Felt Bottomed Wading Boots

Fishing A Learning Experience, Pass it On.
1


Felt wading boots are absolutely worthless in southwestern wisconsin.

I owned one pair of them about 16 years ago. Felt was trendy because the “real”

trout anglers from outwest wear them so i was feeling the peer pressure and purchased

my “felt” bottomed boots.

Wisconsin early season is lots of snow and lots of frozen banks to get up and down.

Before long my boots looked like 2 big clumps of snow. They were new so I was

giving them a real look at to make an informed decision on an opinion.

I was getting tired of walking like “Herman Munster” and decided to go down a bank

to walk in the stream to get the snow and ice build up off my boots.

I started down a sheer bank and the next thing you know I was skiing down it.

I made it all the way to the bottom without falling. I was so proud of myself.

There I stood in the water and I noticed I was tangled up in some old barb wire and

I had a small hole in my new waders above the right knee. I fished a short time

and my wader filled up with water.

I took my waders off to check my right leg for leaks. My right bootie of my waders

was filled with water. Upon closer inspection it was NOT water it was blood.

My skiing trip down the bank and hitting the fence in full flight caused a huge

cut above my right knee that required 13 sutures to close. I threw away the piece

of crap felt boots at the clinic in the dumpster after one use.

I now use ONLY lugged soled wading boots and my favorites are Cabelas Back Countries.

2

Studded felt soles?

3

Len, I just received a new pair of Simms Guide Boots with the Vibram soles. This will be my first try of rubber soles and fishing boots, but I have high hopes and expectations. Thanks for the timely article as it sounds like many manufacturers are getting away from felt, as well as some states starting to regulate the use of felt-soled boots due to problems with water-born hitch-hikers that could potentially damage the fishery.

Kelly.

4

studded work a little better when snow goes away but many of my banks I walk up and down the felt and studded felt are worthless.

I go with lugged soles ONLY now.

5

Len -

Even ( most of ) us western guys know not to combine felt with snow and ice. Glad it was you skiing on them and not me !!

Having said that, one of the worst falls I’ve taken was while wearing rubber soled boots ( not studded ) crossing some snow covered ice. Landed on my back directly on something in my backpack and broke a rib. That was not at all laughable, especially for the first six or seven weeks after the fall !!

John

6

Two words, guys - wading staff.

kelly.

7

that staff would have been used as a ski pole.

I still would have hurt myself.

I have a knack for that.

8

Len, welcome to my world…:rolleyes: P.S.: my staff is a ski pole:wink:

I’m glad it didn’t turn out worse for you, but it sounds like it was definitely bad enough. Most of the recent ‘accidents’ in my life seem to have occured while fishing. That being said, I’m glad they occured while fishing, which means I was out and about.

Kelly.

9

And here studs and lugs are almost worthless. Too many rocks to skid off.

So, why hasn’t anyone come up with a lugged felt sole?

10

Never could stand hiking poles used by others when hiking with me ( their noise pretty much ruined my experience ), and really don’t want to be bogged down with a wading staff while fishing. No sense of false security, either - wade carefully where you know its safe to wade, and play it close to the vest at all times. Getting wet, and getting hurt, are part of the game.

John

11

I fail to see the “fun” or the “logic” behind that? Its like playing with the dog and having a water hose… Sure your gonna get wet…but I dont expect a broken legs out of the experience?

12

Ever try lace overs? Korkers?

I go through a pair of these a year fishing the boulder fields and jetties of the shore. They stick through and grab the slimiest rocks.

I just slip them over my rubber soled wading boots when I get to the water.

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13

Give the Vibrams a shot. I am very glad that I went with them as my first boot purchase. They have been very stable for me in my local freestone rivers. Also the Madison and Soda butte were very stable, even with the Madison’s covered rocks.

I haven’t worn them in snow yet, but I’ve hiked through mud with them and they didn’t load up on me at all.

Paul

14

If they worked in the Madison, they should work anywhere. 'bout broke my “tucas” there.

15

Tucas…?..tucas…? Isnt that the LITTLE bone at the top of the wrist?..:lol:

16

Not an option for me. I use a staff or stay out of the water, and I mean “any” water. I have used my rod, thrust parallel into the water, to maintain balance at times in the past, but I’ve become too ustable on my feet to rely on that trick. The soles on the boots don’t make much difference. Playing it “close to the vest” still applies, even with the staff. As for getting wet and dinged up being part of the game, I like to tilt the odds in my favor as much as possible.

17

It’s common knowledge that you can not wear felt bottomed boots in the snow!!

18

Yeah…but you CAN go bare footed!!..:lol:

19

prior to 16 years ago I wet waded or didn’t go in water in cold weather. I have decided they are worthless in spring and summer here. Wrong kind of banks and bottom.

20

My hunting waders have lug soles, and wading in the river with them here is scaaaaaaary. Snow, sand, mud, no problem, but rocks are a different matter. With felts I can walk where I wish on these rocks without any slippage or loss of balance. With rubber soles of any kind I have tried, I might as well be on ball bearings. There are some waters in the west I would not, for ANY amount of money, wear rubber soled boots in. Yellowstone, Pit, San Juan…

And no, I don’t use a wading staff, and it wouldn’t help enough to matter anyway. Tried em, did not like em, grab a stick when I need one and toss it on the bank for the next guy.