Got my Korkers.....now what?

[Osprey]

Hey Santa delivered my new set of Korkers,looks like I'll have to learn to walk again
So can anyone offer me any advice on use and care of these......Happy Holidays....Os

[Ramstrong]

Os,
I have studded felt danners. As far as care go's I just let them air dry and they seem good to go. Now learning to walk. Look out!!! My best advice to you is to make sure you pick your feet up and place them down with authority. If you ever tick the rocks when your walking you're going to find that the studs stick to anything they touch. It's caused me to almost trip a couple of times when trudging after a long day of wading when my shoes stop in mid stride. But I recommend studded wading shoes to anyone that doesn't mind if they thrash the bottom of their boat. They make wading (especially in deeper faster water) so much easier.

[DanS]

So what are you saying, Os? That you don't want to go on a boat ride this weekend because you'll be too busy learning how to walk in studded felts? :tongue:

[BigSpinner]

I was wondering do studs slip on big rocks, I have felt and they work great but I don't know about studs.

GO DUCKS!

[mudsucker]

korkers are great.. I have a pair that i use when fishing off the rocks for bottom fish. The big thing that i learned is you have to trust them and keep your feet flat (if you don't you don't have all the studs on the rocks and you have a better chance of slipping) I think for rock hopping the korkers are better than felt..used to use felt when fishing off the rocks and was always on my ass. My korkers are about 7 years old and you can hardly tell there worn on the bottom.

mudsucker

[FlyChucker]

Studded boots are great but nothing replaces careful walking. Especially great for the Deschutes. No matter what, I seem to fall in more often than I want to. It's getting to the point where my wife expects me to come home soaking wet. I find myself using a wading staff (old x-c ski pole) more and more.

I wore my studded booted the first couple of times after I got a drift boat and they chewed the hell out of the floor. Now only wear felt soles. If you're a guest in someone else's boat definitely DO NOT wear your studded boots.

Mike

[smilesforu]

My advise is to take a life jacket when you use your cat. :smile:

[Osprey]

Thanks for the replies....you too Danny
I can see that walking will take a bit of time to get.
And heck Ya I want a boat ride....my Korkers are for those days that You have laundry to do and I'm gonna be a bank Monkey :shocked:

Marty I always have a life vest on my Cat,heck I might even bring one for Dan next time too....maybe ....Os

[Tanner]

So what's up with that? Did ya need better traction for the big goat round up?

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Big Spinner - Yes studs slip on big rocks; small rocks too. I know because I remember how cold the water was. Oh, the studded wading boots is the subject, well then:

I have had studded felt on my ghetto wading boots (for when I go ghetto wading). The felt that came with the boots had worn out, I put the studded felt on and it was awesome. I agree with Ramstrong, but don't wear them on a buddy's boat. :shocked:

You should see what they do to a guy's hand and shins...muh ha ha ha

[ampersat]

so, these corkers, are they some sort of strap-on thing? where can i find them?

[FlyChucker]

Image from Kaufman's Streamborn

They are also called stream cleats.

Flyshop.com article about boots. <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Specialized wading soles, like Korkers, Stream Cleats, and felt soles with studs, are essential on some difficult-to-wade streams, such as the Deschutes or the North Umpqua. You should take the time to learn how to use them and to appreciate their limitations. While they provide added traction in slippery stream bottoms, they are more difficult to walk in and they add weight to your feet, which can be an advantage in difficult wading but a disadvantage if you get swept off your feet (they also scar the surfaces of boats and floors).
Corkers work well on "greased cannonballs" (algae-covered stream rocks), but they can be slippery on dry river rocks. Stream Cleats also provide traction on algae-covered rocks, but they can instantly cut a fly line if you catch it between your boot and a rock. Rubber-soled boots work poorly on anything but sandy, silty, or gravely stream bottoms. The new sticky rubber soles are fine for moderate waters, but they work poorly on swift-flowing rivers where the rocks are slippery and the force of the water can push your feet out from under you.
No matter which wading boot, shoe, or boot-foot wader you choose, ankle support is critical for safe wading. A strong wading shoe or boot provides the support that helps to prevent the ankle-turning foot slippages that lead to spills.
<hr></blockquote>

[Tanner]

You can probably get them cheaper at home depot or any roofing supply place. We have boxes of them in the back of my shop. Our guys use them for walking on shake roofs when it is wet out. Loggers use them alot also. They are very common in the construction industry.

[mudsucker]

ampersat
yes they are a strap on like a sandel(sp) you can get them from cabelas
mudsucker