.