Sweetstreams,

You're going to love living on the NU. After living in Glide for 35 years, I moved away a year and a half ago and I really miss that river.

The sandals vs. studded boots is a matter of personal preference. Both will work well on the slippery rocks of the NU. The advantage of sandals is that you can take them off if you don't need them (hiking to the spot you're going to fish, being in a driftboat and not worrying about marring the finish). You can also use them with new boots when you replace your old ones which saves some $$$. The disadvantages are the additional weight-- almost like wearing two pairs of boots-- and the fact that the sandals with studs alone (no felt or aquastealth) can be very slippery on some surfaces, i.e. dry rocks with a slope to them. The studs alone act like little ice skates.

Hope you enjoy your new home.

Dean