Do I need studs in my Wading Boots?

[Deleted]

I have had a pair of Simms Wading Boots with the Aquastealth sole for 3 seasons now.

Great boots and all rounder.

Generally speaking, I am mostly fishing the Upper Tweed in the Autumn and likely to be trying the Tay in the Spring most often these days.

I don't think Studs are required on the Upper Tweed beats I fish. And I didn't think I needed them on Upper Floors last year - it can be rocky in some parts on the North bank

However, I would welcome advice as to whether I should consider inserting the studs that came with the boots for the Tay and on any other parts of the middle or lower Tweed.

tb

[cascade]

tb,

I have the same boots, but I haven't used them yet.

From what I've read on other forums, Aquastealth aren't as good as felt on rock, particularly on smooth and algae covered rocks, so the advice I've seen is to use studs if you intend to wade on smooth rock or boulders.

I intend to use the new boots for 90% of my fishing which is on gravel bottoms (easy wading), and keep my older felt soled boots in reserve for trips to new beats or beat where I know there is tricky wading on rock.

It will be interesting to hear about the experience of others!

[Deleted]

cascade

That's pretty much my own experience to date.

Not done much on rocky algae covered rocks - that's why I wanted to know about the Tay and further down the Tweed

tb