Some states ban felt soles wading shoes, anybody can help explain?
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by Pugfishin
I think it is so that you don't carry Zebra muscles from one location to another. Or plant life, again from one location to another to spread them.
flyguy
Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!
FS Digest wrote:
Some states ban felt soles wading shoes, anybody can help explain?
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by Pugfishin
The felt soles are more likely to transport the little nasties, whatever they may be, from one body of water to another.
The felt is absorbent and will pick up what you don't want transported from lake to lake.
Yep that's the reason, invasive hitchhikers.
audigger53 wrote:
I think it is so that you don't carry Zebra muscles from one location to another. Or plant life, again from one location to another to spread them.
Right on the money. Felt soles can transfer invasive species from one body of water to another.
I think they started banning felt soles when the whirling disease started with trout in the west. It’s a perfect vehicle for transferring the bacteria.
I agree that they transport all kinds of nasty stuff, for example, didymo, aka rock snot.
Same reason they tell you to wash down your boat and trailer before you move from one body of water to another. Keep the nasties from moving around.
To stop invasive species, which can cling to the felt, from going from one location to another location.
Picks up and spreads perasites from one water source to another.
Rayz
Loc: North West N.J. and South Hero Vt.
They supposedly transfer some kind crap called "rock snot" Vermont banned them a few years ago, then after a lot of money was spent buying new ones they ok'd them again.
Same in Oregon. Banned for a few years, then changed their minds, apparently. Reasoning for the back and forth is still unknown to us. In discussing this with several, the speculation among is pretty much split into two camps. First camp says it wasn't helping/preventing anything, and maybe folks were getting hurt from slip and fall incidents from lack of grip.
The second camp is MUCH more cynical..... figures somebody's got a stake in selling alot of new boots, either way the board decision swings !
I know that during the ban, I certainly had my issues with no felt, but survived a couple of dunks, thankfully. Was about to become a scofflaw, when the ban was lifted and we could use felt again. I use the studded felt AND a wading staff these days... like to be safe...screw getting wet, I worry about breaking something... like myself OR my gear !
Rayz
Loc: North West N.J. and South Hero Vt.
Not 100% sure, but I think they said they never spread what ever they were worried about. I know one thing I can say is who ever enacted the stupid ban never tried using rubber bottom luv soles in a stream.
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