Showing posts with label OSG Clearwater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OSG Clearwater. Show all posts

Feb 18, 2025

BUYERS GUIDE to OUTCAST BOATS & PONTOONS:

My Outcast PAC 1000! Big enough to carry what I need on day or light overnight camp trips! Rivers or lakes, no problem. (photo: John Garrett)

Ever been fishing on a river or lake bank and just couldn't reach where you really wanted to fish?  Maybe you've driven along a river and see water that you just can't get to or have never fished and thought, man if I just had a boat I could fish that water.  Or you're at a beautiful lake and all the fisherman in their boats, pontoons or float tubes are crushing it.  I sure have.

Today, we have so many options to solve this problem, options to get you where you want to fish.  Outcast has you covered for just about anything. Let's go over those options...
 

"Outcast Stealth Pro - A Gorge Fly Shop Favorite for over a decade" - 2025!

2025 Outcast Stealth Pro
The highly anticipated 2025 Outcast Stealth Pro has arrived, now available in a sleek new color! Designed for serious anglers who demand durability, performance, and portability, this frameless fishing craft is built to tackle both still and moving waters with ease. Trusted Outcast quality, the Stealth Pro is a top choice for those who want to access hard-to-reach fishing spots without sacrificing stability or storage while still being nimble ready to stand and cast without your boat drifting off. Check it out now

Travis's OSG Clearwater loaded up and ready for a multi day trip on the Deschutes.
(photo: Travis Duddles)

NOTE:  When it comes to the boats listed here, one thing to consider are the bladders.  A boat with Urethane Bladders will cost more than a boat with Vinyl Bladders.  This is mainly because of their durability and life of the product.  This is not to say that Vinyl is not durable, it does provide adequate durability but over time it's just not as durable as Urethane.

The Clearwater was introduce in 2021 and it has been a customer favorite every since. This is the perfect boat for big water like the Deschutes River for instance.  I wouldn't be afraid to use this on smaller rivers either.  Because the Clearwater can handle longer/stronger oars (not that it needs them), this makes a great personal boat for river fishing.  I really like how the seat allows you to see while rowing, to me this is very important.  I like to see where I am going and avoid any hazards that come my way.

The Clearwater comes with Urethane bladders and has a generous load capacity of 450 pounds and weighing only about 35 pounds, making it easily transported.  Carry it deflated in your SUV or partially inflated in your truck bed, heck you can even strap it to the top of your car if you feel the need.  At 9'4", there's ample room (as seen in photo above) to store gear in the front and rear "trampoline" style cargo spaces. An added bonus is that it comes with a 5 year limited warranty.  It comes standard with 2 piece 7' oars, but stated earlier, it can accommodate longer/stronger oars if you choose.
The Clearwater, as you can see, there is a fair amount of room to carry what you need.
(photo: Outcast)

It has many features that make it even more functional and customizable.  You can put an anchor system in the rear if you'd like, you can add additional cargo pockets if you'd like, some folks have even put electric trolling motors for using in lakes where permitted to do so.  If you are taller, like me, you can adjust the foot rest.  It is just a practical, functional boat that adds enjoyment to your fishing day.
Review: "Outcast Clearwater" - After having the boat for several weeks on the lake and on whitewater class 2/3 it is a new favorite. At 35 pounds I can easily carry it from the van to the shore. The frameless system works well. There are also plenty of "D" rings if you wanted to add a frame. I was not sure how it would do in bigger whitewater but it is a blast. I am not fishing with it but it is easy to set up for fishing. - Margaret Arthur.

Recommended Accessories for the Clearwater:

Recommended Pumps for the Clearwater:

Quick Link to the OSG Clearwater: 


Cool thing about the OSG Commander is that you don't have to get out of it to fish.
Simply stand up and SEND IT! (photo: Outcast)

The Commander is a Kayak style boat that leads to easy transportation and packing.  The open area allows for fin kicking and oars for rowing.  This feature makes the Commander a versatile machine.  If I'm rowing a moderate sized river, I'll use the oars.  If I am fishing a local lake, I'll use both the oars and fins.  The Commander is more suited for day adventures, unless you are a true minimalist camper.
Top view of the Commander. A versatile kayak style boat sure to please!
(photo: Outcast)

At 10' long and 32 pounds, the Commander fits perfect in the back or your truck or easily deflated in the back seat of your car or SUV.  Standard oars are 5' 2-piece and store easily out of the way while casting to your prey.  The Commander comes with Urethane Bladders and a 5 year limited warranty also is an added attractive feature.
Review: "Should have bought this years ago." - I'm having so much fun in this craft now I can't imagine fishing life without it. I've wanted one for years but kept putting it off thinking it would just be a waste of money like half the fly rods I now store in my closet. My Commander is going to be to busy floating rivers to ever be in the closet but the fun part is if you need to store it, it will fit in a closet! - River Wright

Recommended Accessories for the Commander:

Recommended Pumps for the Commander:

Aerial view of the OSG Striker. (photo: Outcast)

If you like to fish with a buddy or family member, the Striker is the boat for you.  It doesn't need a trailer for transporting because it can fit in the back of your truck.  It takes minimal set us time and two people can carry it.  It only weighs about 102 pounds, and has a self bailing floor.  You have the option of adding a motor if fishing lakes or reservoirs.  It has 8 "D" rings for tying down anything you need to carry. Has a load capacity of 800 pounds and a 5 year limited warranty.
Outcast Frameless Motor Mount for the Stealth Pro and Striker boats. (photo: Outcast)

Something that's nice about an inflatable boat/raft is that when river conditions are low and clear and when a drift boat just isn't the best choice, the raft, pontoon type boats are a better choice. I have fished out of rafts in the upper Klickitat River where it was real boney (rocky) and low water conditions and the raft worked great.  I have a number of guide buddies that will use rafts in situations like this.  The Striker comes with Urethane Bladders.

Recommended Accessories for the OSG Striker:
Recommended Pumps for the OSG Striker:
Side view of the Drifter. (photo: Outcast)

A.K.A. the "Weekend Warrior" by the staff at Outcast.  Right off the bat, there are a couple things to know about this boat.
  1. It comes with an anchor system included, but DOES NOT include the anchor and rope.
  2. Oars are NOT included. Recommend 9' Oars.
  3. It ships DIRECT from Outcast to you.
  4. It comes with Urethane AIREcell bladders
What I like about this boat, is that it comes with a NRS 3 person fishing frame.  Rather than have the kids fighting over who gets to go, I just take them both!  Problem solved.  The self bail floor is always a great feature. You'll need some sort of trailer, I prefer a flat bed,  for transporting unless you start from scratch and set the boat up at the river. The load capacity for the Drifter 13 is about 1350 pounds! Load it us and be gone for the weekend exploring.

Your go to raft for fishing with friends or clients is the PAC 1300. (photo: Outcast)

The PAC 1300 has a slightly shorter and narrower build than the PAC 1400 making it perfect for navigating smaller, technical rivers.  The PAC 1300 comes with a 10 year limited warranty, which is amazing in my opinion!
  1. It comes with an anchor system included, but DOES NOT include the anchor and rope.
  2. Oars are NOT included. Recommend 9' Oars.
  3. It ships DIRECT from Outcast to you.
  4. It comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders
Recommended Accessories for the PAC 1300:
Recommended pumps for the PAC 1300:
PAC 1400 a guides favorite. (photo: Outcast)

If you make your living floating clients down a river, this may be the one for you and it's a guide favorite. The PAC 1400 is very spacious and comfortable, allowing you to accommodate two anglers with overnight gear and supplies. The PAC 1400 is a raft ready for big water!
  1. It comes with an anchor system included, but DOES NOT include the anchor and rope.
  2. Oars are NOT included. Recommend 9' Oars.
  3. It ships DIRECT from Outcast to you.
  4. It comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders
Recommended Accessories for the PAC 1400:
Recommended pumps for the PAC 1400

PONTOONS:

The OSG PAC 800 in action. (photo: Outcast)

This 8' pontoon, is nice and compact, easily fitting in the back of your truck and easy for one person to handle.  Weighing in at just 55 pounds, it's the perfect size for smaller more intimate rivers and will carry anything you need for a day trip or ultralight overnight camp trip.  Even being only 8' long it boast a load capacity of 300 pounds, this would be an ideal pontoon for young anglers or small to mid sized adults and their gear. Comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders for years of durability.

Top view of the PAC 800, as you can see there is a platform in the rear for some gear.
(photo: Outcast)

If you're a bigger youth or an adult, this may not be the pontoon for you.  I am 6'5" 225 pounds and have fished on a barrowed PAC 900 (9' version) before, but that's the smallest I would want to go personally.  When I bought my own pontoon, because of my size, I ended up going with the PAC 1000 (10' version) because of my size and the needed load capacity, it was a perfect match.
Review: "Amazing little boat" - "I have had this boat for almost 10 years now and it has yet to let me down. Very versatile and will handle some pretty decent whitewater. Perfect for small and medium sized rivers in the PNW and Midwest. I have used mine in lakes as well where it performed really well." - Ryan on 12/2/2015
Recommended Accessories for the OSG PAC 800:
Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 800:
The go just about anywhere OSG PAC 900 

Slightly larger than it's little brother the PAC 800, the PAC 900 comes in at 9', giving you a bit more stability but not really extra room onboard.  This is an excellent all around boat for any angler up to 300 pounds.  The load capacity for this gem is 400 pounds, which is pretty generous in my book. Even if the boat was tapped out at 400 pounds, it still is quite agile. I may sound like a broken record, but these pontoons are just the ticket for personal fishing.

The versatile and agile PAC 900 all you need for a personal float fishing experience!
(photo: Outcast)

What I like about the PAC 900 and PAC 1000 is that you can easily attach an electric trolling motor to the built in transom.  This makes fishing Stillwater a breeze.  If your fishing a lake and the wind kicks up, you know how difficult it can be to get back to your truck, an electric trolling motor is a welcome addition in this scenario. It comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders and Outcast really stands behind this product with a 10 year NO FAULT warranty, that's impressive!
Review: "Outcast PAC 900 = Perfect" - "I've used the PAC 900 for a couple of years and it has performed wonderfully. I have floated several rivers, locally and on the Oregon Coast, and I've fished a few of our local lakes and I've always felt safe and comfortable in it. I have even done a few overnight (light) camp trips as well. Plenty of room for all the gear I need. If you are looking for a personal, versatile outfit this is a great one. Highly Recommend!" - John G

If you plan on using the PAC 800, 900 or 1000 on Stillwater lakes, I highly recommend that you get a second anchor system.  I use the Scotty Anchor Lock system, but with a rail mount, and I mount it on the tube of the left foot rest.  This helps stabilize you and keep you in place if anchored while fishing Chironomids if the wind picks up.  Honestly I don't wait for the wind to pick up, if I am fishing Chironomids, I am double anchored in most cases.  A double anchoring system is a must in my book!  I simply add mine to the frame near my left foot bracket. It is the perfect place to easily raise and lower the second anchor when needed. 

Recommended Accessories for the OSG PAC 900:

Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 900:

The OSG PAC 1000 has plenty of space and a sweet load capacity of  500 pounds!
(photo: Outcast)

The PAC 1000 is Outcasts largest weight capacity for a single person pontoon boat.  If you want larger capacity you will need to jump up to the PAC 1200 or larger.  The 1000 is what I ended up with, when considering my size and how and where I like to fish.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far and have had zero issues with it.

Custom Rod Storage on my PAC 1000 (we do not carry this rod holder at Gorge Fly Shop)
(photo: John Garrett)

I even did a little custom rod holder on my oar tower, see photo below! This is a nice addition to the boat and I can carry a couple extra rods and keep the tips out of the way when not in use. The only problem with customizing your boat or pontoon, is that the more stuff you put on it, the more stuff for your fly line to get caught up on.  For me, it happens, but it happens rarely and I have learn to deal with it.  I like having extra rods for fishing situations and to me it is worth having a tangled up mess every once in awhile.  I am confident with the AIREcell Urethane Bladders that I will fish plenty of rivers and lakes for years to come.
Review: "Outcast Boats" - "5 years ago Travis (GFS Owner) recommended the Pac 1000 as the boat of choice for whitewater rivers due to the versatility and durability. 5 years later and my Pac 1000 still looks and performs like new and has never given me a problem...It's given me some great adventures and sure to see many more...My #1 pic..."  Greg Darling - GFS Team
Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 1000:

PAC 1200 - Perfect for two anglers with lots of room for all your gear. (photo: Outcast)

This is a very stable two person pontoon that is still light enough to make it easily transported. Coming in at 13' long and weighing in at about 144 pounds, two people can easily transport it to the water if necessary.  If you put it on a flatbed trailer even easier yet. It features enough space and load capacity for multi-day trips as well.  One thing I like about this boat is that the front frame module can be removed if fishing solo, or removing the seat for more equipment if needed.

Things to Note about the PAC 1200:
  • This item ships DIRECTLY from the manufacturer and due to the shipping cost, this boat does not qualify for any promotional discounts!
  • This item comes with AIREcell Urethane Bladders.
  • ALSO, this boat DOES NOT come with oar
Top View of the Outcast PAC 1200. (photo: Outcast)

This is a sweet boat that gives you a lot of versatility.  If you are a guide that takes single anglers out this would be a great boat for you.  Maybe you like to fish with a good buddy who also knows how to row, this is awesome, cause you can switch back and forth in sharing rowing responsibilities.

Recommended Accessories for the OSG PAC 1200:
Recommended Pumps for the OSG PAC 1200:
Front View of the Fish Cat Panther (photo: Outcast)

Right off the bat, the Fish Cat Panther has the highest carrying load capacity of any other Fish Cat pontoon boat at 400! The Panther features low profile 9' quad pontoons, which allow for the carrying capacity and it keeps you low to the water which is very helpful in breezy and windier conditions. 
Side View of the Fish Cat Panther - as you can see it is very low profile and low to the water.
(photo: Outcast)

 At 9' long and around 63 pounds the Panther is extremely transportable and equally at home on your local rivers or lakes. The Fish Cat Panther comes with Vinyl AIREcell bladder material and a 5 year warranty.  If you love to fish Stillwater and want something more that a float tube, this is the boat for you!

Recommended Accessories for the Fish Cat Panther:
Recommended Pumps for the Fish Cat Panther:
Top View of the Fish Cat Streamer XL-IR, just add water. (photo: Outcast)

At 8' X 54" the Fish Cat Streamer XL-IR is a compact pontoon, the smallest in the Fish Cat family, yet it can carry a load for an overnight adventure.  Equally comfortable on both rivers and lakes.  It comes with AIREcell Vinyl bladders and a steel, quality tested frame, for holding up to the demands of a lot of fishing.  This compact gem has a 300 pound load capacity and comes with a 5 year limited warranty!

Things to Note about the Fish Cat Streamer XL-IR:
  • Ships DIRECTLY from the manufacturer
  • Due to shipping cost this item does not qualify for promotional discounts
  • It comes with 6' 2 piece oars.
Side View - Compact, yet sturdy with enough room for an overnighter!
(photo: Outcast)

Recommended Accessories for the Fish Cat Panther:
Recommended Pumps for the Fish Cat Panther:

Parting Shot:
Spring's right around the corner and if you've wanted to invest in a floating devise whether it's a raft, pontoon or even a float tube, give Outcast products a good hard look.  You can visit our website at: www.gorgeflyshop.com.  They make what will fit your style and need for fishing.
My PAC 1000 fits perfectly in the back of my truck, making it easy for me to access almost any water source river or lake. (photo John Garrett)

Thanks for reading, I know that this is a long article, and that's because there are so many choices.  If you have any questions about any of the Outcast products, please don't hesitate to give us a call here at the Gorge Fly Shop at 541-386-6977 or you can shoot us an email at: info@gorgeflyshop.com and we'll do our best to give you answers.

FINAL NOTE:  Of all the accessories that you could ever put on any boat, you absolutely NEED to have a life jacket, and some sort of First Aid Kit onboard.  I think too many folks take both of these items for granted.  I can't tell you that I've needed a First Aid Kit every time I've gone out, but I can tell you that I've had to use it enough times that I am glad I always have one onboard.  Even if it's just for a headache.  Knock on wood, I have never personally been in a situation that a life jacket has saved my life, BUT, there is peace in knowing that I have one on if ever needed!  Don't play around with these two items.  In the case of the life jacket, your life is worth more than the risk of not having it and actually wearing it.

While having fun, be safe out there...

John G.
Gorge Fly Shop Team

https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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Jun 19, 2024

Attention Outcast Clearwater Owners - New OSG Expandable Boat Bag

One of the many great features of Outcast OSG Frameless boats such as the Stealth Pro, Commander and Clearwater is that they can easily be packed up for travel in planes, trains, and automobiles. 

While the original OSG Frameless Boat Bag is perfect for Stealth Pro and Commander Boats it was a hard squeeze to fit a Clearwater. Solution is here; New OSG Expandable Boat Bag fills the need. 

https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977


"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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Sep 26, 2022

Boats / Float Tubes - Get Yours NOW for Spring


I know here at the shop we’re constantly thinking about our next fishing adventure and subsequently getting things together long before we know we’ll need them. This wasn’t always the case but with supply chain shortages becoming the norm in fly fishing as well as other areas of our lives it’s time to start planning accordingly. So if you’re dreaming about kicking around your favorite lake in a float tube this spring, or planning day trips on local rivers NOW is the time to buy while we have BOATS IN STOCK! 

Why is ordering ahead important? Well, if you’ve tried to get a boat or float tube in the last year or two you may have encountered a few roadblocks. Containers sitting on ships for months just waiting to get unloaded, certain materials not available, or just that production can’t keep up with demand. This isn’t limited to just boats. 

I know I’ve said it over 100 times, along with all of my co-workers, “Unfortunately ______ item is out of stock and I’m not sure when we’ll see it come in, fingers crossed it’s sometime soon.” I’m sure to say it again this coming year for everything from reels, to boots, boats, and saltwater gear in general but WE HAVE STOCK NOW and are ready to ship. 

If you know you’ll be in the market for something that floats in the future it would be a good idea to get it on order while supplies last. We worked hard and planned ahead to have solid inventory coming into 2023 and currently have more boats in stock than ever before but with inventory changing quickly it’s best to not miss your chance to own one today. Give us a call and let us know what you’re looking for, we’d be happy to get you set up.

Amber


https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977


"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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Sep 12, 2022

Outcast OSG Stealth Pro Inflatable - Benefits of Frameless Boats

On a chilly morning... 

Two anglers prepare to launch on a "do it yourself" trout float trip. The open cockpit, inflatable design of the OSG Stealth Pro makes this float as enjoyable as it is successful with benefits that go farther than the eye can see. 

I've been float fishing in my Stealth Pro for over 10 years. My first one, the old orange trimmed model pictured behind the newer green trimmed model, is still going strong with no signs of giving up anytime soon. The green boat is going on about 5 years of use and is as good as the day it was new. 

My buddy with the old frame pontoon now sports a new Fish Cat Scout. Took him about an hour to figure out our frameless design boats had worthy advantages over his old school frame design.


My Stealth Pro's have been on big rivers like the Columbia and streams smaller than the John Day. It has floated dead of winter with icicles hanging from it and floated warmwater streams in the sweltering heat of summer. They have performed countless day trips as well as many overnight floats, packed full of gear. 

The obvious:

Floating a river in your own personal watercraft provides an element that goes beyond walk / wade / drift trips. Becoming part of the rivers current gives a feeling of life in motion. Life, in a setting of serenity takes a fly fishing experience to new levels not found in wade or guide boat settings. 

Access:

Become familiar with a river by floating and you will soon realize new water that is not being fished or fished very little. You'll learn to read the currents and soon realize you are a better angler because you learned to read the currents. The wade angler is restricted in how far he can go and how accessible parts of the river are. Floating a river can open up new opportunities even when you encounter crowds. You'll soon find yourself fishing water that has been previously inaccessible.

Due to the open front design some will argue you get wetter as opposed to a wrap around style boat. This may be true and also part of the fun. If you want to stay dry go through rapids sideways. 

Lightweight:

At a dry weight of 35 lb Stealth Pro is easy to pick up and carry around obstacles or to and from launch sites. Portages and shallow water are no problem to navigate in Stealth Pro. If water becomes too shallow to float over just stand up, pick up the frameless boat from the foot rest bar and walk yourself to deeper water. 

Stable and Rugged:

I have purposely not been gentle with my Stealth's. I have dragged them across rocks and down river paths. I've dragged them across river bars and even lowered one over a 20' waterfall by rope from the rear D-ring while it was loaded with gear. Push, pull, drag or carry, whatever the situation calls for Stealth Pro will tackle it. 

All this and the most stable river boat I've experienced. Stealth Pro never feels tippy. You can lean as far as you can to one side and never be concerned of tipping. You would fall overboard long before this boat would flip. In all my experience I've never seen one flipped over and have never felt like I was ever close to being ejected. 

Lowered by rope with gear strapped in. I was curious in this setting if the Stealth Pro would right itself from total vertical drop. Both boats came down right side up. This adventure was a 3 day float on the Devil's River, TX

Gear:

The Stealth Pro packs a good amount of gear. With room for more than one rod, unlimited flies and your lunch you can go farther and search more water. With creative packing you can plan to overnight and be on the water at first light and still have enough room for your all important, morning coffee dope kit. 

Stealth:

Stealth Pro really spells it out in the first word "Stealth". An angler can move along quietly in shallow water without hardly even putting off a wake. You sit low in a stealth helping one stay out of site from cautious trout. In stillwater situations you can fin kick a stealth. 

Seams to be a lot of internet chatter about sitting low versus sitting high. Many want to sit high and stay dry. A great boat for this is the OSG Clearwater. 

Stealth Pro sits low, very low and this sets up a big advantage for some anglers in particular those who fin kick. Other advantages of being low are stealth, low center of gravity, and using your feet as a shallow water anchor. 

Yes, you might get some splash in rapids but I'm always in waders and if the rapids will allow it you can turn your Stealth sideways and avoid the splash through the open front. 

I can't find a way to stress enough here that the big advantage of a Stealth Pro Frameless boat is this ability to shallow water anchor with your feet. This feature alone has opened up a boat load of opportunity for my fishing adventures. 

Stealth Pro is more than just transportation. Stealth Pro is a fishing system that can open up new water and new opportunities that adds versatility in your approach to coldwater trout as well as warmwater smallmouth.  

The BIG Benefit:

What most don't see in an open cockpit inflatable frameless pontoon is the ability to put your feet down. One feature I've come to love about this design is the ability to sit in shallow water with feet on river bottom. Who needs an anchor!

On shorelines and gravel bars one can put their feet down and just stop. Hold yourself in place while you fish out to the holding water. If you need to stand to make a cast than just stand up. The Stealth Pro will stay between your legs and can't get away from you. When you fished the spot just sit down and float on! Sometimes I just walk with my feet while sitting down just to move along 10-20 feet and start casting again. Great way to cover water. 

Want to fish a spot again? With the power of oars on this lightweight inflatable one can go back up stream pretty easy even in moderate currents. 

I hesitate to even try and spell this out to fellow anglers. It has become one of my greatest Stealth Pro secrets that I have remained discreet about for years. It is one of the biggest advantages I have realized in the 10+ years of floating in this frameless inflatable. I have fished from kayaks and framed pontoons / rafts and none of them compete with the Stealth because they all lack this open cockpit feature. I didn't know this would be such an advantage when I first floated in my Stealth, now I can't live without it. 

This feature has changed the way I approach a day of float fishing and has changed the way I view a river. I now look for those areas that others just ignore or are inaccessible on foot.

So while your read all the internet blogs about the 5 best frameless inflatable boats to buy keep an eye out for this feature to pop up. It won't! Few recognize this advantage and those few that do, if they are like me, have kept this feature tucked quietly under their rod wraps. 

In the modern day when it seems like there are no secrets remaining to discover, look outside your fly rods and fly reels and fifty thousand flies you've collected and think about how you approach fishy water. Are you Stealth-y? I am!


https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977


"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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Jun 20, 2022

Outcast Clearwater Tested by Travis on the Deschutes


I have been patiently waiting for the last year and a half, but I finally got my new Outcast Clearwater boat. The Clearwater is a hot item right now and is very hard to get. The Clearwater is just under 10 feet in length and is only 35 lbs, but has 450 lb capacity. This is all achieved without giving up durability or performance. It has the same urethane bladder system that made the rest of the Outcast boats famous for lasting a long time. Best of all this boat was designed to use real 7' pontoon boat oars, not the light duty oars that normally come with frameless boats. 

We just got enough boats to fill all of our customers' orders and have some extras in inventory. So I grabbed one for me and planned a couple day float on the Deschutes River to test out the boat. 

I decided it would be best to put the boat together at home in my shop to install some of the extras I bought for it. I unboxed the boat and inflated it. Then added a cargo pocket to one side, rod holder to the other and an anchor lock to the rear. At first glance it looks like it has lots of cargo space. 

I then started to load the boat to see where I would put everything once I hit the river. I easily fit a mid sized cooler in front of the foot rest bar. My Fishpond boat bag mounted in front of that. In the back I easily fit two dry bags, chair and a backpack. You could load a lot more gear in the back, but you have to keep the anchor lock accessible. The other nice thing with the Clearwater is it has lots of D-rings and loops to tie gear down. This makes packing for overnight trips much easier. 


After it was loaded I wanted to figure out how to stow some extra rods rigged and ready to go. I had some strips of stick on velcro that looked like it would do the trick. I stuck a strip about ten inches long in the front and back of the boat on the left side. 

I then loaded the boat in the back of my truck and to the river I went. The river was running high and off color, but did not care. I needed a break. Besides I know that the off color water makes for great streamer fishing. There would also be very few anglers fishing in these conditions. 

Once I got to the river I quickly loaded my boat and pushed off. I was pleased with how nimble the Clearwater felt with such a load on it. Having a small boat like this balanced with the weight evenly distributed front to rear is very important. Keeping the boat balanced helps with stability and control. 

The float that I picked had several small rapids testing the Clearwaters control and stability. I hit the first small rapid and the Clearwater handled it with ease. Having real 7’ oars really makes this boat easier to row. I was hesitant on how the oar stands/lock would work without a frame like my PAC1000 pontoon boat. They worked great and stayed very stable. 

Stopping at several spots to fish the Clearwater would slide through very shallow water with little effort. The anchor lock held the boat well and operated a lot easier than I expected. I quickly realized that with the open floor raft design of the Clearwater it is much easier to get in and out in shoal water. I was wearing studs in my boots so I did not want to step on the seat or side of the raft which would make getting in and out easier. 

I spent the rest of the trip floating and stopping to fish at every good spot I could find. I spent a lot of time looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the Clearwater compared to a framed pontoon. The biggest advantage of the Clearwater is that it only weighs 35 lbs and packs up much smaller than my pontoon. This makes the Clearwater much better for packing in my RV with limited space. A pontoon boat would be a little easier to get in and out of. The Clearwater seat is low enough that you could use flippers in a lake for more control while fishing, this is tough to do in a pontoon. 

My final thoughts are that the Clearwater is an excellent choice for such a light and compact package. Especially if you travel a lot with your boat, the Clearwater would be much easier to check on an airline. I would not say it will replace my PAC1000, but since it is more packable I will probably use it more. 

Oh yeah, this was not a fishing story, but I thought I would mention fishing was really good!
Trav
 


https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977


"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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Jun 7, 2022

Outcast OSG Clearwater - IN STOCK

Update: We just got News a bunch of OSG Clearwater's In Stock. Order Here
New for 2021, the OSG Clearwater is ready for big water and lots of gear. 

 Using the open oarlock system, perfected on some of our multi-person rafts, it can accommodate longer/stronger oars for conditions when you need to put more oomph into your stroke. 

 The Clearwater has a trampoline style cargo space in front and back for securing lots of gear. It has a 450lbs load capacity but weighs in at just under 35lbs. 

The high-back seat rests on inflatable thwart so the rower has great visibility and making it great for longer days on the water and even short expedition trips. 

 Bonus, no trailer is needed and will fit in the bed of pick-up or can be car-topped for easy transport to your next fishing spot.

Specs:
  • Length 9' 4"
  • Width 54"
  • Weight 35 lbs
  • Tube Diameter 16"
  • Valve Type Summit II
  • Base Fabric Denier 1000
  • Material Weight, Oz. per Sq. Yard 20 oz.
  • AIREcell Material Urethane
  • Number of Chambers 3
  • Load Capacity 450 lbs
  • Warranty OSG 5 Year Limited Warranty
  • Frameless Oars 7' 2-piece
  • Color Gray
Buy Now

https://www.gorgeflyshop.com/store/pc/Sale-Closeouts-c38.htm

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977


"Fly Fish the World with Us"

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