Felt Sole Ban

[Outside Bend]

Don't say I didn't warn you about them being worthless on flat mud surfaces though.

X2.

Mud is bad. Icy mud even worse. And even in felt soles those situations are tough- I can remember winters where I'd climb out of the river and my felts would ice up- ice on ice makes for a fun time.

The only place in MO I've been in real trouble with rubber soles is on the boat ramps/landings on the lower Current River. The one's I'm thinking of are made out of what looks like concrete blocks- basically the stuff you build retaining walls with around the house. Slickest thing I've ever encountered. But if I can't walk on a couple 20 foot sections of stream bank out of the 120+ mile long ONSR...I'm alright with that

[eric1978]

Have you worn a pair with rubber made from the technology of the current decade yet, Eric?

Yeah, I have. I have some Chacos with the Vibram soles that I used to wet wade with. Just about broke my back on the Bourbeuse in them. They were retired when our friend with the pigtails gave me those felt-soled Simms sandals...which are the shnizz.

[flyrodman]

I agree and the biggest problem is making a felt to rubber comparison. Korker,for one, has boots with interchangeable soles. Cleats for wading and rubber for hiking should outperform felt.

The Korkers boots are great but the un-cleated soles are NOT-SAFE for moss covered bowling balls. Sorry for stating the obvious but sticky rubber gave me a false sense of security when wading slick rocks

[Wayne SW/MO]

The Korkers boots are great but the un-cleated soles are NOT-SAFE for moss covered bowling balls. Sorry for stating the obvious but sticky rubber gave me a false sense of security when wading slick rocks

I was thinking more that they be helpful in vehicles, plastic boats and tile floors. The cleats are for moss.

[skiburd]

Has anyone treated their boots as recomended by MDC and then used them? I'm curious as to how they perform after treatment.

[Njardar]

So we're all going to be sporting new boots this season and the season opener could look like a Keystone Cops movie. Rubber soles by themselves aren't an option, it seems like cleats are going to be required, but which ones? Simms has two types of star cleats and a set of studs, so which is right for Ozark rivers, or doesn't it make a difference? Any one have experience with what works?

Charlie

[Wayne SW/MO]

Cleats are a real pain out of the stream. I would suggest either strap ons or boots that have interchangeable soles. Don't forget that the good wading soles by their nature don't last, so there is some sound economics behind replaceable soles.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

skiburd - I am gonna do a pair I just picked up... we should do them at the same time together and see who's boots turn out to either last longer with the treatment or what.

by the way, I also got those closeout Cabelas boots and man, screwing the free Chota STL studs was a total pain!

[Snow Fly]

I have the Simms star cleats in an old pair of Simms rubber sole boots and have waded numerous times on tailwaters of the Norfork and NF of White and I'm more than satisfied in their performance......Since these were old boots I placed the cleats based on the wear pattern of sole. My only concern is how long the cleats will last at $39+.

I have worn these types of boots for quit a few years...started out in the LL Bean Stealth Sole when they first came out and loved them.....First time I ever wore felt was in Cody Wy. and slipped going up a steep angle dry flat slab rock, fell over backward and nearly broke my leg and did break my rod wish was a very special rod to me. Good thing my buddy was able to help or I would still be laid out on the same rock 4 years later.

I know Outside Bend and know for a fact he has waded and worked in areas of the country where everyone thinks you can't survive without felt.....and he is not just wade fishing but working/wading in the water for considerable distances.

As Gavin would say..........Cheers

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Snow - I too had the LLBean Aqua Stealth boots.. I really liked them.. but they didnt fit on me after 4-5 trips and I just couldn't get them to fit right anymore. They said order same size for those.. .. well not for me.

I also know what you mean about slipping out from underneath you on incredibly slick rocks.. only my backwards fall was in Arkansas at Rim on the White. I had to throw my rod in the water and turn and jump for the water as I was falling out from underneath myself backwards. It was awful. The bruises were worse.

Thankfully my rod reel setup survived with nary a scratch.