Waders & Boots

There are numerous types of invasive species and nuisances that currently threaten our freshwater streams.  These problems can be transmitted from one waterway to the next in the damp felt soles of anglers’ shoes, as wellas the linings of the shoes, breathable waders, fly lines and flies can also conceivably spread it — and, of course, so can birds and animals.

The most challenging is the Didymosphenia geminata, commonly referred to as "didymo", is a freshwater microscopic diatom. It is found in streams and rivers in much of North America. Didymo increasingly poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems because it forms extensive mats on stream beds. Didymo attaches to the streambed by a stalk. These stalks have a rough texture similar to wet wool and mimic strands of toilet paper, as opposed to other algal species which feel "slimy".  Often called the "Rock Snot" algae.

Newspapers in the New York have called the algae “fer­ocious” and raised the possibility of trout “annihilation.” Sen. Chuck Schumer even hiked to the water’s edge beneath the Five Arch Bridge in black topcoat and yellow necktie to announce he would ask for $20 million to fight invasive species.  It can now be found in the Esopus River, the East and the West Branch of the Delaware River, the Battenkill River in New York  But it can also be found in the  Clinch River and the South Holston Rivers in North Carolina as well as Virginia and several western states as well.

Trout Unlimited has asked that felt soled boots be phased out of production by 2011 and many manufacturere are working with Vibram and others to come up with sticky rubber soles that will provide the traction necessary for trout fishing, yet prevent the spread of these invasive species.

What can we do?

Remove all visible mud, plants, fish/animals -Before leaving any body of water, it is important to examine all your equipment, boats, trailers, clothing, boots, buckets etc . 

Do not release or put plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.

Eliminate water from all equipment before transporting anywhere -Much of the recreational equipment used in water contains many spots where water can collect and potentially harbor these aquatic hitchhikers.

Clean and dry anything that came in contact with the water:

* Wash your dog with water as warm as possible and brush its coat.

* Use hot (< 40° C or 104° F) or salt water to clean your equipment.

* The following recipes are recommended for cleaning hard-to-treat equipment that cannot be exposed to hot water:

* Dipping equipment into 100% vinegar for 20 minutes will kill harmful aquatic hitchhiker species.

* A 1 % table salt solution for 24 hours can replace the vinegar dip.

If Paul Harvey were still alive that is what he would say about our wader experiences.  When we went to Alaska, the neoprene waders were great, but in NC where the weather is mild, they are so uncomfortable.  The breathable lite weight waders that I bought last year were super lite and cool and I loved them.  Tha breathable membrane is a marvelous technology that hardly seems possible, but it really does work.  They breathe by letting the small vapor droplets wick out, while not letting the larger water drops penetrate.   However, my grandson borrowed them to fish in a huge North Carolina ravine and when he brought them back, they were shredded beyond repair.  (I am not sure; I may have put some of those leaks in them myself.)  The breathable waders simply do not hold up to the NC underbrush!

This year, we bought the refurbished Orvis Tailwaters XT waders at the Orvis Warehouse Sale in Charlotte, NC for $38 which is about 10 cents on the dollar.  I was not totally convinced they would provide a level of comfort while still being strong enough for North Carolina, but since I was getting less than one season out of a pair of waders, I decided to risk only $76 to try them out.  My son and I took them out Saturday to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and they were great.  As we crawled thru the underbrush to approach the wild trout, or as we slid down the ravines, they did not even get a scratch.  So, for the NC mountains, you might consider purchasing the Orvis Tailwaters XT waders from Orvis.

While surfing the web recently, I came across this picture on the Newbie blog.  This toe injury illustrates the importance of wearing the proper footware.  The owner of that magnificent toe was wearing sandles when that injury occured.  I have never used flip flops or sandles so I never had an injury like that.   However, when I first started to fish for trout, I used sneakers.  The problem with sneakers is with streams where there is a thin coating of algae, or slime, over the rocks, it makes them as slippery as ice.  Also, when the current is swift, you will not get enough traction to maintain control; and actually be carried downstream against your will.  So, I have had some nasty spills when wearing sneakers. A friend of mine, added carpet to the bottom of his sneakers, but that was not sucessful either.  The carpet was not that good at eliminating the slipping, and it also came off too soon. 

What I have learned is that the felt soles on wading shoes and a definite must for trout fishermen.  You should get the best wading shoes that you can afford and I suggest Simms or Orvis for the best and safest traction.