the end of felt?

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jimhalupka
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2009/01/23 18:24:03 (permalink)

the end of felt?

Has anyone heard or read anything about the disappearance of felt on wading shoes by 2011??
#1

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    S-10
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/23 19:06:27 (permalink)
    It looks like it could happen. Trout Unlimited has mounted a campaign to have felt outlawed after 2012. Apparently felt picks up and holds organisms harmful to the enviroment and allows their transfer from one stream to another. One country (I believe New Zealand) has already outlawed felt boots for fishing.
    #2
    jimhalupka
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/23 19:17:57 (permalink)
    hey, i'm all for water conservation, but that slippery green bottom on the tribs is gonna account for quite a few wet and might i say, cold days for a lot us who like to hike upstream away from the mockery of crossed lines and elbow to elbow fishing near the access points.
    #3
    thedrake
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/23 22:42:38 (permalink)
    I'm curious to see how well the new rubber soles grip the slimy stuff. I just cant imagine it'll work as well as felt. I'm ordering a pair of the new Chota rockloc wading boots in the next few weeks. I guess if nothing else, the rubber soles will be better for walking in the snow, although I do somewhat like the feeling of getting taller as my felt soled chotas pick up about an inch of snow for every step I take.
    #4
    KJH807
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/24 11:08:34 (permalink)
    there have been a few threads down in the fishereie board

    simms stopped all production of felt
    NZ outlawed it
    US states have wash stations and the felt ban may be on the way... but nothing is on the books as of now


    but as environmentally conc companies start to end the production of felt in the future... no laws will be needed
    #5
    eyesofsteel
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/24 12:30:47 (permalink)
    Felt soles are a must in the Erie tribs.  I think it does have a enviromental impact in some areas but they are taking things a bit too far here.  Everyone I have come up here I tell them to bring FELT soled waders because of the slip hazzards.  Almost everyone who has gone fishing with me with rubber boots has taken a swim or two in the course of a day. 

    Would like to know how those ROCKLOK boots handle the slimy rocks.
    #6
    KJH807
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/24 16:28:46 (permalink)
    the makeup of "rubber" has changed considerably in the past few years...

    patagonia with "sticky rubber"
    simms with "streamtread"
    aquasealth...

    and with the combination of studs, are far and away superior to felt



    "... oh the times they are a changin..."
    #7
    Kokanee Killer
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/24 17:55:15 (permalink)
    yeah plus you know walking in snow on felt soles makes you atleast 4 inches taller

    I have become comfortably numb
    #8
    RIZ
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/24 21:42:04 (permalink)
    buy the studded sole boots.  they are 10 times better than felt.
    #9
    beerman
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/25 10:14:57 (permalink)
    I agree with RIZ. I will never go back to felt soles. IMO Aquastealth (rubber) studded soles are the way to go. I will always use studded boots. My only complaint with the wading boots I use, Simms Guide boots, is that the spikes aren't easily replacable. I do like the looks of the Simms Rivershed spiked rubber-soled boots. Anybody wear these?

    changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes....nothing remains quite the same



    The Beerman ~ Greg
    #10
    dano
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/25 13:27:06 (permalink)
    I have both studded aquastealth and studded felt.
    When it comes to comparing the two on Oil Creek's slimy stream bed, studded felt gives much better traction.
    There's really no comparison when it comes to this creek.
     
     
     

    Gone Fishing
    #11
    krott243
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/25 16:44:38 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: eyesofsteel

    Felt soles are a must in the Erie tribs.  I think it does have a enviromental impact in some areas but they are taking things a bit too far here.  Everyone I have come up here I tell them to bring FELT soled waders because of the slip hazzards.  Almost everyone who has gone fishing with me with rubber boots has taken a swim or two in the course of a day. 

    Would like to know how those ROCKLOK boots handle the slimy rocks.



    You think the Erie tribs are slippery, go fish Oil Creek.



    The Lord has blessed us all today... It's just that he has been particularly good to me.
    #12
    chrisrowboat
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/25 17:36:22 (permalink)
    RE: the end of felt?



    Studded soft rubber is the best on GL tributary streams. I would go so far as to say even oil creek but I think weight has a factor on the studs and slime,IMO.
    Greg, I picked up a pair of the river walkers at Xmas time on close out. The Simms guides have worn on the top sides only for me the bottoms look good to me. The tops the stitching has worn but they are 4 years old and probably have about 2 more years left in them. I would ware out felt in like two. I purchased the rive walkers for summer fishing one size smaller than my guides witch are almost too big in the summer.
    2 cents worth

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    #13
    BassinTom
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/25 19:35:51 (permalink)
    I was in the LL bean store over at Ross Park Mall the other day and the guy in the fly fishing dept was telling me the same thing.  He said that LL bean is almost all but done with felt wading shoes this year because of the spread of organisms from people not cleaning the boots when going from one stream to another.  I also have heard this from other people in the industry.   I have been using the rubber sole with the studs in them and have had good luck so far.  I figure that its good to take a swim once in a while as it will remind me that mother nature is better than I am.  

    Any day with a rod in the water is better than a day at work
    #14
    beerman
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/26 09:21:21 (permalink)
    There is an article about the end of felt in the Winter issue of Trout Unlimited's "Trout" magazine.

    changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes....nothing remains quite the same



    The Beerman ~ Greg
    #15
    leadmen
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/26 10:41:59 (permalink)
    no one want zebras in there back yard they have hit alot of inland lakes and growing
    #16
    Loomis
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/26 12:29:45 (permalink)
    studs are a definite must when you are fishing anywhere there are slimy rocks.  You'd be suprised on how well the sticky rubber soles work.  I myself am a Korkers fanatic, and I bought the rubber soles with studs and they are 10 times better than the studded felts. 
    #17
    mxdad66
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/01/27 20:59:13 (permalink)
    no disagreement with ya Loomis,they are the best I've had on my feet.
    #18
    River_Drifter
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/02/11 23:59:33 (permalink)
    The Fish Commission will be cracking down on introducing invasive species real soon ( not sure how )
     
    Spoke with a conservation officer today about the upcoming pre season stockings.  Floats will not be allowed to go from one stream to another without bleaching and a 7 day drying period.  What this means is the clubs assisting the stockings ( who normally provide the floats ) will have to have seperate float boxes for each stream or they will need "cleaned" before being moved to another waterway. This will be simply impossible for some areas that already have difficulty getting help with stockings and supplies to complete the job.  Gonna be a lot of Bucketed fish this year.....
     
     The guys in the local club have enough floats that same day or consecutive day stockings at Bull and Deer creeks will not be affected, But how many other areas will?  I fish a LOT of Allegheny, butler, westmoreland and Armstrong county streams that will be unable to receive float stockings this year, That coupled with the decrease in numbers of stocked pelletheads will surely put a damper on things this year......
     
    Yup...  The beginning of the end of felt !!!

    #19
    rollcaster
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/02/12 07:24:12 (permalink)



    Do you think they will outlaw wearing it or just stop production and let it fade out?


    #20
    Ironhed
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    RE: the end of felt? 2009/02/13 00:41:07 (permalink)
    Talked to the Chota rep yesterday(Rokus) and he said they had no plans of doing away with felt unless it was made mandatory.

    Ironhed
    #21
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