Carbide Studs Or Not

[Eagle Claw]

Need a new pair of wading shoes and was wondering what the opinion is on felt with studs or without. I currently have studded felt and feel they give the best traction but I know they cause noise. So the decision comes down to stealth or safety. What are the opinions out there ?

 

[babyblue]

I've used carbides for as long as I can remember. I don't think it has caused me to spook fish. I like the feeling of getting good footing when it is needed.

 

[Mayfly]

Two seasons ago my felt soles woreout and I had to replace them. I purchased the replacement soles, put holes in them, placed small flathead bolts (I think they were 1/2 inch) into the holes from above with a washer and secured them with nuts. The nuts and excess bolt point down into the ground. Then I applied one of the 'crazy glues' into the threads of each nut and into the adjacent felt. I then glued the sole to the boots. I've used these for the 2 seasons, plus so far this year, and they've held up better than I would have expected. The bolts and nuts were just regular machine grade steel. Just food for thought.

Allan

 

[afishinado]

I bought a pair of studded wading boots a while back. I couldn't get over the loud scraping sounds I made walking over the rocks streamside, and the sounds are multiplied when walking in the water. Since I spend so much time trying to approach the fish quietly, I just couldn’t sleep at night thinking about using them. I just I gave them away. That’s just me, I have no evidence that they hurt your fishing, and I’m sure that there will be a bunch of guys that use them without a problem.

One suggestion may be to use studs in bigger water, where they would be most useful, and use felts or Aquastealth soles for smaller waters where you wade close to fish and they are more sensitive to sounds.

 

[Eagle Claw]

Well, I am not sure either however, seems like 20 years ago I caught more fish using just felt, now I use studded. It might be the hatches just are as not good in Catskill streams as they once were and there is more fishing pressure.
I was using a wading staff last year and my fishing buddy told me he heard the tapping from the time I stepped into the stream and he was 150 feet away.
Just makes me wonder about the noise between a staff and studs combined.

 

[C&R]

I just bought a pair of studded Chotas this past winter and absolutely love them. They slip on/off so easily and the screws are easily removed for getting in a driftboat. Just keep a cordless Dewalt, a hex-to-1/4" ratchet bit and a 1/4" socket handy.

 

[Andy]

I slipped and sat down in 12" of water early this month. At the time I was wearing my felt sole Chotas with their studs. Evidently, the flat head studs didn't grip the algae-covered rocks for a secure foothold. I want to replace the studs and wonder what brand other members have found to grip and wear the best?

 

[lightenup]

I use Korker redsides...felt soles, I tried the studs, but the noise kept me thinking the fish would spook, especially in the fall and winter around here with the low slow water, so I stuck with just felt and have no issues.........the Korkers are great as you can change soles, try studded, if you are spooking fish, just switch 'em out...

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I slipped and sat down in 12" of water early this month. At the time I was wearing my felt sole Chotas with their studs. Evidently, the flat head studs didn't grip the algae-covered rocks for a secure foothold. I want to replace the studs and wonder what brand other members have found to grip and wear the best?

Chota also sells a carbide stud that are pointed, and they will last 3X longer than the regular studs that come with any pair of Chotas. If you own Simms boots, they make carbide clusters that also work great.