Felt Soled Waders Banned In Mo Trout Waters!

[moguy1973]

That is wonderful that they posted it on facebook, but that is not generally how a state agency should get out information to people. Not everyone uses facebook with regularity, myself included.

Looks like I can wait a bit on the new wading boots though, which is good...I was gonna be a little upset if I had to spend 80 bucks on a new pair before this weekend. Not that I thought that was really a possibility, but one likes to know for sure.

They really didn't post it officially on facebook, it was an answer to a question someone posted up about the felt ban as to when this goes into effect. Jim said he thought it was posted on the website, but he said somewhere along the lines it was deleted when the statements were posted...

[laker67]

It indicates a certain level of ignorance about the issue.

Well I guess I just have to live with my ignorance. You go have yourself a real fine trout fishing trip.

[jdmidwest]

I guess we could start trout fishing naked.

A friend brought up a good point today, how much research has really went into the matter anyway. It is a fairly new issue, one discovered in the past few years. Has anyone actually determined how it arrived into the White River system? I am sure DNA mapping could narrow it down to where it came from. Who is to say it has not laid dormant in a stream sediment for a long time and was resurrected from a flood?

I don't have a problem stopping a problem before it gets out of hand, but I want to see a little more research on the matter. If everyone is so certain that it is the felt soles, why haven't all states banned them immediately?

Trout fisheries have had to deal with lots of problems in the past. Whirling disease, copepods, various viral attacks, and others. But the solution has never been to ban a method or piece of equipment to prevent the spread. Zebra mussels have spread everywhere, but nobody banned boats because boats were not the only way they were carried from one place to another.

What torques me is the fact that I own several nice pair of felt sole boots and have never been out more than $50. I went online last night looking for new ones that would meet the spec and perform like felt, most of them are in the 100 to 200 dollar range, and most were out of stock. First of all, I am frugal. Second of all, I have never seen a boot that is soaked in water all day, dried out, then soaked again repeatedly ever hold up more than a few seasons. I have had better life out of cheaper pairs than I have out of the nicer ones. I really have a hard time justifying the expensive pairs. And all of them had cleats of some sort, which I hate. They make too much noise, they are hard on boats and floors.

[Bruegy]

I also wonder if wildlife could spread it. What about a blue heron wading around then flys to another stream. Could that spread it? if so we may end up with it no matter what we do.

[Outside Bend]

I also wonder if wildlife could spread it. What about a blue heron wading around then flys to another stream. Could that spread it? if so we may end up with it no matter what we do.

Yes, just like emerald ash borers could be spread by tornadoes or hurricanes, and just how zebra mussels could be spread by floods. That doesn't absolve sportsmen from being stewards of the resources they claim to care so dearly for.

[DaddyO]

And in light of all of this conversation, it's interesting that the new wading boots from Orvis for this season are Felt Soled. Did anybody catch that?

[Outside Bend]

I guess we could start trout fishing naked.

It's been addressed, see above post.

A friend brought up a good point today, how much research has really went into the matter anyway. It is a fairly new issue, one discovered in the past few years.

It's been an issue for nearly two decades, and a quick search on google scholar reveals more than 2500 documents on invasive didymo algae. .

Has anyone actually determined how it arrived into the White River system? I am sure DNA mapping could narrow it down to where it came from. Who is to say it has not laid dormant in a stream sediment for a long time and was resurrected from a flood?

Studies in New Zealand show the didymo there came from western North America. And given that the White was was a warmwater system prior to being dammed, and thousands of miles outside the native range of didymo, it's astonishingly unlikely the diatom was ever historically present.

I don't have a problem stopping a problem before it gets out of hand, but I want to see a little more research on the matter. If everyone is so certain that it is the felt soles, why haven't all states banned them immediately?

Because (and hold your breath for this one, folks...) there's a lot of public outcry when felt bans are proposed. When you're a state agency who's funding is derived from happy anglers, be it by license sales or by legislative appropriation, you don't bite the hand that feeds you. It's not a scientific decision, it's a political one.

Zebra mussels have spread everywhere, but nobody banned boats because boats were not the only way they were carried from one place to another.

Uh...our very own MDC has banned boats from impoundments like Blind Pony, in order to prevent zebra mussels and other aquatic critters from being spread into their hatchery operations.

I really have a hard time justifying the expensive pairs.

Personal responsibility and stewardship of our fisheries isn't enough? You genuinely believe the state should have to shell out millions in hatchery renovations, disinfectant equipment, well drilling, and associated upkeep and employment costs because you don't feel like shelling out an extra $50 for wading boots?

[3wt]

I don't think this is a big mystery, and it's perfectly reasonable to assume that felt soles are a terrific way to move this stuff around.

Like I said, I don't like buying new boots - and If MDC is going to announce this for next season, they'd better get into action like two months ago. There are a lot of guys that won't think about trout fishing from now until next season. If they had made the decision in the heart of trout season, or at the beginning of the prior season, the word would be out to essentially all fisherman, and we would have already complained and had time to find a good deal on new boots.

At this point they need to get vendors of liscences to pass the news along at the point of all sales and put up lots of signage. I'm sure the trout park concessionaires and independant fly shops at the parks are going to make a killing on boots next year.

[Idylwilde]

This makes for some intresting reading MDC Should read

[troutfiend1985]

And in light of all of this conversation, it's interesting that the new wading boots from Orvis for this season are Felt Soled. Did anybody catch that?

It was my understanding that Simms at one point canceled their felt boots line with some respect to didymo, only to reintroduce the very same line this year. Granted, Simms isn't MDC and the point is not the most relevant, but maybe it has something to do with Missouri being one of only four states banning felt. And you guys are right that I'm jumping the gun with criticism, and for that I am sorry. But trust me, while statutes with fuzzy words are good for lawyers, I as a citizen hate them. And this statute could really be a nice one to have simple and straight.