From the press release:

Inspired by the mountaineering crampon but adapted for the river, the River Crampon (MSRP $199) is the fishing industry’s most innovative traction device for wading. The performance is derived from soft, malleable aluminum bars which are riveted to a burley, stainless steel adjustable frame with highly corrosion resistant brass rivets. The soft aluminum cuts through weeds and moss on the slickest of river bottoms and grips rock like no other traction device. The crampon can be used with most wading boots on the market.

The Rock Grip Aluminum Bar Boot (MSRP $239) utilizes similar technology but is a full featured wading boot with permanently affixed aluminum bars on the outsole of the boot to provide superior support and traction in extreme wading conditions. Other features include a compression-molded EVA midsole and polypropylene insole for rigidity and support and a highly abrasion-resistant toe bumper with a reinforced toe box for protection. Additionally, testing shows that the aluminum bars are much easier on boat interiors than traditional cleats.

Moldy Chum carries the whole press release for the crampons (which function similar to mountain crampons) and wading boots, which certainly do transcend normal wading boot soles.

Years ago, steelhead fishermen sometimes wore galosh-style aluminum cleats over their wading boots, and while the grip was reportedly good (aluminum galls easily), I’m interested in seeing how comfort is affected — and if the aluminum scarring of streamside rocks is an issue.

See you standing upright, Tom Chandler.

Patagonia seems to be that company.

Patagonia's web-based catalog (note the audio player lower left)

From the LA Times web site:

Outdoor and fishing apparel manufacturer Patagonia is doing away with its traditional fly-fishing catalog, instead switching to an online “e-Catalog” only.

“The fishing market is the right place to launch an e-Catalog,” said Patagonia angling Chief Executive Casey Sheahan. “Anglers have turned to the Internet to review water conditions, hatches, plan trips and more, making them the perfect customer for an online, interactive e-Catalog that feels more like a magazine or multimedia site.”

The Web-based, interactive catalog will allow users to view videos and access in-depth product information, as well as provide avenues to purchase items quickly and easily.

“Our hope is that anglers are psyched to get product information this way, so moving forward we can try to avoid sending catalogs to individual mailboxes.”

Whether the time is truly right remains to be seen; it was only a couple years ago that a small manufacturer I know – someone who sells into the outdoor and food service markets – also went to a digital catalog.

The only real pushback? It came from the fly fishing industry, many of whom didn’t seem to know what a digital catalog was, or why an industry largely based on clean water would find it desirable.

The times are changing, though I’d suggest fly fishing’s anglers are ahead of the industry when it comes to the Internet.

I say, Is That a Direct Sales Model?

As noted by an eagle-eyed Undergrounder, clicking on a product in Patagonia’s online catalog (I’ve been eying the Pack Vest, so let’s click that) sends you straight to the Patagonia Web site, where you’ll find plenty of product information – and are offered the chance to conveniently buy the item immediately.

It’s a subtle reminder that the Internet is truly enabling a direct sales model, and while Patagonia has always been something of a catalog company, you know that other manufacturers – largely prevented from direct sales by their commitment to a dealer network – are eying that direct channel (and its “forget about wholesale pricing” margins) somewhat covetously.

Mike Michalak – owner of The Fly Shop in Redding (perhaps the biggest online & offline retailer in terms of revenue) alluded to this in the March issue of Angling Trade, where he wrote an opinion piece suggesting dealers were about to witness an industry turning to a direct sales model at the expense of fly shops.

I think it’s a given that will come to pass on some level, especially given homogeneity of so many fly shops.

In simple terms, the fly fishing market isn’t all that big; fewer manufacturers means fewer choices – and fly shops which already carry pretty much the same gear will be forced to differentiate themselves in other ways.

Those that can’t will disappear.

Direct sales? Manufacturers are eying the channel, but many find their hands are tied.

Of course, Patagonia’s already tapped into direct sales, though if you want to see an aggressive operation, you have to look no further than the old-skool Orvis site.

Sure, it’s cluttered, but beneath it lurks a very advanced email program, plenty of new-school product marketing (like customer product reviews – text and video), a host of other features guaranteed to make a modern marketer smile, and yes – even a burgeoning social media effort.

Meanwhile, competing manufacturers like Scott, Winston & Sage seem content to roll out “new” web sites that look, operate – and fail to engage – exactly like their old Web sites.

The Internet isn’t about to disappear fly fishing’s fly shops, but those shops – and manufacturers – who are slow to recognize its real impacts are doomed to stand on the sidelines while others eat their market share like a stolen lunch.

Patagonia seems to be justifying its new catalog on the basis of environmental impacts. Yet that ignores the very real ability to deliver rich content (video, audio, animation, etc) that can’t happen via print.

And yes, it gives you the ability to direct interested buyers exactly where you want – including to the “buy this” page on your own Web site.

While the new rubber soles seemingly offer evolutionary potential – studded rubber soles could ultimately replace felt/studded felt, largely for economic reasons – the standard sticky rubber probably won’t replace anything anytime soon.

My recent October Caddis trip found me wearing Simms’ new StreamTread (Vibram rubber soled) Headwater boots, while Older Bro wore one Korkers Guide Boot with a plain “Kling-On” sticky rubber sole, and one with a studded rubber “Kling-On” sole.

Korkers were made for testing

I quickly discovered the plain, un-studded Simms soles worked… OK.

Well, not really.

I didn’t fall.

But I did skid. And slide. And skate.

The same soles that performed surprisingly well on the fairly flat-bottomed-but-snotty Rogue River failed miserably on the Upper Sac’s angular streambed.

Step on a rock that angled downward, and my boots were sure to follow.

If the Vibram-soled Simms wading boots are destined for wide market acceptance, then they’ll do so on the back of one of two things:

• Massive growth of fly fishermen accessing easy-wading rivers (like the Rogue or Bitterroot)
• The liberal application of Simms Wading boot studs

The Korkers Story

The Korkers Guide Boots were seemingly tailor-made for this kind of testing; the soles are interchangeable, so it was easy to stick a studded rubber sole in the left boot, leaving the plain “sticky” rubber sole in the right.

The results were (by now) predictable.

The lack of grip offered by the plain rubber sole made the right boot immensely unpopular with novice wader Older Bro, and in truth, you could actually see the difference when he waded.

His right boot didn’t stick, and his left boot did.

OK.

This was sorta expected.

Wading Boots, So Far

I’m slowly but surely working my way towards one conclusion: For general, all-around use on freestone rivers, most anglers will want to add studs to their “sticky” rubber soled boots.

Straight sticky rubber might work fine on easier rivers, and if I fished the Bitterroot exclusively, plain rubber would be enough.

And yes, for small stream work, you’ll have to pry my Patagonia Riverwalkers – the only truly “sticky” rubber soles of the lot – from my cold, dead feet.

I’ve gotten along OK on the Upper Sacramento with my plain rubber Patagonia boots, but on steeper freestone rivers like the McCloud (hard wading), and the Pit River (got insurance?), plain rubber could earn you an eventual trip to the ER.

What’s Next?

The Underground’s fulltime Wading Boot Engineer stayed up all night and added studs to the Simms boots, and the Korkers will soon be sporting one felt sole alongside the studded rubber.

As I said before, studded rubber might prove a worthwhile replacement for studded felt purely on longevity and economic grounds, but first it has to deliver near-studded felt grip.

That may not be all that difficult; my old Weinbrenner studded rubber boots worked well enough to become my everyday boots, and the new rubber soles should (hopefully) deliver better grip than those.

In other words, more to come. Stay tuned.

Though I had to cut and run from work on Monday to fish the Rogue with Dave Roberts, I rationalized the escape thusly: I wanted to.

Dave Roberts bravely testing wading boots for the Undergrounders.

It’s not the kind of thing that makes clients happy, but as everyone knows (at least after reading this), an under-recreated writer is a boring writer, and at some point, you’ve gotta fly fish.

For those looking for big fish stories, I’ll be blunt: stop reading here.

Though Dave Roberts knows the Upper Rogue like the rest of us know our living rooms, this was not a hard-charging, balls-to-the-wall, extreme fishing adventure.

Instead, we more or less doodled along the river, fishing for steelhead (one of which bit a streamer, but came unbuttoned after a couple seconds). We also landed a pair of 11″ trout who apparently didn’t know w you’re not allowed to fish for trout on the Rogue right now, which suggests the trout have yet to invent their own version of Twitter.

Looks pretty and scenic from the shore - until you realize your ride to the ramp is leaving.

The Testing Continues

We did manage to further the world’s scientifically derived knowledge about a pair of the next-generation rubber-soled wading boots, testing the newly arrived Simms wading boots against the previously reviewed Patagonias.

The Rogue is positively filled with green snot-covered rocks the size of your average loaf of bread, making it an ideal testing ground for rubber soled-boots.

Slimy enough? Our testing grounds...

On two separate runs, Roberts and I got out and tromped around, then swapped boots and did it again. (The rocks were slimy enough that a fair amount of detached green stuff floated downstream when we waded.)

While more testing is needed (preferably on some remote BC steelhead river, though budgetary concerns suggest the Upper Sac will have to do), we both came to the rather surprising conclusion that these things worked pretty damned well in a situation where we didn’t expect they would.

The work is hard, but no sacrifice is too great for my readers.

It’s possible the Simms’ more aggressive tread pattern gave it a slight edge in the “greasy bowling ball” portion of the test, though we’ve yet to test the Simms boots in varied Upper Sacramento or small stream conditions (coming soon).

At this point, I’d have no qualms about using either boot on the Rogue. And Roberts – who admitted to reading my reports on Patagonia’s boots with some skepticism – was ready to buy either pair, though the Simms fit him best (the Patagonias felt more comfy to me, telling us what we already know – different shoes fit different feet… differently).

More Testing

Plenty more to come from the Underground; I also concluded testing on the Redington 6wt rod & reel combo, and I’ve added it to the “write this” pile (which has grown pretty sizable).

Several DVDs are waiting for reviews, and yes, there’s always the chance for another fishing report.

Hookset, in progress.

See you slaving away, Tom Chandler.

Simms, Patagonia wading boots for testing

Because today – instead of staying home and working (always my first choice) – I’m looming up the truck and going fly fishing with Dave Roberts on the Rogue. And yes, I’m selflessly doing it all for you.

I’ve got two kinds of rubber-soled wading boots that desperately need testing, and a 6wt fly rod & reel combo that’s crying out for a Rogue steelhead.

And yes, I know what you’re thinking: “That Chandler guy really gives his all to his readers – sacrificing a day sitting on his ass behind a desk so that his readers can know the inner peace born of comprehensive fly fishing gear reviews.”

You’d be right.

I’m just like Mother Theresa, only in waders.

I know many of you are doubtless phoning the Nobel Prize committee right now. And perhaps a few calls are going out to Vatican. (Could I become fly fishing’s living patron saint?)

To you, I say “Send cash instead.”

If enough of you recognize my selfless sacrifice with cold, hard cash, then I can afford to take more days off work to go fly fishing – dramatically improving the quality of your lives in the process.

At the Underground, that’s what we call a win-win situation (well, more a WIN [me] – win [you]).

I’d say more, but I’ve gotta pack up some gear.

See you on the river, Tom (Schweitzer) Chandler.

Will Patagonia Riverwalker "Sticky Rubber" wading boots stick when you need them?

The old ways tend to die hard in most fly fishermen, and while I’d love to hold myself aloft as a golden exception to the rule, I simply can’t.

Like most of you, I wore felt-soled wading boots for the majority of my fly fishing career (both with and without studs). I learned to live with the rapid wear, clogging, and irritating tendency to skate on smooth, angled rocks, justifying the hassles with the knowledge that felt soles were the only thing that worked.

Finally – tired of wearing out felt soles in less than a season (courtesy the sharp rocks lining the railroad beds running alongside the Upper Sac) – I switched to Weinbrenner’s studded rubber soles, which were OK.

Well, sometimes they were a lot less than OK, though they wore well and had (I’m guessing) 70%-80% of the grip of felt soles under good conditions.

I got by.

But with the Weinbrenners no longer available, and a new pair of wading boots needed right away to soothe my aching feet, I plumped for a pair of Patagonia Riverwalker “sticky rubber” soled wading boots.

The soles were rubber and they lacked studs and frankly – because I “knew” rubber was a poor substitute for felt – my expectations were pretty low. Like any resourceful outdoorsman, I figured a fix was no farther away than the nearest hardware store (sheet metal screws).

The good news? I haven’t been to the hardware store yet.

Sticky Rubber That Really Is

Dashing my expectations, Patagonia’s “sticky rubber” soles worked very, very well. In many environments, they actually exceeded the performance of studded felt and studded rubber soles.

At times, they were a better alternative to felt and studded felt for some applications – and perhaps a better choice overall (everybody’s mileage may vary on this one).

In other areas – especially situations involving slime layers on cannonball rocks – the sticky rubber soles faltered a bit, though in the midst of winter, there isn’t a lot of rock snot to go around.

Those who wade on snotty stuff all the time can bolster their grip with the addition of a few sheet metal screws, though I haven’t bothered.

You see, I’m liking life without studs. You can walk places you never could wearing studded soles (like inside a friend’s house or into the Burger Barn for a post-fishing snack).

When driving, I don’t suffer that Moment of Abject Terror when the studs just won’t let go of the gas pedal. In other words, it’s almost as if you can ambulate just like a normal human being (albeit one wearing dorky rubber pants). “Which is great and all” you say “But how do they work in the water?”

The Undergrounders ask, we answer:

Dry Streamside Rocks

Smooth, dry, angled rocks were always something of a problem area for felt and studded soles. More often than I care to remember, I’d apply a little angular pressure, and find myself “skating” fast down a rock surface. It’s an unpleasant sensation, and a dangerous one too.

After all, fall in three feet of water and you’re going to get wet. Fall in three inches, and you could get hurt. On dry rocks, the sticky rubber soles grab like they’re glued. A huge win over felt and studded boots.

Wet/Shallow Rocks

Wet streamside rocks – whether from rain or spray – are another big wading hazard, yet the sticky rubber sole handled them nicely (much to my surprise). They’re not magic, but they are effective – and very secure. Shallow or exposed wet rocks probably account for more of my “awkward wading moments” than any other situation, yet I experienced none of them with the Riverwalker (that’s not to say you won’t).

Surprisingly, it’s another win for sticky rubber – especially if you’re a small-stream fisherman.

Cobbled River (The Usual)

This is where the rubber (ahem) really meets the streambed. On last Saturday’s Upper Sacramento River trip, I was surprised to find myself pushing my way up a waist-deep run without a hint of slippage on the rocks.

I have fished this stretch a lot over the years, and my studded-rubber Weinbrenners always came across a little dicey. By contrast, the sticky rubber soles treated the river bottom like it was dry sidewalk – the only hint of slippage came when trying to clamber over a pair of dark-colored boulders, which are warmer, and support more algae.

How will I fare on this same stretch later in the summer – when algae grows thick and the rocks aren’t being polished by high flows?

Unfortunately, I can’t say for sure, though I suspect I’ll be OK.

On the Slippery Green Stuff

It’s when you’re wading over green-painted “snot rocks” that the sticky rubber fails a bit (which is to be expected). Felt soles work by cutting through the algae and clinging to the rock; studded soles take a similar course.

The “Star Tread” tread pattern on the sticky rubber soles will cut through a little slime, but obviously, it’s not capable of penetrating through algae to rock like carbide-tipped studs.

Naturally, you can add studs (in the form of metal screws), though congratulations – you’ve just negated a lot of the positives I mentioned above.

While the Riverwalkers performed nicely at Ney Springs and also near the infamous Dunsmuir “Sewer Ponds” stretch, I must reserve judgement until after a little more algae’s grown. Given the performance so far, I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised.

The Riverwalker has passed the test on those smooth-as-glass exposed bedrock environments, where studs act more like ice skates than safety devices. In those situations, studs were always more hindrance than help.

The Underground’s Take

Finally, fly fishermen have an alternative to felt or studded boots that actually outperforms the traditional options in several environments, though I won’t pretend Patagonia’s Riverwalker “grips like felt” in every situation.

The sticky rubber Riverwalker just might be the perfect wading boot for people who hike to fish small streams, where its dry-land performance and effectiveness on wet-but-clean rocks would truly shine.

In fact, add the sole’s performance to the boot’s surprisingly light weight (and pleasing flexibility), and you’ve got the (so far) the perfect blueliner’s boot.

It’s less surefooted in snotty, algae-rich areas, and I haven’t yet tested it in the McCloud or Pit Rivers. Still, those who aren’t sure will be comforted know you can add studs if you think they’re necessary, though I suggest testing them stud-free. You might find the benefits of a rubber sole outweigh the costs.

Bonus Goodies

I already mentioned the flexible, featherweight nature of the Riverwalker, but I haven’t mentioned the sheer joy I experience putting the silly things on. Stuffing my feet in my Weinbrenners was a chainsaw-death-match-ish wrestling match, yet my feet just slide into the Riverwalker.

I demonstrated the easy-on aspect to Wayne Eng, whose eyes widened momentarily (when you struggle with wading boots as often as guides do, boots that slip on like loafers grab your attention).

Frankly, the gestalt of the Riverwalker is astonishing: Patagonia’s done a superb job of crafting a wading boot that’s light, comfortable, easy to hike in, and surprisingly protective (even in tough freestone environments).

Still, the rubber sole remains the focus of this review, and while I’m not 100% clear that rubber soles alone will prevent the transmission of invasives from one river to another (there are a lot of nooks and crannies in a wading boot), I do believe that buying fewer wading boots is better than buying more, and – on the Upper Sacramento’s hard-edge railroad tracks – felt soles simply cost more per fishing trip.

In fact, I liked Patagonia’s rubber soles so much I contacted Simms; a pair of wading boots with their much-hyped Vibram rubber sole are on the way for testing (Disclosure: I paid for the Patagonia boots), and we’ll see how the two brands compare.

Still, rather than turn this into a brand war, I’ll suggest the following: It’s good that fly fishermen finally have a durable, high-performance, longer-lasting option to felt and studded felt soles – especially those who hike a lot and fish small streams, where the Patagonia Rivewalker is simply superb.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

And without a trout at the end of any of those drives – and all my little small streams closing as the General Trout Season ended on Saturday – you could say my “regular” season ended not with a bang, but with the whimper of tires on the highway.

Fortunately, California’s progressed to the point that they carelessly left a few places for us to fish during the winter, and yes, I damn well plan to take advantage of them (starting this afternoon).

Still, I gathered this collection of interesting bits (often Internet stories) that don’t quite fit anywhere else, and thought I’d turn you on to them, if only for the opportunity they afford to rant (never pass an opportunity like that).

Yes, my fishy friends; it’s the Monday episode of the Underground’s Internet Wrapup.

State of Our Trout by Ted Williams

While enviro writer Ted Williams doesn’t quite walk on water, nobody writes about the liquid stuff better, at least not when it comes to fish, fisheries and wildlife. Thus, when Williams starts writing about the “State of Our Trout” it’s time to start listening, and as a bonus, you don’t even have to subscribe to Fly Rod & Reel to read it.

Part I and Part II have been posted on William’s regrettably oft-broken blog, so now you can read his cut-to-the-bone accounts of the fight to save Lake Davis from pike (and potentially California’s salmon & steelhead populations along with it), plus follow along the path taken by cutthroat recovery efforts.

Williams infuses his stories with drama, and unlike so many writers seeking a non-existent “balance,” doesn’t take prisoners from either camp.

In turn, he castigatges anti-rotenone activists for blocking recovery of native species; puts a bulls-eye on the backs of “environmental” groups willing to selectively apply the Endangered Species Act; attacks those attempting to gut the ESA; and even hammers outfitters actively opposing native trout recovery.

Williams gets two fins up from the Underground.

State of Our Industry (Sorta)

In the fly fishing industry – where most of the market “leaders” can’t even get their shit together enough to send a regular email/enewsletter to their customers (the marketing equivalent of going fly fishing without knowing how to tie a fly on a leader) – this Internet Retailer article about Orvis should open a few eyes.

Orvis is plowing ahead with all sorts of interesting e-commerce moves, and you don’t need my 23 years in marketing (or read my engagement marketing white paper) to know that companies survive downturns by doing what’s smart right now instead of waiting for the next Movie to save your ass once the weather turns ugly.

And yes, I can already hear the “dog-bed” mafia getting ready to savage Orvis for their lifestyle sales, but frankly, I’m not interested. Find me someone else in the industry – outside of Green Poster Child Patagonia – who’s doing as much to restore fisheries, and I’ll spotlight them.

Underground Namesake Shoots, Scores

Many of you think you know all about me from the Underground, but I’m here to point out you don’t.

For example, most have no idea I wile away the winter hours shooting target airguns (I suck, but I do it), which is why I can’t possibly pass up an opportunity to bask in the glow of target shooting success – even if that glow is only reflected on me by Air Force Academy Student Tom Chandler, who shoots scores I never will.

You, my friends, have stumbled on the story where we name Tom Chandler (the young one with good eyesight and non-shakey hands) The Official Underground Director of Shooting Sports and Pathetic Ego-Gratification by Proxy.

You can read about Chandler’s triumph in a recent match (overall points winner with 1172: smallbore 587, air rifle 585), and yes, you can expect more reflected-glory bragging as Chandler’s competitive season progresses – despite the fact I don’t know this kid, and he sure as heck doesn’t know me.

And here you thought it couldn’t get any stranger here at the Underground.

And you were wrong.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

fly fishing, fishing, ted williams, target shooting, orvis, patagonia, wild trout recovery, native trout, wild trout

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There, Troyer and Bennett of Moldy Chum undoubtedly had a great time telling each other what a great guy I am. At the Underground, we suspect words like “brilliant” and “handsome” came into play.

 
Troyer and Bennet. It doesn’t get any weirder. (Courtesy Chumphoto Press Agency)

Sadly, Bennett chose not to share any of those sterling tributes to my character in his post, but we’re pretty sure that’s just an oversight.

See you at the fly fishing fair, Tom Chandler.