I thought that I would
share my opinions on footwear, for fishing from a boat. To find the optimal
fishing shoes, you should consider a few things. First is that a boat is often
a wet environment and you need either a shoe that will dry quickly or is
waterproof. Next it should provide sure footing in this perpetually wet world.
Finally they should be comfortable and fit your feet properly.
I know of several guides
and anglers that wear their waders, when fishing from a boat. I can make a lot
of sense to do that especially when it is raining, when they can function as an
effective pair, of rain pants. However, on a hot, sunny day they would be way
too warm for comfort. When using waders in a boat, make sure that your wading
boots are not studded as they tend to slip and do not provide sure footing. It
would be like wearing roller skates. Most guides will not let you enter their
boat, in studded boots, to prevent damage to the floor, of their boat.
I have noted that
several of my fellow guides favor flip-flops when they are in the boat. They
are certainly dry quickly and are comfortable, in a lot of situations, but I do
not feel that they offer a lot, of protection, in certain instances. On
Monday, when I was working a corporate group for River Ridge Inn I noted that
one, of the guides, was wearing flip-flops, when the temperature was in the low
thirties and there was frost, on the ground, early that morning. That is just
too cold for me!
On another occasion, I
saw another guide working on Dry Run Creek in a pair of flip-flops. First of
all I don’t think that they offer very much protection from the abundant poison
ivy. Second, I don’t think that they would provide secure footing, if you had
to get into the creek, to net a big trout. I always wear waders when guiding
there. I know that this is not fishing from a boat but the conditions here are
similar because you are frequently fishing from the bank.
Other guides fish in
Crocs which offer a bit more protection. I tried wearing Simms wading shoes,
which worked well in the boat. They are full shoes that offer a lot of
protection, for my feet, and are quick drying. I found out that they marked the
linoleum floor, in our kitchen, which did not please my wife, Lori. I switched
to Simms boat shoes. They are similar to the wading shoes except that they are
non-marking.
When it is raining, I
wear low cut L. L. Bean hunting shoes. They are waterproof and sure footed in
the boat. For the last couple of years they have been difficult to get because
they were the hot thing to wear on college campuses everywhere. Bean could not
keep up with demand for a while. They are available now. When the weather turns
cold, I have another pair of them in the eight inch tall model that are lined
with Gore-Tex to make them waterproof and insulated with Thinsulate to keep my
feet warm. Lori has the same pairs.
In cold or wet weather,
other guides will wear traditional British wellies, which are waterproof and
high, on the leg. There are several that wear Muck boots, which are similar but
heavier duty and insulated, which make the great, for really cold weather.
When you prepare to go
fishing, take a minute to consider what footwear to put on. It will help you be
more comfortable and safe out there, if you make the best decision for the
conditions.
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