[birdman]

Do you recommend wearing studded felt wading boots over felt alone? Do you only gain additional traction when wading over mossy rocks or can you tell a difference on all terrain? Birthday money is burning a hole in my pocket and I need new wading boots.

[phisherman23]

When deciding what type of wading boot to go with, I'd ask yourself a few questions about the type of fisherman you are and the types of terrain you intend to treck on while fishing and (maybe more importantly) while getting to your fishing spot.

If you only plan to fish within 100 yards or so of your vehicle, and the water you're fishing in is pretty mild, I'd say a basic felt sole is plenty sufficient.

For better grip on slick surfaces or in swift currents, I think investing in a pair of studded felt soles will be worthwhile. Just like a pair of studded snows, you'll have more traction on a slick, wet terrain.

The last option to consider is a rubber sole with studs. This type of sole is best (in my opinion) for the fisherman who intends to hike in to a more secluded fishing hole (1-5 miles). A felt sole would wear away pretty quickly when hiking on dry land for extended periods, and doesn't offer nearly as much traction on dry rocks, sand, or even snow/ice as a rubber sole would.

Just a thought, Birdman - I'd gladly accept some of that birthday money to invest in some new boots for myself so I can give you a personalized review...

[birdman]

HA HA Mr. funny man!! I think I can provide my own review . Good point on the hike in terrain, but generally if I'm going to be hiking that far to fish, i'm going to have a pack with me. Could probably just as easy tie boots to pack I guess. I thought the studded soles sounded good in early season before runoff starts as the moss hasnt' been blown off yet. Once runoff slows, there probably isn't much need for studs since rocks are cleaned off. I'll let you know what I order.