As surf fishers it is important to consider one of the most vital pieces of equipment we use: our waders. While we count on them to keep us dry as we ply the waters it is important to be aware of the limitations waders have in terms of traversing certain turf. There are, however, things we can do to help gain an advantage over these limits and make our wading safer.

Most waders are used in conjunction with a rubber soled boot or wading shoe. When fishing a sand beach, mud flats or sod banks these are adequate for safe wading as well as comfortable for walking and long nights standing in the water.

However, if your quarry is Stripers, inevitably your pursuit will take you to rocky shore lines which require other considerations. Rubber soles over algae covered rocks are as slick as ice and make for a treacherous situation. Some anglers put felt soles over the bottoms of their boots. While this is common for freshwater anglers and is certainly better than plain rubber soles, felt just don't cut it in the surf. For more secure footing over rocks in the surf you must have metal on your feet. There are two ways to accomplish this.

Korkers makes felt soles with metal studs screwed into them. These require you to measure, cut and paste the soles to the bottom of your wading boots or shoes. I've used these and find them very helpful, especially since they are permanently attached you can't for get to take them or put them on. However getting them on and making sure they stay on are difficult. I've found they take several applications of contact cement, rubber cement and even Zap-a-Gap to ensure they stay on.

On more heavily rocky shores however, such as those found along some North Shore beaches and Montauk or when prowling jetties, nothing I've found beats the full Korkers sandals. Also known by casters as "creepers" these sandals are the mainstay of surfcasters. The come in two styles: original and easy on-off buckle style. The original Korkers have a rubber sole with carbide steel studs imbedded into holes in the sole and use a long heavy duty lace to attach to the boot or shoe. The easy on-off Korkers are also rubber with studs, but the studs are screwed into the soles and the sandal uses a system of nylon straps and buckles to attach to the boot or shoe. With either style for added security many casters permanently attach Korkers to their waders by putting a 2" stainless steel screw through the back of the sandal into the heel of the boot or shoe below the sole. Alternatively, some anglers use wrap the creeper onto their boots with duct tape. The sharp points of the cleats easily poke through the tape so there's minimal loss of traction

Creepers have the advantage of a large number of sharp studs that can be replaced if they get broken or worn down. Further, if you don't use the screw-on method described above, they can be removed when not needed (walking long distances over hard surfaces while wearing creeper can be uncomfortable as well as causing excess wear on the studs).

Casters tend to stay away from the slip-on style of creepers. While some use them effectively often these have a tendency to slip off your foot as it bends and flexes while you walk. Still other casters try to attach golf shoe spikes to their boots, though this can be difficult and uncertain.

Whichever method you use always keep in mind that having felt or studs does not turn you into the human fly! It simply gives you an extra margin of safety over slippery surfaces like those found along rocky coast lines. Always exercise good judgment when deciding whether or not to go out onto a jetty, climb atop a rock, or wade out into rocky waters. With proper use and judgment creepers can add an extra advantage to your fishing trip as well as provide a greater margin of safety.

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