Korkers Redside for the Dam?

[Da Da's Fishing]

After slipping and sliding around the dam for the last month, I've come to the conclusion that it's time to invest in some good boots. After some research, the Korkers Redside look to fit the bill.

Two questions to the group. 1) Anyone who's owned them, do you like them? 2) What's the best sole for the dam? keep in mind I'm pretty much exclusively fishing the Hooch so I don't really need to worry about transferring stuff via felt, so any of their felt options are on the table for me. If I do go to another creek, I'll just put on the rubber soles anyway.

DD F

[esb's daddy]

I own them and really like them. Don't pull too hard on the loop on the back of the boot though. it will tear the mesh a bit. Found out the hard way. Soles are really eas to swap out .Come with felt and plain rubber. Rubber is useless except for hiking. I would get the Studded Felt for Dam. I think they are only about $34.

[esb's daddy]

also they claim to be true to your actual shoe size. I did not find this to be true. I wear a 14 shoe and the 15 boot was a much better fit.

[Mog]

I have the Korkers Metalhead's not the Redsides and use the felt and studs soles. I used the 'kling-on' rubber soles acouple of times before the new ones arrived and I came too close to dunking numerous times. For the dam... its felt and studs only for me. As for sizing I bought 11s for my sz 10 foot and they were a bit big on me. I sold them to a friend who needed them and went back for the sz 10 and the fit was much better.

[SlowStreamer]

I wear a pair of Korkers. their so old and beaten up that I can't remember what they are, but like Mog I recommend the Felt and Studs for below the dam !!!!!!

[Wet Fly]

I have worn out two pairs of Korkers Wetlands in the last six years or so, and I used to fish 3-4 times a week back then. I bought the first pair for $80 and then less than a year later found the last pair of same boots on sale at BPS, half off. I could not walk away without buying them even though I did not need them. It was just too good of a deal. For wading the hooch I have always relied on felt (haven't tried the studded goodness yet). I tried the rubber soles once and never put them on again, too dicey. They do come in handy when you need to hike in to fish, though, i.e. Chattooga; save your felt for wading, etc.

It just so happens that I was looking for a new pair of boots over the last few days as I finally did in my trusty Wetlands rock hopping in the GSMNP recently. I was leaning toward a pair of Simms Freestones w/felt but found a great deal at Sierratradingpost.com on a pair of Korkers Streamborn boots: just could not pass it up. The boots list for $69.95 but I found a coupon for 20% off and got the boots for just under $66 out the door. These boots feature the v2.0 interchangeable soles as opposed to v3.0 the Redside boots got in 2011 (I think), meaning that the replacement soles will be that much harder to find. I'm not worried, though.

Both previous Korkers pairs I had were one size up from my street shoes size and I found them fitting perfectly, especially in the winter. Wading the dam in Dec/Jan can get pretty darn chilly, but I found that a pair of liner socks and two pair wool keep my toes nice and toasty. You need some room in your boots to fit all that, plus the neoprene bootie, without cutting off blood flow to your toes. In the summer, I still wear liner socks and one pair wool. For me, it was the price that sold me on the Streamborn model, but I also have a positive experience with Korkers so it was a no brainer. Simms will have to wait until this pair is worn out.

Hope this helps.

Here's the link. Click on "coupons", then click on "see all coupons for STP".
http://www.thefind.com/sports/browse...rn-wading-boot

[scifinders2]

Spending three days a week on the water mostly hiking in at least three miles to water before fishing, I know first hand they are worth the money.

After many interchanges between soles nothing lost in the original fit and comfort.

I must confess...best money I have spent on equipment since beginning this sport.

Best attribute - the felt studs. Truly feel like a billy goat on the most verticle if rocks and boulders. Pure confidence while wading!!!!

My only concern.....the studs on boulders and rocks to "me" sound like fingernails on a chalk board. Surely this must send a greater signal to lateral lines?????

Sure footedness is absolute. Thre has to be a Ying and Yang to this remarkable boot.

Breck

I don't know if there are any boots that can combat "the green snot" at the dam. If you find something that works, please let me know.

My Simms felt are definitely NOT the answer...

[Firehole]

Where did you get a size 15, my 13 are a little small and did not know that they had a bigger size.

[driftwood]

i have redsides as well. I still slip at the dam though. That growth of slime this year is deadly. You need the felt with studs out there or a float tube in my opinion. I might have to pick up some studded felt ones after my friday morning there. I took 3 swims. That's what's nice about the red sides though, you can just buy the soles whenever they wear out.