What the best wading shoe on the market today?

[tomfly]

My Simms wading shoes that I love have requested that be placed into retirement. I knew that they had become tired when fishing the Salmon River in Malone this past year. I needed to do some road side repair. The sole on the right shoe had become unattached from the front of the shoe. I used some thick monofilament and my leatherman that has an awl attachment. So I poked holes in the through the shoe and stitched the sole back on. The mono wore through the first day. So I went to plan B. I drove over to the general store in the town I was staying in and bought some screws and preceded to screw the sole back on. But I look like a ghetto rigged red neck using shoes with screws sticking out of the side of my shoes.

I have been looking for a sound replacement for felt for over a year. Until now I have not found a suitable alternate for the performance to the stability that felt has cornered the market on for decades. All the manufactures claim that their enviro-sole is comparable to felt until you read the reviews and how many anglers are doing the slimy rock 2 step. Another thing that I did not like about the so called high performance rubber soles that many of the manufactures “suggest” installing metal cleats in addition to their suction cup rubber soles. What that tells me is their sole sucks and you need to rely on the cleats or crampons. Not a true out of the box alternative. Corkers were supposed to be the great alternative to felt until you read the reviews on them falling apart in the stream. So I have been hesitant to change from felt. I have bad knees from high school sports. I can not afford to be dancing in the stream.


My quest for a definitive substitute for felt has finely come to an end. Every blog, test and product review point to one wading shoe. Patagonia has achieved the supposable impossible and produced an out of the box wading shoe that out performs felt without the environmental side effects attributed with felt. So I ordered them yesterday. I will let you know if all that I have read is true.

Patagonia Rock Grip Wading Boots - Aluminum Bar for Fly Fishing

 

[FIN-ITE 34]

I'd like to know how they walk on wet snow. Let me know if the snow freezes and builds up in clumps on the bars that make it impossible to walk.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Stick with felts. TU and other scientists will be announcing shortly that the change to rubber soles will not stop invasives like Didymo, whirling disease, etc. It was a painful lesson to learn - leaving felt for rubber (even with cleats). I'll be switching back the next time I need boots and most likely to Simms. Let us know about the Patagonias, but I've not heard great things there either.

 

[GARYB]

I got the Chotas this year with felt and like them so far

 

[CTobias]

Stick with felts. TU and other scientists will be announcing shortly that the change to rubber soles will not stop invasives like Didymo, whirling disease, etc.

Ahh! What do they know?!?! It's not like they went to school for this stuff.

Felt is banned here. Also, felt does really suck in the winter when walking through snow.

 

[LyNcH]

Good luck with the Patagonia bar soles and let us know how they are. I have always been a fan of Korkers and currently have the Chrome and KGB boots. I would avoid the Metalheads as the stitching and material is not durable. Korkers replaced mine (with Chromes, $30 upgrade), a guide buddies, and in the process of swapping another buddies right now. I bought a pair of the Alumitrax sole for them and found the bars to be very good on some streams, and deadly on others. They work well where the rocks are softer (SR, West Canada, Battenkill), but are a death trap and harder granite type rocks like on the Ausable as well as smooth shelf rock in current. I've concluded that I wasted money on the aluminum bar soles and will only wear them when floating my pontoon boat. I am sticking with studded felt and the studded rubber with interchangeable carbide tips.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Studded felts are the best traction $$ can buy. Brands are personal preference. The problem with the steel bars is they have nothing to prevent you from sliding sideways, but are good "north to south". Rubber sucks and it doesn't matter who makes it. I've tried them all and still have rubber (currently a new pair of Chotas) and these are my last pair. I'll go back to felt with studs by spring or whenever I need to order my new Simms waders and get their boots at the same time.

 

[Trout Nazi]

Stick with felts. TU and other scientists will be announcing shortly that the change to rubber soles will not stop invasives like Didymo, whirling disease, etc. It was a painful lesson to learn - leaving felt for rubber (even with cleats). I'll be switching back the next time I need boots and most likely to Simms. Let us know about the Patagonias, but I've not heard great things there either.

Holy shit, it just how long for people to pull their heads out of their asses and realize this? The bullshit science and theory behind this felt thing reminds me of another widely popular "theory".

Oh, and exactly how much has the fishing degraded up on the D since Didymo came to town?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Holy shit, it just how long for people to pull their heads out of their asses and realize this? The bullshit science and theory behind this felt thing reminds me of another widely popular "theory".

Oh, and exactly how much has the fishing degraded up on the D since Didymo came to town?

The upper D is fine so far. But entire rivers in New Zealand are now unfishable due to Didymo. There is no blanket answer.

 

[Trout Nazi]

The upper D is fine so far. But entire rivers in New Zealand are now unfishable due to Didymo. There is no blanket answer.

I know a guy that guides there, and another that used to, this is not exactly 100% correct either.

 

[tomfly]

As I have stated in the past is my cousin is a state biologist and an avid fly fisherman. He has stated they have not found a river stream or creek that does not have Didymosphenia geminate in their waters. It is a native species in North America. We all know that it thrives in low nutrient river systems. So what is causing some streams to have large blooms The main studies on why the blooms have been so substantial has been based on water ecology (Nitrites, Phosphates, Ammonia levels) But now some have researchers abandoned the stream ecology research and have started to focus on Ozone depletion allowing more ultraviolet light to penetrate the atmosphere. Another study focused on increased solar output both studies, he said It could be the clue to what is causing the blooms. Most of the researchers that he had talked to said that the evidence is compelling that in the late 70s that they first discovered that the ozone layer was becoming diminished and in the mid 80s the large Didymo blooms began to appear, and that do not believe that this is just a coincidence.

 

[Trout Nazi]

But I thought that UV radiation was short wave, and was more likely to bounce off of reflective surfaces like water rather then penetrate deeply. Also, how do you explane an increase in didymo on shaded streams?

 

[lightenup]

As I have stated in the past is my cousin is a state biologist and an avid fly fisherman. He has stated they have not found a river stream or creek that does not have Didymosphenia geminate in their waters. It is a native species in North America. We all know that it thrives in low nutrient river systems. So what is causing some streams to have large blooms The main studies on why the blooms have been so substantial has been based on water ecology (Nitrites, Phosphates, Ammonia levels) But now some have researchers abandoned the stream ecology research and have started to focus on Ozone depletion allowing more ultraviolet light to penetrate the atmosphere. Another study focused on increased solar output both studies, he said It could be the clue to what is causing the blooms. Most of the researchers that he had talked to said that the evidence is compelling that in the late 70s that they first discovered that the ozone layer was becoming diminished and in the mid 80s the large Didymo blooms began to appear, and that do not believe that this is just a coincidence.

It is all AL Gore's fault............

 

[CTobias]

It is all AL Gore's fault............

I believe it!! He's a dirty liberal.

 

[CTobias]

But I thought that UV radiation was short wave, and was more likely to bounce off of reflective surfaces like water rather then penetrate deeply. Also, how do you explane an increase in didymo on shaded streams?

These are Ron Jeremy UV waves. They penetrate deep.

 

[Lonewolve]

Tom,
IMHO the Weinbrenner/Borger studded felt boots were the best made! Also you have a stitched sole boot you can always find a cobbler or shoe repair place an get a Korker's Studded Felt replacement kit an have them repaired. My buddies have done this with older Simms Freestoner and Weinbrenner/Borger boots when the soles had worn off. Currently I have been wearing a pair of Simms Rivershed with the vibram bottoms an a set of Hardbite Star cleats screwed in. When I put the cleats on I used my regular everyday work boots as a guide as to where to place the cleats. If theres wear on certain areas that is where you put the star cleats. BTW I don't slip anymore than when I wear My old Weinbrenner boots. As to the comment on studded boots being slippery on granite.. I do a bit of Jetty Jocking and wear same said pair of Weinbrenner boots an when the granite is dry yes you slip but if it is wet or covered in slime I stick to the rock just fine.

The aluminum cleats are also very good but not as durable, Patagonia Aluminum clad rubber bottom boots have been getting great reviews as have their Korker styled add on soles. I love felt with studs, I also love the riversheds...but hands down whether you are at work or on the stream Stiched sole boots are the best.

 

[tomfly]

But I thought that UV radiation was short wave, and was more likely to bounce off of reflective surfaces like water rather then penetrate deeply. Also, how do you explane an increase in didymo on shaded streams?

I was just conveying what I was told. At least they are trying to establish what is causing the blooms.

From what I remember from High school biology, some UV light is required by plants to breakdown compounds produced by photosynthesis. I had a large saltwater tank when I was growing up. The tank required a light that produced the same spectrum as sun light. (expensive Actinic bulb) The light also provided UV radiation I think it was UV-A 400nm part of the spectrum. From what I remember the green algae that grew with the coral needed a certain amount of UV light. The green algae kept the unwanted gasses dissolved in the tank in check. The UV also inhibited the growth of brown algae. Brown algae produced unwanted gasses into the water. Some UV light must make it through the water column at least for reefs to remain healthy. I do not know what percentage of UV light is actually needed for plants. I do know a few guys in my class grew weed and swore by UV light. I do know the excessive amounts will kill some plants. I think (just speculation) that the researchers are trying to determine if Didymo thrives with UV like weed does

 

[golden beetle]

I was just conveying what I was told. At least they are trying to establish what is causing the blooms.

From what I remember from High school biology, some UV light is required by plants to breakdown compounds produced by photosynthesis. I had a large saltwater tank when I was growing up. The tank required a light that produced the same spectrum as sun light. (expensive Actinic bulb) The light also provided UV radiation I think it was UV-A 400nm part of the spectrum. From what I remember the green algae that grew with the coral needed a certain amount of UV light. The green algae kept the unwanted gasses dissolved in the tank in check. The UV also inhibited the growth of brown algae. Brown algae produced unwanted gasses into the water. Some UV light must make it through the water column at least for reefs to remain healthy. I do not know what percentage of UV light is actually needed for plants. I do know a few guys in my class grew weed and swore by UV light. I do know the excessive amounts will kill some plants. I think (just speculation) that the researchers are trying to determine if Didymo thrives with UV like weed does

Tom, how are things?

You still out there fishing?

 

[tomfly]

Tom, how are things?

You still out there fishing?

I have not been out since the beginning of summer. Dan and I are planning to get out next Sunday. I just completed a big project at work. I was working crazy hours. Hopefully I will have some free time now. How have you been? (PM me). Are you going to the show in November? I am attempting to tie a fly for the competition. I don’t know how it is going to come out. Or if I have the time to have it completed by the third week of this month. I have attempting to make it for the past 20 years and have failed every time. At least one crack at it every year. I have been attempting to produce a realistic Crayfish. When Oliver’s Orvis shop in Clinton was still in business. He had one on display that was amazing. I do not know who tie it, but it was masterful. My technique is getting better each time. There are so many aspects of a Crayfish to try to imitate. To make it more difficult I am refraining from using Plastics, Foam and any synthetics. I think the Crayfish is probably the most difficult aquatic organism to duplicate. (just using fur and feathers) There is a lot going on in a small package. I can create the head and claws fairly close. I am still baffled on how attach the 8 legs. Trying to mimic the tail and underbelly is just mind blogging. Some day I will get because I am a stubborn SOB

 

[BrownChickenBrownTrout]

Short wave=higher energy. UV is 40% higher in energy, and thus penetrates that much father.

 

[dcabarle]

These SIMMS wading boots are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn.


Guide Boot Felt - Footwear - SHOP

A little pricey but worth every penny (for me at least).

When it gets warm out, I wear a pair of Under Armor Slides.



As long as the flow isn't crazy, they stay on my feet and contrary to the name, they don't slide while walking over rocks in the river.