According to the article–March 21, 2011
Article here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41692545/ns/us_news-environment/?gt1=43001
George
Welcome to the Club!!!
Having only a rudimentary knowledge of rock snot, what about other means of spreading it, canoes, yaks, etc.? Are felt soles the only culprit in this fight? I am alway skeptical of one answer to an issue like this. You know how old men are.
Not “may”; the ban goes in to effect March 21:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/news/story.asp?story_id=120
Uncle Jesse, no felt soles aren’t the only way they’re spread. They can latch on to boot laces, gravel guards, bird feet, lots of ways; felt soles are pretty easy to remove from the equation, at little cost (except to anglers). An example of “low hanging fruit”.
Regards,
Scott
Sound more like an easy target that will make it look like the state is doing something, while accomplishing little and it will not create much of a backlash from the small number of wading fishermen wearing felt soles. Besides, everyone know flyfishing is a rich man’s sport.
I agree. I think it is a knee jerk reaction to make it look like something is being done. Putting restrictions on fishermen is cheap and easy but rarely accomplishes anything.
I also agree.
Local newspaper(Cumberland times) has has a few letters to the editor in the outdoors section the last couple of weeks since the people found out about the ban. Lots of anglers threatening to buy WV and PA fishing licenses and fish there instead of MD. Some people are saying that there are going to be more broken legs, ankles, concusions, etc since you can’t wear felt soles. I haven’t heard yet what the fine will be for wearing felt.
Rodney
I just bought a good deal at Cabela’s. Waist high breathable waders with stocking feet. Add the felt sole wading boots with 28 screw in cleats, and at a reduced price, and I’m happy. I’m looking forward to using the pair with anxious anticipation. I know that the felt soles will be outlawed soon, but I figure I can strip the felt off when I need to, and add maybe Korkers Lugged Soles for a lesser price. I plan on bleaching and rinsing my felts every time I use them. So please don’t blame me for spreading kooties. Seems too sad to me that we have to go to these extreme lengths, but I’ll do what I have to do.
ScottP,
The site does say “proposed”, and there’s still a comment period through Feb. 28th. Don’t give up yet! I can be an optimist - when I have to!
Best regards, Dave S.
Felt soles are just the easiest target, which is normally the case. When a group wants to ban something, it’s usually the one with the least impact, and hits our pockets in the end. Harder to tell somebody they can’t use their canoe somewhere, then to tell them to buy a new pair of boots.
I’ve been using clorox on my felt soles each time I come back. Is this an effective precaution, or just a “feel good” step? It probably won’t matter for long if PA takes up the idea of the ban as well, but for now I prefer felt if I can use it safely.
Bleach is effective but it isn’t just the felt that is the problem, it is just the thing that is getting the most attention. Any porous part of a wading shoe AND the waders themselves can act as a vector for Didymo so the reality is you should really soak everything. I can’t say how well your felt shoes or waders will tolerate repeated bleaching but I can tell you this much: if you can afford it, owning more than one wading set-up and having one clean & COMPLETELY dry set available when you move to different watersheds will do more good than all the bleach & rubber bottoms in the world and will probably save you money in the long run.
The less popular thing to do is avoid known Didymo infected streams if you can or designate one wading setup for those places and JUST those places. Fortunately in PA it is just the West Branch of the Delaware and upper main-stem that have been reported as infected for the time being and hopefully forever!
I’m lucky, I don’t live in Maryland, I don’t fish there or plan to fish anywhere Didymo lives so for the time being, I’m wearing felt! 
Just found out about it? It’s been almost a year since it was announced, and DNR has been seeking public input on it ever since. The proposal was made at the request of anglers. The “a lot more broken legs” is BS. I switched over to studded rubber several years ago and have never felt safer wading.
I agree about the broken leg BS, I have a pair of studded vibrum soles and I have no problem wading anyhwere I have been. “I” have known about the possible ban on felt since they first starting talking last year, however, alot of people around this area rely on the local paper for information regarding meetings, proposals, etc made by the DNR, and unless our outdoor page editor deems it important, it doesn’t make the paper. I know people should take it upon themselves to get the information straight from the DNR but then again, if they do that, then they will have nothing to complain about.