are wader boot cleats mandatory

I remember where you had to have cleats/studs in boots/whatever after Nov. 1st but I can't find it in the regs.
I would get some short sheet metal screws if I were you- just long enough to screw into the felt & not through the bottom of the boot. It's all Simms used before they went to carbide studs.
Real cheap insurance policy. I don't feel 100% safe with felt only on that river. Those river rocks are contemptible.
Hope this helps a little-
Trutta.

in my book, cleats are mandatory...  especially in the lower river.  it's a matter of ease, comfort, and safety.  1. it makes crossing much easier.  there are spots that i cross in 335 cfs that are on slate, and even with this lower base flow, with out cleats i wouldn't be able to do it. 2.  it's comforting to know if i hook a fish or have to get out of someones way who has a fish, that i can freely move with out any worries.  3.  MOst importantly the SAFETY FACTOR. there have been plenty of times i've been up there where a guy drowned. i've actually saved 2 people two seperate times right above some wicked hay stacks.  and they didn't have spikes.  in the lower half the people with out spikes stick out like a sore thumb.  it looks like there doing an interperative dance session on the river...Now, long slow moving upper river holes are a much different story. people who only fish these are thinking i'm crazy.  i fish through out the river though, and it's a matter of habit.  i'd rather keep them on than take them on and off all the time.  i strongly advise cleats though.  hey metal, those chotas are nice.  In salmon season i usually just wet wade with wading boots that have built in spikes...
 
PS...  wading boots that have felt and spikes combined are great <<<<BUT>>>> never where them during subfreezing times of the year.  the felt will build up ice and block off the spikes.  never where felts past novemeber 1...  eventhough there are some fluke warmer days, just a matter of habit for me.  good luck

My next pair of boots will be the rubber bottoms with spikes. Felt I like, but you're right about the ice. Also not fun to walk in snow either. Many times I get a foot taller in just a few steps from the build up.
They say the new rubber is as good as felt, and of coarse it doesn't carry aquatic hitch hikers from stream to stream, but that's another topic.
Salmo doesn't fish up there in Winter. I hate the cold! I do my fair share of fishing here around home, but I know when I get cold or wet I'm 2 minutes from home!

ORIGINAL: jrb327

 installed their own cleats which i believe are carbide? i liked them so much that I boought the replacement screws and changed out the cleats on my Chotas! 

The gold ice racing screws are the same for ALOT less $'s----around $18-20 for 250

I bought a pair of Simms wading shoes with rubber sole and spikes.........Nice and grippy....they work great in Erie and Pulaski

my brother has the chodas and screwed screws in to the soles.  seems nice, but i willo say, i prefer a tapered spiki head over the bulky head of a screw, especially when on slate.  nothing beats the original korkers from 25 years ago though.