Felt Soles For Your Soul

[Chief Grey Bear]

We all know felt sole are not the best option available for those of us that wade. Personally I refuse to where them and won't fish with someone that does. Sims annouced clear back in 2008 they would stop producing them. I think that was a great step forward helping stop the spread of not only Didymo but, possibly other foreign invasive species and disease that can and will cause harm to our waters and the aquatic life within.

I hope that Missouri will follow in the footsteps of some other states and ban them. Which really if those that use them would care enough about the environment as much as they claim, they wouldn't use them in the first place. I don't and never have or will. If you slip and fall, you were wading too fast anyway. That is my thoughts on felt in a nut shell, what say you?

[FishinCricket]

Personally I refuse to where them and won't fish with someone that does.

lol, geeeez, what a snob...

I thought felt was for pool tables...

[fishinwrench]

You buying into all that "felt is bad" propaganda, chief ?

Let's take a look at who benefits with a banning of felt.

Emergency rooms, boot manufacturers, MDC and local LE (just one more nit-picky thing to issue a summons for), ect, ect. but there are NO benefits to anglers or the environment in the banning of Felt soles. Are they also going to ban boot laces and the padding in the ankles of boots ? Will wading in jeans, or wet wading with socks on be outlawed now ?

What about silk flylines, landing nets...and all the other spore harbouring materials fishermen use ?

Nothing keeps your butt from bleeding all over the rocks like felt. And Vibram (who's ever bright idea that was) has got to be among the worst compounds in the universe to have between your feet and wet rocks.

Arkansas has had Didymo for 10 years or so, and it was probably that little Welshman that brought it over with him If guys wading boots are what is spreading it around all over the place then we should already have it 7 years ago, no ?

Waterfowl will spread it quicker than boots will.

[Wheatenheimer]

I don't know if I agree with this philosophy. How many germs can a 12inch by 3inch piece of sponge really carry? Would it be enough to contaminate a waterway? I don't think so. I think we are taking it to the extreme.

Chief, I love you Man! I totally enjoy fishing with you. You are one of the coolest guys I know. And granted, I've always known that you are passionate about what you believe in......but I think you might have gone "around the bend" on this one. I mean, come on! Felt soles! What is next? Neoprene waders? They hold just as much bacteria as a felt sole!

Give me a break!

[Danoinark]

I'll not give up my felt soles until they pry my cold dead feet from them boots!

Dano

[Chief Grey Bear]

If guys wading boots are what is spreading it around all over the place then we should already have it 7 years ago, no ?

Waterfowl will spread it quicker than boots will.

You are right. It should have been ban 7 years ago. Why wait until it is too late?

Waterfowl?? Really?? Did you stop to think for a second before you typed that??? Waterfowl have been migrating all across North America for thousands of years and yet rock snot is not wide spread.

I don't know if I agree with this philosophy. How many germs can a 12inch by 3inch piece of sponge really carry? Would it be enough to contaminate a waterway? I don't think so. I think we are taking it to the extreme.

Give me a break!

I feel like I am responding to John Stossel.

I think you would be very surprised how much a "sponge"can carry. In fact the dirtiest germ carrying bactieria breeding ground hotel you have in your kitchen is your sponge. And you're spreading it everywhere your sponge comes into contact with.

You ask would it cotaminate a waterway? Not as a whole in the begining but, all something needs is a start. Cancer starts with just one cell. Why take a chance??? If they were properly cleaned and sterilized before venturing into another waterway, we wouldn't have the problems we are experiencing with the spead.

If fisherman want to lead the way in pounding the "conservation drum" like we always saying, and causing the least damage to the environment like we are always saying, then it would not be very easy to at the very least show your support for the very outdoors you enjoy by boycotting the use of felt.

[Danoinark]

In all seriousness its not just waders that cause spread of this crud, your boat, canoe, pontoons and other fishing and recreation equipment also cause the problems. I found this info in my files. Just a little time spent cleaning helps.

CLEAN -- There are several ways to kill didymo. Choose the most practical treatment for your situation which will not adversely affect your gear.

* Detergent -- soak or spray all surfaces for at least one minute in 5% dishwashing detergent or (2 cups (16 oz.) or 500mls with water added to make 2.5 gal. or 10 litres); OR

* Bleach -- soak or spray all surfaces for at least one minute in 2% household bleach (1 cup (8 oz.) or 200mls with water added to make 3 gal. or 10 litres); OR

* Hot water -- soak for at least one minute in very hot water kept above 140° F (60° C) (hotter than most tap water) or for at least 20 minutes in hot water kept above 113° F (45° C) (uncomfortable to touch).

Absorbent items -- require longer soaking times to allow thorough saturation. For example, felt-soled waders require:

* Hot water -- soak for at least 40 minutes in hot water kept above 113° F (45° C) ; OR

* Hot water plus detergent -- soak for 30 minutes in hot water kept above 113° F (45° C) containing 5% dishwashing detergent; OR

* Freezing any item until solid will also kill didymo.

DRY -- Drying will kill didymo, but slightly moist didymo can survive for months. To ensure didymo cells are dead by drying, the item must be completely dry to the touch, inside and out, then left dry for at least another 48 hours before use. If cleaning or drying is not practical, restrict equipment to a single waterway.

NOTE: The thicker and denser the material, the better it will be at holding moisture (and live cells), the slower it will be to dry out and the more difficult it will be to soak completely with cleaning solutions.

When cleaning equipment, we recommend that you

* soak porous materials for longer than the specified times to ensure saturation with cleaning solution

* choose a decontamination solution that will not adversely affect your equipment

* follow manufacturer’s safety instructions when using products

* dispose of cleaning waste well away from waterways

For Boats

* Inspect every inch of your boat, trailer, and equipment – the hull, drive unit, trim plates, props, anchor, centerboards, paddles, wheels, hitch, chassis, etc. – and remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud from the boat, trailer and equipment before leaving any body of water;

* Drain any and all water from your boat and equipment on land before leaving the area;

* Do the following when away from direct drainage areas to lakes or rivers:

-- Dump any leftover bait on land, especially if the live aquatic bait has been in contact with potentially infested waters;

-- Disinfect live wells and bait wells, bilges, cooling systems, hulls, and decks with a 1:9 solution of household bleach and water allowing at least 10 minutes contact time. Rinse well to remove all residual chlorine. An easy recipe is a half gallon of bleach into a 5 gallon bucket then fill with water (or a quart of bleach to a half bucket).

* Rinse your boat after use, preferably with hot water. If hot water is not available use tap water and then allow at least five days to become completely dry before entering a new water body.

* Do not transport any LIVE FISH, BAIT, OTHER CRITTERS, PLANTS, OR WATER from one body of water to another.

[eric1978]

Anyone who still wears felt is a backwoods, toothless hoosier with a spinning rod and a jar of Powerbait.

[FishinCricket]

Anyone who still wears felt is a backwoods, toothless hoosier with a spinning rod and a jar of Powerbait.

spinning rod+powerbait=Bank fishing

Ignernt city slicker..

[Terry Beeson]

Do you guys know what makes the sticky rubber soles sticky? Walnut shells... So... Wearing these soles helps the environment by recycling walnut shells... (Don't believe me... Just take a magnifying glass to the soles and see the little brown specks...)

I've not completely bought in to the rubber sole vs. felt debate. There are too many other factors that contribute to the spread.

Instead of focusing on how to stop the spread, I think the industry should focus on how to KILL Didymo in an environmentally safe way. There MUST be some organism that will eat that stuff...

Oh... and it wasn't the Welsh hillbilly that brought it here... It is the main ingredient in Power Bait...