I was talking to a chap in Sportfish the other day who seems to think that within a couple of years felt soles could be banned from UK rivers due to the fact that they can carry polution from one river to another. I think the ban may have already been carried out in other countries...Thoughts?

Yes, in some American States, and in New Zealand where you may not transprt felt soles between North and South Island. It's not so much about pollution, but more the transfer of spyrogyra spores accross river systems that would cause undesirable algaes from prolliferating.

Simms have declared themselves 'Felt free for 2010' manufacturers, in partnership with Vibram http://www.vibram.com/design/ezwebin...amandsimms.pdf

It remains to be seen how well this will be received by their customers though.

I still feel felt has a place and we should be allowed to use felt soles if they have been properly sterilized.
This is Iceland's policy - in fact all fishing tackle has to be sterilized on arrival.

I thought New Zealand was the only country to enforce an international ban.

__________________


Save the softmouth trout

So what will be the replacement for felt then which has the same grippy properties which will stop me bruising my backside as i did last week with silly cleated soles on slippy Welsh rocks?

a batting pad strapped to your backside I would imagine

See Sportfish site
for Patagonia Riverwalker Wading Boots Excellent but pricey but they do a great job because of there Sticky soles

Numpz

I'd echo that. A superb boot and lightest I've come across, by far. Half the weight of the new Orvis boots. About the same price and I'm told the Warranty is excellent.

__________________
Roy

The problem with most wading boots, particularly those made of canvas or leather, is that they have panels on the uppers, held together by stitching on the sides of the boot. If you are fishing a rocky freestone river, the stitching scuffs against the rocks and frays away, and very soon the boots lose their support and disintegrate. The best boots that I have found, are the old Simms Freestone PVC boots, which have a moulded upper, and no exposed stitching in vulnerable areas. The problem is that Simms saw fit to discontinue this boot, and replace it with a new design that is hopelessly inferior to the old Freestones.

I have been using Korkers Cross Current boots for over 3 years now.
I did have my doubt's to start with, but have found them to be excellent and with the changeable soles a good piece of kit. With durability and good ankle support.
I do try to keep felt soles separated, as I have two sets,what could I use to disinfect them?

The best disinfectant i've come across is called VIRKON. It's widely used in the agricultural industry, and was used on mats to disinfect car wheels during the foot and mouth outbreak.
We use it in the highways industry to disinfect vehicles etc when we need to cross farmland to maintain fencelines.
You can get it in agricultural/equine supplies in either tablet(to dissolve in water) or powder form.
Hope this helps.
Ade.