Create account or

Wading Boots

You may be aware that felt soled wading boots have been banned by Fish & Game for use on NZ trout waters from October this year. Here is some info on the alternatives!!!
(More info on ban)

Rubber Soles, with studs

Firstly you must remember no sole is perfect on all surfaces, they all slip on something, whether it’s felt, rubber or studs. I have had some great slips with my felts on grass and mud banks.

Before buying new boots ask the question, what sort of wading do you do most of the time? What is the bottom like? Do you have lots of gravel, or rocks with a lot of the green heavy algae or that super slick papa?

Grippy rubber soles have been around for a few years, plain rubber Aqua Stealths (AS) were sadly wanting on algae-coated rocks, the addition of studs helped this greatly (as it did for felts on grass.

The wading itself?

It’s a mix, Aquastealth has equal grip to felt on a lot of gravel and on in-stream rocks with little or no slime, they are a lot better on grass and mud etc.
On rounded, slimed covered rocks they are… well, let’s say they have 75% the grip of studded felts.

The next thing to consider seriously is what sort of wader are you? Do you slip and slide a lot, take a lot of spills, or do you have great natural coordination and feel, For the former categories I’d look for a boot with the widest AS platform and perhaps recommend a wading staff.

The latter can get away with almost any boot even plain rubber and still stay upright.
Most of us fall somewhere between the two. and need some help to stay upright so if we can't use felts studded rubber soles are the best option.

Studs

Good studs make a great difference on papa rocks and algae, but you need ones that last as our hard NZ rocks wear them out quite quick and rounded worn studs do bugger all to help.

I have used both the cheap ones and the good ones, don’t waist your money buy the quality ones, Simms hard bite studs are great and will outlast the cheap ones 3 x, so will cost less in the long term.

Wading Stick

A lot of NZ fisherman think a wading stick is a bit sissy, I have started to use one a lot in my competition fishing to get to the places others don't try to go. Its great, lots of extra satiability, it has stopped me going for a swim on numerous occasions so i use all the time now in bigger rivers.

There are quite a few brands out there but get one that works and is stong enough not to colapse when you need it the most.
I use the Simms wading staff as it is strong and folds up easy.
Get one and use it, you will not be sorry.

Wading Belt

A must wear if you are wading in bigger or fast rivers, it will stop your waders filling up with water if (when!) you go for a swim. Wear one it might just save your life on day.

Didymo

EVERY river fly fisher should be aware of the ability of didymo spores to be transported in felt soled wading boots, and if you doubt angler’s participation in the spread of didymo look up maps showing the spread of didymo across the US and Alaska. Didymo is always more prevalent on the heaviest accessed waters.

So get in behind this and change your boots, but remember they still need to be cleaned and dried