MAINE - Life in the Slow Lane
Dave
I am not sure this is the answer, just a very small stop gap measure. Those one cell organizims can attach to most anything. The best prevension is cleaning, and that has its draw backs as well.
Just my two cents.
Lee
Dave I went to the feltless Dec. 2008. They don't grab as well as felt even with the studs but if it stops that crap from spreading I'll stay with them, plus I'm using a staff more and more now. I kept the felts for the salt.
I myself haven't worn felt on my soles in over 12 years.. I haven't any problems as of yet . I agree Lee I feel the damage is done as far as Didimo goes. If they are going to ban the use of felt soles so be it. What are they going to do about migrating ducks or other wild animals that walk through stream to stream ? I feel the only way to stop Didimo is find something to kill it without harm to the ecosystem. Just my two cents
I never had felt sole boots, so I don't know how it feels. I got used to the sticky ruber soles and I'm fine with it. I usually take one fall every year, but that is part of the game. Most of them are due to tripping on something, not slipping. And if the ban would save one river from dydimo, I think it's worth it. We now have it on upper connecticut river, here in NH and i don't think that is just a coincidence that it first appeared in the most crowded spots. I think it's just a matter of getting used to rubber soles.
I agree Sebastian . I would get rid of my waders all together if I knew it would stop the spread of that nasty rock snot . The thing that concerns me though is it to little to late ? I hope not but the stuff is every where now . Even overseas . Its a mess.
By the way good to see you back on Lees site
I just bought new felt studded boots last year. I don't want to get new non-felt boots but I suppose I will when I can afford to. Probably next year. I have a old pair of regular felt boots I use with my flippers and float tube. I'll have to get the wife new boots as well.
Quote by: RussI just bought new felt studded boots last year. I don't want to get new non-felt boots but I suppose I will when I can afford to. Probably next year. I have a old pair of regular felt boots I use with my flippers and float tube. I'll have to get the wife new boots as well.
Russ
Do you clean your boots between fishing trips or make sure they are completely dry, if so you have nothing to worry about as far as I am concerned. The real answer to this problem is not banning felt soles but education of how this rock snot is spead and how to keep your equipment clean of it.
Just my two cents.
Lee
Quote by: Dave VBy the way good to see you back on Lees site
Thanks Dave!!! I wasn't gone anywhere, I just had a busy summer, had nothing to share, I just drooled watching the atlantic salmon pictures and reading the stories. Hopefully the fall will be better.
About the felt soles, we have the right to say that we are a little late here in the States. New Zeeland banned felt soles in 2008.
I've seen what this algae does in my native country and is not pretty. I've fished in Maine on Magalloway River a couple of weeks ago and the snot is just disgusting, I had to clean my nymphs almost every cast.
But it looks like at least in this part of the country, we have an excellent way of doing things too late. That's why atlantic salmon is almost extinct on the east coast, bass is all over the place, especially where it doesn't belong, and at least in NH, wild fish are so scarse.
At the moment I only have felt soles. I tend to hose them down after I get home and let them air dry out. I also wash my waders in the washing machine with Ivory soap (powder) on the delicate cycle a couple of times a year, or before/ after going to a new body of water. Most of the places I fish down here I wouldn't worry about to much. But anything west of Rt 495 or north of the border and I become much more concerned. Like some, I feel that the felt is only a small part of the problem. I still feel that if it makes contact with the water then it could become a carrier. So banning just the felt, is kind of Band-Aid solution.
Follow your passion and success will follow you
Article on Felt Soles
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was
cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time.
On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words,
and some of the words are theirs.