Dr. Bob,
I note that you say nothing in your post about either cost or portability issues. These are usually deciding concerns for many fly anglers. Given an open budget and ability to move it around, your options are many and varied.
But the seminal information you seem to want was:
“any other such floating vessel that fits the need of a fly fisherman. So I would like to know what fits your needs and what model and key features you find important.”
In cold water I want to be dry and comfortable. On small lakes or ponds, I want the ability to carry my gear, comfort items like food and drink, and maybe a friend to fish with. I don’t wnat to have to row or kick a craft any distance. I want reasonable stability. I’d prefer to dress for the weather, not for the craft.
For the vast majority of my fishing that involves floating on the water, that means a boat. I use a 15 foot aluminum jon boat that I’ve had for thirty years. It has bass type pedestal seats, carpeted decks, some minimal storage, a small gas engine as well as an electric positioning motor, good anchors and quality electronics. It lives on a trailer and can be launched from the lake shore or boat ramp in about two minutes, ready to fish. You can stand up in it to cast, but I seldom do so as the seats are high and comfortable. Since the boat moves, if I need to cast farther I can just move closer.
One nice thing about such a rig, if you keep the gear in it, except for the rods and such you’d add just before fishing, you can launch it, step into it, and be fishing really quickly. No assembly, inflatiing, puttting on waders and fins, etc… Loads just as fast, which is nice if the weather turns or you just want to go get lunch or make a quick trip to the facilities. And, you can pull it onto the shore whenever you want without damage.
For areas where you can’t get such a boat to the water, and it is too heavy to carry, I have an inflatable 8’ pontoon. Takes longer to get ready and launch, but it’s a stable craft for smaller waters and slow streams where there isn’t launching access for a small trailer. Fits, assembled and ready to launch, in the back of my pickup. Only room for one, though, and I can only reasonable carry one extra rod as well. I can either row it about or use an electric motor on it.
You can buy ‘ready to fish’ boat packages at lots of places, including Cabela’s and Bass Pro. Almost any boat retailer will have small aluminum jon or row boats that make ideal fly fishing platforms. Some can be cartopped or carried in the back of a truck. A trialer is easier, though, if you can get it to the water.
I like the two rig approach, always trying to use the trailered boat where possible but willing to settle for the inflatible rather than not fish.
I’ve always felt, though, that having some kind of floatable fishing platform is better than having none. You can always adapt it to your needs.
Buddy