Fell on my butt in the Little Missouri last week in 8-12" of water... wading staff calmly floating at my side. The rocks were like grease grapefruits. Cleats my not have mattered but I'm investigating the idea.
-do you have cleats on?
-pro/cons?
-a favorite or proven pattern?
Thanks in advance

Personally they're more trouble for me than they're worth but I do a lot of hiking to get to and around my fishing holes. Also you really have to watch line and leaders, stepping on one with cleats can do some real damage.

As far as placement patterns this may help. Cleat placement

When I bought boots last week, they recommended around the outside of the sole, generally.

That Lil Mo is some slick stuff.

I don't have/use cleats...my opinion is that a wading staff or just a good stick is more beneficial and more comfortable on everything. I used to think a wading staff was for old geezers, then I became one and painfully learned how truly valuable they are.

Ill Preface by saying I've never worn studs. However, i have seen many buddies bust hard wearing them. Depending on terrain carbide studs can be like having 10-15 tiny marbles on the bottom of your boots. If i were going to use studs i would buy aluminum, there are a couple companies that make them (Simms). If you don't mind spending a little more buy some crampons to put on your current boots or buy the Patagonia Tractors.

2 pennies from a guy that has been on his back in the river too many times

Help a REAL rookie understand... would felt soled boots be an alternative to cleated boots? I have yet to wear waders to fish (just recently started fly fishing) and am very curious of the applications for the different types of footwear.

May states have banned felt believing the felt holds and transfers unwanted organisms from one water body to another. Not bragging, I hardly ever fell with felt. It wasn't until I started using Vibram sole boots that the problem popped up.

I have ordered the studs and will give them a try. If they don't work for me...they can be removed.

Thanks to all for the great input as usual.

Thanks Zip. That sure makes sense.

My Vibram soled Merrell shoes get super slick on wet tile (think men's restroom at a restaurant) so I can imagine how terrible they could be underwater!

I'm a believer in studs for both felt and non-felt boots. I add them to all of my boots. The cheapest way to buy studs is to google the studs they use for motorcycle tires for racing on ice. You can get a lifetime supply for about the same price as the name brand fishing boot studs.

Just remember that if you add studs to your boots you can't wear them in a boat and I don't wear them inside a building. They'll tear up floors really quickly.

The biggest problem I had with felt boots was climbing up steep riverbanks when it was muddy. There have been times when I felt darn near stuck in the water and had to climb on all fours, grabbing anything that wouldn't uproot, to get me up and out of the river. A muddy felt sole, sliding on a muddy bank, is as tractionless as it gets.

Sure felt is an alternative. That's why they came back from near extinction a few years ago (and the realization that hitchhikers will find a ride anyway). I enjoyed the spiked felts I had, but there are times when that felt doesn't hold IMO, and that is with southern slime (as opposed to northern slime) and on the aforementioned slippery slopes.

Felt and mud no good for sure but great on slick rocks. My felt boots I followed the steps with the epoxy basicly missourie recommended to make them nonporous. I have to admit I was afraid it was going to be rough,but they still kept the same basic Texture on the bottom of the boot. even though they were now non-porous I was shocked they grip quite well after doing that. I havnt had any problems with them after.

i bought the studded felt boots from cabelas last year for a trip to Montana. i had my new boots and my dad has his old felt boots and after 1 day of him sliding around and me walking fine we had to stop at cabelas on the way back through town. i am very happy with them.