Caddis belly boats.
Caddis is the fly-fisher’s default under $300. The tubes are simple U-boats with a decent chair, a Boston valve, and the plastic-buckle strap the Caddis fin uses. We fished the two current Caddis boats over 22 combined sessions on Green Mountain stillwaters and a shoulder-season week on the Yellowstone tailwater. Verdict: buy the Navigator; skip the Nevada if you weigh over 200 pounds.
Fished for 22 sessions on Green Mountain & Yellowstone tailwaterThe two boats in the current line
Caddis Nevada
Entry U-boat at $189. 250 pound capacity on paper; 220 pounds real. Two Boston valves, single chest pocket, plastic D-rings.
Verdict: The right first boat if you weigh under 200 pounds and fish sheltered water.
Honest shortcoming: The seat back sags on any angler over 200 pounds inside two hours. The chair fit gets uncomfortable and the kick loses power.
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Caddis Navigator
H-boat design at $269. 400 pound capacity, tracks straighter, has real stripping-apron webbing and four D-rings.
Verdict: The Caddis worth buying. Best fly-fisher’s belly boat under $300.
Honest shortcoming: The valve caps are tethered on thin plastic that snaps in the first freezing dawn. Swap them for silicone caps from the parts bin.
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Who buys Caddis
- First-boat anglers. The Nevada under $200 gets you fishing this season.
- Fly-fisher weekend regulars. The Navigator apron is real, not a marketing photo.
- Not: anglers over 220 pounds. Buy the Classic Accessories Cumberland instead.