Gear for hiking to woodland streams

[ryanh]

Korkers and wet wading are the way to go.

I have a pair of aquastealth that I bought in 2000 and still use them. Needless to say they last. Asside from Abram's Creek in the Smokies I have done OK with them. Nothing beats felt w/ studs. That is why I think korkers are key. You have the best of both worlds.

Other mountain stream gear. Small pack. I use a mountain smith. GPS. This year I am swithcing to a lanyard instead of a vest for this type of fishing. I see no need for wearing my vest when all I need is some tippet, floatant and maybe 3 flies.

Bug spray.

 

[MKern]

About half of my fishing trips are small mountain streams for brookies.
In these situstions I wear hiking boots and jeans. To cross the creek, I simply hop from stone to stone or balance across a fallen tree.
On some of the more constricted streams, especially ones that are on private land I wear waders to stay off the people's property.

If you are hiking 4-12 miles a day, my suggestion is to wear something comfortable.

 

[Bruno]

Jay:

Aqua Stealth is just climbing shoe rubber put on a wading shoe. It is incredibly sticky rubber. I believe is made by the 5.10 shoe company.


I have several pairs of boots, shoes and sandals with these soles. I have added studs to my wading boots since I injured my leg for the extra traction. I would never go back to felt. They just are lighter and cleaner. They don’t collect mud / water like a sponge keep the dirt in the car down to a minimum. When you get that first pay check from the new job get these http://chacousa.com/Portal.aspx?CN=A9B61E6A03F0&MN=0E776DA03D8F

 

[skeeter]

Bruno,
I agree chaco is a nice brand, but if I may, Keen produces an exceptional pair of wading sandals. The toe protection is key for me, in those chacos I always would stub my toe and stuff. The Keens do tend to hold more sand and peddles than the chaco's but unhonestly for wet wading, in my opinion, the Keen H2's are amazing especially when you use neoprene socks in conjunction.
http://www.rei.com/product/707782

I also was under the assumption the Aqua Stealth soles inhibits the transportion of most water spread diseases and not native life? Correct me im wrong or if somebody already mentioned it im sorry! :-D

 

[sundrunk]

1) Simms wet wading shoes/boots.
2) Simms neoprene knee high stockings that can be pulled down over laces or pulled up to yopur knees for portage and light wading.
3) Wanut wading staff with brass tip.
4) Quick dry pants, ultra light with secure pockets.
5) Safari style light weight shirt.
6) Pith helmet, for thick Clark creek like piney under growth; soak helmit in creek water for head cooling effect..

 

[troutbert]

My advice is never go fishing wearing sandals of any kind. There's stuff in the creeks that will rip your feet up and when you're wading, you can't see it. Broken glass, nails sticking out of wood, barbed wire, rusted sheet metal etc. Even on mountain streams. You need something that will protect your feet. Wear boots!

In larger rivers, there could be anything. Hypodermic needles, you name it. Wear boots!

 

[tomgamber]

I always swim and fish in my Teva's at camp...they are the only sandals that stay on my feet. If they made tevas with toe protection that would be nice but, whatever...I like sandals for wet wading except at the beach when stingrays are a problem. Other than that I don;t live my life fearing this or that ...it takes all the fun out of it. If I worried about all the things out there that could happen or could harm me, I'd never leave the house. Oh wait..I could slip in the shower and smash thru the glass door and bleed to death...So I guess being strapped to the lazy boy is the only way to go.

 

[JackM]

tomgamber wrote:
I could slip in the shower and smash thru the glass door and bleed to death...So I guess being strapped to the lazy boy is the only way to go.

That's gonna be one stinky La-Z-Boy.

 

[Chaz]

Aquastealth boots will not last through a season of hiking into stream, I know I bought a pair and they didn't last a year. So hear is what I think, get yourself some ACG shoes made by Nike, they're tough and light weight and will last at least a season. Though they aren't waterproof they will do the job. get some light weight wading shoes and for remote streams you don't need hippers, the water is clean enough that you won't need them. for streams with unknown sources or that have sewerage efluent going into them light wieght hippers are fine.
I don't a lot of hike in fishing in warm weather and you really will ware our a lot of wading boots if you're hiking in them too.

 

[troutbert]

So I guess being strapped to the lazy boy is the only way to go.

For sitting in your Lazy Boy, sandals should be just fine.