The Case For AquaStealth
28 April 2009
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Let’s be honest, or at least pratical by fishermen’s standards, There’s mouning evidence, at least in my eyes, that we are doing harm to our beloved streams…We can’t just pass off the spread of invasives to birds, animals, and paddlers….Is it a coincidence that the 22 bridge on the Kill has the Snot, the Upper Delaware is infected and all within easy reach of those “Fishermen Park Here” signs? But what are we to do? Felt Soles have been the norm and probably best for all around wading in this parts of the country for at least the 2 decades that I have been running around streams. From that first pair of neoprenes I purchase and thought were the greatest thing since sliced bread to the Cortland Fairplay 5 wt I bought at Walmart with the credit cards they were giving away in the College Dorms, my first pair of canvas hodgemans had felt on the soles. Those were, believe it or not, simpler times. Trout rose to catskill style adams in most hatches and trout were trout no matter where they were born. The stocking truck just brought more trout, and you could through the boots in the back of the beat up ‘88 Ford Tempo for an entire season.
Times are changing for sure, that Adams is more often than not overlooked in favor of a better match to the insects that are around, the $40 flyrod sits in the closet replaced by the sexier models and Goretex has overtaken those swealtering body condoms.
Rock Snot, or Didymo is now in the Esopus…the third river to get such a title and today I sit here contemplating the choices I have for new boots. My felted Chotas, the most comfortable boots I have ever owned have 2 huge holes in the toes and I can see my wader socks through the boot. I am seriously thinking about the Aquastealth. I’m alittle anxious about losing traction, I’m a pretty adventurous (some would claim risky) wader. I know my limitations, but tend to push the envelope in search of fish.
I have the aquastealth with spikes for my winter fishing and on the Salmon, they stick like velcro but I need boots without spikes, especially when floating rivers with the canoe, so I head off to Leon’s with a gift certificate and a birthday check in hand to try those new fangled boots with the rubber soles…
It may not stop the spread of this nasty weed but at least I can error on the side of the good guys…
