I have never owned a pair of wading boots so this question may sound a bit dumb.

Because of my bad knees I no longer wade out more than a foot deep or so from shore. So I don't plan to actually use them in the water just for bank fishing where there are lots of large rounded rocks. I slipped last year on some wet boulders while fishing.
Will felt soles help me here or do I need cleats as well. If walking besides a stream do felt soles work better on rocky ground when they have been wetted or do they work better dry?
Three reviews of wading boots I read in Cabellas website state that cleats can make walking on bare rocks more slippery. One fellow stated that you should take out several of the cleats and just go with a very few to help with traction on rocks.

Do I even need wading boots? Is there a Boot sole out there that would be better for walking on wet rocks than a cleated felt sole wading boot.

I did go out and buy a walking stick to help my balance and it sure has helped.

See I told you it was a dumb question.