Don ' t slip! Proper footwear is essential while fly-fishing.( Tree River, Nunavut) Photo by Duane Radford
You ' ll need insulated winter boots for Canada ' s north country. Photo by Duane Radford.
In addition to Merrell, brands such as Columbia carry quality waterproof hiking boots, most of which have Thinsulate insulation for winter hikes or when the weather turns foul. I have used hiking boots made of polyesters and while they’ re lightweight and usually have good ankle support, they are not water repellent, so your feet will get wet in damp conditions. Damp socks lead to blisters, so let the buyer beware.
Seniors who travel to tropical destinations in search of sandy and rocky beaches should purchase something along the lines of warm weather synthetic fishing sandals or hiking shoes with Vibram soles that drain water. These shoes go well with polyester beach pants or wading pants.
My passion is fly angling, which has taken me on trips across Canada and Montana under a wide range of conditions. I’ ve long used Simms wading shoes and wading boots because of their reputation as reliable and sturdy products. Serious fly anglers will need several kinds of footwear to cover a wide range of terrain and weather. Start with feltsoled wading boots that can be used with chest or hip waders or with just wading socks during warm weather when the water isn’ t all that cold.
Be sure to machine wash felt-soled wading boots with bleach after each use to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases.
During warm weather, you can generally get by with lightweight wet wading shoes that have good grip if you don’ t really need felt-soled wading boots— for example, if you’ re fishing out of a drift boat, rubber raft, or jet boat.
On some trips to northern Canada where chest or hip waders wouldn’ t be required since most of the day would be spent in an outboard motorboat, I’ d simply take a pair of quality gum boots with an excellent grip to keep my feet dry. Easy peasy.
Always research your options before making any purchases, and if possible, go to retail outlets to try out the products firsthand— don’ t rely on the internet or online chatter. I’ d also suggest getting your feet professionally measured so there’ s no guesswork when it comes to sizing. Even a half-inch makes a difference while hiking and fishing.
Duane Radford advises shopping around and using your best judgment before deciding what footwear will best suit your travel plans.
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