How to choose the best studs for wading boots
As a field technician and fisherman, I spend a lot of time wading in various conditions. Wading always has a certain degree of risk, but when you’re electrofishing, the importance of staying out of the water is dramatically heightened. When electrofishing, I often have to wade upriver in unfamiliar water much faster than I ever naturally would. The demanding nature of this kind of wading quickly teaches you sink-or-swim style (or rather stay-dry-or-fry) to become a safe and efficient wader under the constant threat of electrical current.
This blog is designed to quickly gloss over some basic tips—some you’ll likely find in many other places, while others I personally think a lot of wading videos leave out. My first wading tip is an obvious one, and that’s to use studs. Most wade anglers know about studs, but most videos and articles fall short in covering the different kinds and patterns of studs.
One option is to get a brand that has studs already embedded in the soles, such as the some of the products from Korker’s. There’s a lot of great brands but I personally recommend getting any model of Korker’s boots with replaceable soles, and getting 2-3 different sets. It may seem like overkill at first, but every sole has different pro’s and cons that allow them to thrive in certain conditions, and limit them in others. For example I personally love the VIBRAM® STUDDED XS TREK soles for wading in in the trout rivers around me, and feel secure even on skull-sized cobble; however the spikes are simply too short to grip some of the seaweed-covered rocks I maneuver while fishing coastal jetties as well as the TRIPLE THREAT CARBIDE sole from Korkers.
Understanding differences like this and knowing when to switch soles will help you harness the maximum potential of your soles and be as safe as possible on the water.
Before you start thinking about the kind of studs or soles you get, you should think about the kind of conditions you will be wading in. Below, I will cover some of the important factors to think about while wading.
HARD ROCK
MARBLE:
East: Marble is most commonly found in the eastern United States, especially in the Appalachian region. Notable locations include Vermont, Georgia, and Alabama.
GRANITE:
Northeast: Granite is widespread in the northeastern United States, particularly in New England states like New Hampshire (known as the Granite State), Massachusetts, and Maine.
West: The Sierra Nevada in California is also famous for its extensive granite formations.
BASALT:
West: Basalt is predominantly found in the western United States, especially in the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia River Basalt Group, which spans parts of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, is one of the largest basaltic regions in the world.
QUARTZITE:
East: Quartzite is commonly found in the eastern United States, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains, with notable occurrences in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia.
West: There are also significant quartzite formations in the Rocky Mountains and in parts of Utah.
SOFT ROCK
LIMESTONE:
Midwest and South: Limestone is abundant in the Midwest, especially in states like Indiana and Missouri. It is also prevalent in the South, particularly in Tennessee and Florida. The Edwards Plateau in Texas is another significant limestone region.
SANDSTONE:
West: Sandstone is commonly found in the western United States, particularly in the Colorado Plateau, which includes parts of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
East: It is also present in the Appalachian region and the northeastern states like Pennsylvania and New York.
SHALE:
East and Midwest: Shale is widespread in the eastern and midwestern United States, notably in the Appalachian Basin (covering parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia) and the Illinois Basin.
South: It can also be found in parts of Texas and Oklahoma.
COAL:
East: Coal is primarily found in the eastern United States, particularly in the Appalachian Basin, covering states like West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.
Midwest: The Illinois Basin is another significant coal-producing region, encompassing parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.
SLATE:
East: Slate is most commonly found in the eastern United States, particularly in the Appalachian region, including states like Vermont, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
West: There are also slate deposits in parts of California.
SILTSTONE:
West: Siltstone can be found in various parts of the western United States, including the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau.
Midwest: It is also present in the midwestern states, often associated with shale formations in states like Ohio and Indiana.
Stud materials.
Once you figure out what kind of substrate you’re going to mainly wade in, it is time to look at some of the options for studs. At the end of the day, it will always provide maximum traction to use a combination of studs composed of different materials; but that might not always be necessary.
STEEL/HARDBITE
These materials are going to work best on soft rocks. The carbide or steel bite into soft rock, providing excellent traction, while their hardness provides longterm durability and resistance to wear. Some well established good options are
ALUMINUM
Aluminum studs work best on hard rocks, aluminum is softer than carbide and conforms to micro surfaces of rocks producing excellent grip, It's lighter and less expensive but wears out more quickly than steel or carbide.
instillation
Once you’ve decided what material studs will work best for you, it’s time for instillation. While it may seem simple enough, proper instillation is essential. With just a few basic tips, you can maximize the longevity of both your boots, and your studs.
Insert studs vertically, if you insert studs at an angle, the lifespan of the studs is dramatically reduced.
Use a powerful glue or epoxy such as loctite to further secure your studs.
DO NOT over tighten the studs, you will strip rubber from the hole and compromise the studs hold.
DO NOT re-insert studs into previously used holes.
If you’re looking to get some new studs, waders or wading boots, come see my friendly face at Housefly Fishing in Hawley PA and I’ll hook you up. If you aren’t local, give us a call or check out the web store.
