[fyshhead]

Well my orvis brogue felts died. The only boot I can find in size 15-16 is simms freestones with rubber soles..Ugh! First time on rubber, so I wanted to see what you all think about them and what studs should I go with? First time on them will be on the Kispiox in a couple weeks, do i need spikes? Any info would be helpful, don't really like swimming in my waders! People I have talked to said I am going to hate em. I was going to strip the new sole off and put felt on but I am having a hell of a time finding replacement felt for size 16!

 

[_WW_]

Blast form the past - Instead of felt, go to home depot and buy a small indoor/outdoor rug, cut to size and glue that on. Then put in the screws.

 

[Aldo]

I haven't worn felt in almost 20 years; been on rubber since my former employer had me test the first prototypes to hit the market. By itself, rubber is slippery - no doubt about it. (It does, however, grip like nothing else on clean rock.) It's no worse than felt on really snotty stuff. Still, I wouldn't fish without studs. I use Goat Head Sole Spikes; reasonably priced, so I bought two batches and peppered my boots pretty liberally. I feel very confident on just about any surface, but I'm also not the risk taker I used to be.

 

[highlander2]

rubber soles

Not a big fan of rubber souls on wading boots. If you add the right studs in the right pattern for you they can be adequate. And they can last longer than felt in some cases. The kispiox can be pretty snotty in some places, lots of slick ledge rock in some pools. Personally I like felt and studs for this river. With rubber soles I would get the biggest knarly studs I could find. Simms has a good selection.

 

[KJK]

Save yourself the grief and go and get some felts. Rubber sucks on any of the Skeena tribs, period. Why mess around trying to retrofit a pair of new boots for a fishing trip that you are spending thousands of dollars on? It makes no sense.
How are you going to fish effectively if you can't stand up in the river.
Kevin

 

[fyshhead]

Save yourself the grief and go and get some felts. Rubber sucks on any of the Skeena tribs, period. Why mess around trying to retrofit a pair of new boots for a fishing trip that you are spending thousands of dollars on? It makes no sense.
How are you going to fish effectively if you can't stand up in the river.
Kevin

That's the problem ! No one makes big sizes (16) in felt!

 

[Stumpy]

aluminum

I just bought some 3/16 x 3;4 aluminum bar. I cut chunks to length and pop-riveted them to korker soles. In your case, you could screw them in. Guys say AL is the cat's ass; should be a quantum leap from rubber.

Wow! did you play for the NBA? Sorry, but with feet that size, you should have a multi-million dollar contract and groupies like Wilt Chamberlain. Otherwise, you should be able to wade like I only dream of. One of my fishing buddies is 6'5", and wades where I wouldn't dream of trying. I cast longer than him, so it evens out I guess.

 

[tyfish]

The Simms boots with vibriam soles and star cleats work great that's all I've used in the last few years in that region no need for felt they stick great if you need more try the alumabites they stick even better
Tyler

 

[briansII]

PM sent

briansII

 

[Jabrowning24]

I did the custom allie bars too. Work great! I'll post some details and pics tonight... $8 total btw

 

[Rusty Rat 1949]

I also wear a size 16 wading boot. Simms Freestones are the only choice. I put Simms star cleats on mine with carbide studs in the center of those. This setup has worked on the NU for 2 years for me.

Michael

 

[beulahnw]

Rubber Soles?

For a lot of rivers rubber soles equals a swim meet more than fishing. For the bottoms of other rivers the rubber soles are fine. The Deschutes and Rogue are two specific rivers that have a lot of polished bedrock and are terrible for rubber..even with studs.

You might take a look at Chota ST+ or STL+? I think they make larger sizes as well.

BB~

 

[Rustybee]

I just bought some 3/16 x 3;4 aluminum bar. I cut chunks to length and pop-riveted them to korker soles. In your case, you could screw them in. Guys say AL is the cat's ass; should be a quantum leap from rubber.

Agreed. Go with the home made aluminum bar solution.

 

[fyshhead]

Thanks for all the feedback and recommendations everyone! Like to say thanks to brianII for his generosity

 

[dyed guinea]

too be up front ... I work for dan bailey's fly shop ... Livingston MT

please go to the website to view an option for size 16 felt sole shoes ...

www.dan-bailey.com to preview ...

I'm not trying to promote our product but size 16 felt sole shoes are available ... and I'm sure many of the speypages sponsor fly shops would be able to special order them in for you if they are a current account ...

riffle felt sole boot ... model 3025 ...

Johnny Boyd,
dan bailey fly shop - staff

 

[Jabrowning24]

I forgot about this post... I just bought a piece of aluminum bar from the box store. I used paper pieces to outline my pattern and find the right length for each piece, cut bar, counter sink screws, a dab of gorilla glue, and BAM $8 pair of pattaguccisimms boots! They kept me standing on the north umpqua and imho there isn't much more of a test!

 

[KJK]

Aluminum bar boots

I have used patagonia's aluminum bar boots on the Bulkley enough to tell you that they do not hold on all rock types. The smaller rock of the upper river is fine, but with any ledge rock or big polished boulders they do not work. You'd better get used to sliding down river and hoping the boots will catch on something on the way. I'm sure that they work in other rivers, but I would be very wary of aluminum on most skeena tribs.
Felt is way more comfortable under foot if your doing a bunch of walking and it sticks to all rock types.
Kevin

 

[gretch]

get any old boot felt or rubber and throw these on.

Anyone who says rubber bottom and studs doesn't work on the Deschutes or other difficult rocky bottoms has never worn these. These have been my go to for many years.

The xxl's should fit your 16's as they run big. You could call them and get exact measurement to be sure

http://www.korkers.com/footwear/fishing/casttrax.html

 

[Big Tuna]

too be up front ... I work for dan bailey's fly shop ... Livingston MT

please go to the website to view an option for size 16 felt sole shoes ...

www.dan-bailey.com to preview ...

I'm not trying to promote our product but size 16 felt sole shoes are available ... and I'm sure many of the speypages sponsor fly shops would be able to special order them in for you if they are a current account ...

riffle felt sole boot ... model 3025 ...

Johnny Boyd,
dan bailey fly shop - staff

I didn't see the boots you're referring to. It sucks to have big feet. I have a similar problem w/ trying to find boots. In my neck of the woods, felt equals a dunking.

 

[fyshhead]

I didn't see the boots you're referring to. It sucks to have big feet. I have a similar problem w/ trying to find boots. In my neck of the woods, felt equals a dunking.

Dyed guinea, thank you! Big tuna , give Dan Bailey a call they have em in stock 15& 16 ..order going off tomorrow morning! Amen!!!