Between the early sunrise frog bite and the schooling stripers at sunset, bass will always be top of mind in the heat of our Texas summers. But sometimes exploring new water in search of new species is a nice change of pace. Recently, a new, less-targeted fish has shot to the top of my list: smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus, from the Greek for “bull-fish” and “buffalo”). These carp-like creatures generally get lumped in with other “tash fish.” After targeting these natives, that is far from the case. Here’s everything you need to know to catch a buffalo on the fly.
What is a Smallmouth Buffalo?
Most consider buffalo to be part of the carp family, but in actuality, this species is in the Catostomidae family of suckerfish. While these giants can be found cruising the flooded banks grouped in with common carp, any die-hard carp angler will tell you that the buffalo is an entirely different game of chess to play. Smallmouth buffalo prefer waters with dense aquatic vegetation and a silty bottom.
Their diet is primarily that of a detritivore, using its ventral sucker mouth to pick up and consume zooplankton, insect larvae, mollusk larvae, and small crustaceans. They are scientifically smarter than bass, have great eyesight, and can be super skittish.
Why Target Smallmouth Buffalo?
For reasons I will never understand, most native Texans tend to look down on this species. But as a wise person once said, “The difference between a flower and a weed is a judgment.” I couldn’t agree more with the comparison of buffalo to other popular game fish. Stalking the flats, locating a buffalo, and having a short window of opportunity to present your fly within its sightline presents a challenge for even the skilled fly angler. And frankly, I don’t care what kind of fish it is, if it has shoulders and is over 10 pounds cruising in less than a foot of water, buck fever kicks in!
Techniques to Catch a Buffalo on the Fly:
These fish will eat flies if presented in the correct way. For me, this has meant lying down the fly as quietly as possible in the path the buffalo is cruising in. Unlike a standard game fish that you can coax into getting a reaction strike, these fish have to be in the right mood to eat. They can be very sociable and are typically found in groups or pods hanging out or tailing in less than a foot of water in the dead heat of the middle of the day. It’s when their nose is pointed down, munching the bottom, that you will have your chance at hooking up.
It’s important that the buffalo see your fly in their sightline. After getting the fly within its eyesight, move the fly just enough for the fish to spot it. Sometimes just a little wiggle is all it takes for buffalo to take interest and usually suck it right up.
As far as what flies to use, any carp fly will get the job done, but it’s best to have a range of options. When fishing in gin-clear water, matching the bottom is best (olive/ brown). If the water is off-colored or stained, I find it crucial to use a loud color (pink/orange/chartreuse). Louder colors also help keep your fly visible in the water, helping you to line up the fly in the buffalo’s path.
Persistence and precision are the recipe for hooking up and landing these special fish. So if you find your typical largemouth spots overrun by new anglers looking for a socially-distanced hobby, I recommend targeting smallmouth buffalo for the challenge of feeding an intelligent beast of a game fish that has been overlooked for far too long.
Recommended Gear
When conditions are favorable, with low wind/full sun, we tend to use smaller rods that increase the “fun factor.” Five and 6-wts make the fight pretty intense! But in most cases, an 8-wt with a 9-12ft leader is my go-to.
Recommended Flies
Fly selection is 100% dependent on the water clarity. Oftentimes, the fish won’t see the fly in muddy water, so we like to use really bright flies. Options like pink & chartreuse backstabbers, carp tease, carp crack patterns, carp dusters, and even bonefish butters work really well.
“I love fishing our private water in front of our restaurant at Harmel’s on the Taylor. It’s an awesome spot. It can be a little nerve racking to fish with a crowd watching, but a successful catch and release with a cheer from the crowd really gets your blood pumping!”
Reel of the Week from Tanner, be sure to follow his Instagram HERE!
The Long Haul Gear Reviews are designed to give you in-depth, honest feedback on the gear that we’ve used and abused for more than a few weeks or months. Often, this is gear we’ve fished for years. The idea is to give you a look at how durable this gear is, and whether its marketing hype lives up well after launch day fades into the past. In this review, we’re looking at one of the flagship rod launches of the past few years—the Sage R8 Core.
The R8 Core is the top-of-the-line rod from Sage, representing the company’s eighth such stick. It’s built for a wide range of applications, with models ranging from a 9′ 3-weight to a 9′ 9-weight. This review will focus on my 9′ 5-weight, which I’ve been fortunate to own since slightly before the rod launched in 2022. I’ve fished it on a variety of trout rivers in Wyoming and Utah in that time, and it’s even pulled some light duty on alpine lakes, as well.
The Sage R8 Core 9′ 5-weight is marketed as the all-around trout rod for serious anglers. It’s supposed to be the best jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none 5-weight that we’ve come to expect, and in a lot of ways, it is.
This rod packs serious power. It generates enormous line speeds, even with true-to-weight lines. I fished it with both true-to-weight and half-size heavy lines (Scientific Anglers Amplitude Trout and Amplitude Infinity, respectively), and while the rod certainly prefers a half-size heavy line, it performed wonderfully with true-to-weight line, too.
The R8 Core is a fast rod, but it’s not without plenty of feedback. You wouldn’t mistake this for a Winston, but an experienced angler will appreciate the subtle flex as the rod loads and unloads during the cast, or the quick response of the tip when drifting tiny nymphs through a deep pool.
Sage outfits the rod with their classic snub-nose grip, and a dark wood reel seat insert. The typical Sage wraps adorn the rod, and it comes in a white aluminum tube. It certainly feels and looks like an expensive rod. It’s built in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
All products featured on Flylords are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The Time Test
In the right hands, the R8 Core is as accurate a fly rod as you’ll find. Accuracy relies mostly on the abilities of the caster, but rod construction also matters. If a rod tracks straight (the tip moves in a straight line throughout the cast) and the blank doesn’t move too far side-to-side (oscillation), you have a stick that’s inherently accurate. The R8 checks both those boxes, and I had no problems using it to toss blue-winged olives to wary sippers, pale-morning duns to stocky summer trout, or plopping a hopper-dropper rig tight against the bank.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s rare to break a fly rod on a fish. Most often, rods are damaged by split shot, nymphs, or streamers hitting the blank during a cast. That creates a weak point that will eventually fail. Or, the rods are slammed in truck doors, tailgates, or stepped on. They might look fine, but they’ll break the next time you’re fighting a fish.
All that is to say—I haven’t damaged my R8 Core, and it hasn’t broken. Other than soiled cork, it’s in the same shape it was the day I got it.
Where this rod really stood out, though, is just how powerful it is. It’ll throw heavy hopper-dropper rigs into the wind without struggling. Part of that is casting technique (and I’m a middling caster, at best), but this is a fast, powerful rod. There were multiple days when I was fishing in the famous Wyoming wind, and I thought I’d need to step up to my 6-weight to finish out the day. The R8 Core kept up, though, and maintained the feel and delicacy that most of us want in a 5-weight.
Even with all its power, it’ll lay flies down softly when needed. It’s not the first rod I’d reach for in technical dry fly fishing, but it’ll get the job done if you run into a hatch.
My Recommendation
The Sage R8 Core is an objectively great rod, especially in the 9′ 5-weight configuration. If you want high line speeds, oodles of power, and true versatility, it’s tough to point you in a different direction.
But it’s not my favorite flagship rod, for reasons that are hard to articulate. A lot of anglers and rod makers try to quantify and explain everything about a fly rod—action, length, weight, and even “feel.” It’s useful to do that because those qualities matter in how a rod performs.
The intangibles are what’s hard to communicate, though, and in my hands, the R8 Core doesn’t have the same wow factor I feel from other rods. It’s amazing, I enjoy fishing it whenever it finds its way into my hands, and there’s little for me to pick at as something Sage could improve. It simply just doesn’t make me grin the way other rods do.
So, take that for what it’s worth. Go cast one before dropping the $1,050 on it. And if you’re in the market for a top-tier trout rod, you’re missing out if you don’t put the Sage R8 Core at the top of your list.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed earlier this month that invasive zebra mussels are present within the Colorado River. According to Colorado Public Radio, CPW officials found zebra mussels in Eagle County, near New Castle and the Highline Lake State Park. That means the Colorado River from its junction with the Roaring Fork to the Utah state line is positive for this invasive species.
Zebra mussels are tiny, but they’re a huge problem for waterbodies. Originally native to Europe, they spread rapidly and can cause severe ecological and structural problems. Zebra mussels are filter-feeders, and they subsist on tiny plankton. That plankton is often the basis of the food web in reservoirs and lakes. When that plankton is removed, it impacts everything from aquatic insect abundance to the health of trout and other fish.
Mussel infestations aren’t new to the United States. Most eastern rivers, and all the Great Lakes, are home to this invasive species. And as Elise Schmelzer wrote for The Denver Post, when zebra mussels were found in the Hudson River in New York, they “halved the amount of fish food available, shrank fish populations, reduced oxygen levels in the water, [and] changed the river’s chemistry.”
From a structural point of view, mussels have hard shells and attach themselves to any surface they can find. That means they’ll burrow into irrigation pipes, dam outlets, and other infrastructure used to deliver and control water flows. Removing mussels is costly and often ineffective. When it does succeed, it usually results in numerous other game fish dying.
In 2023, quagga mussels (similar to zebra mussels) were found in the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho. The Idaho Department of Fish & Game treated the river with a copper-based solution that killed significant amounts of fish, including native sturgeon.
That same approach apparently isn’t feasible on the Colorado River, according to Schmelzer in the Post. She spoke with Tina Bergonzini, the general manager of the Grand Valley Water Users Association, which has already treated some of its own irrigation equipment to prevent adult mussels from latching onto it. That cost $80,000, which was paid for by water users within the Association. To perform that same treatment in the Colorado River, Bergonzini said, would require “a line of rail cars” dumping the substance in the river.
CPW has not officially ruled out a treatment option. Currently, they’ve beefed up monitoring staff on the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers to get an idea of how many adult and juvenile mussels may be in the system.
Wading boots are an essential part of fly fishing. They are responsible for getting you to and from where you are fishing, providing traction on slick surfaces, and supporting your feet for a long day on the water. Saltwater wading boots provide the same benefits and have an added level of protection against corrosive saltwater compared to regular wading boots. They aren’t glamorous and certainly don’t get the same love as rods and reels. Nonetheless, they are an essential piece of saltwater fishing gear that every angler uses. Taking the time to find the right footwear will have your feet thanking you in the long run. With that in mind, here are some of our favorite options, from fishing sand flats in the Bahamas to rock jetties in New England.
All products featured on Flylords are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In order to narrow down our favorite wading footwear for the salt, we tested an array of different products across multiple fisheries and fishermen. From chasing bonefish and permit on Mexican sand flats to striped bass from Cape Cod jetties and salt marsh habitats, we hit all the bases. The big three factors for scoring unsurprisingly included performance, comfort, and durability. The rigors of fishing in saltwater environments are especially hard on your gear and your body, so we gave each boot’s comfort rating and overall fit and feel a lot of weight here.
An average day of flats fishing while field testing gear in Mexico entailed 15-20 miles of walking, so wading boots that didn’t feel anything short of great underfoot were quickly cut. The abuses of the saltwater theatre while testing in the Northeast were equally punishing, demanding our saltwater wading boots to go up against slick rock scrambles, pounding surf, and mucky estuary bottoms. We didn’t go easy on our wading footwear, so we feel confident we weeded out each pair’s advantages and shortcomings.
Not to be overlooked, we found versatility in function to be one of our top criteria for testing. Saltwater wading boots that are perfectly tailored to your specific angling style and fishery are wonderful, but wading boots that hit all the bases for multiple habitats and types of angling endeavors are even better. We found that the advantages of some boots transcended quite a few fly fishing styles, so points were awarded accordingly.
100% recycled ripstop polyester upper construction with laminated TPU mudguard
Non-removable EVA insoles and EVA midsoles
Stud-compatible Michelin® rubber outsoles
Breathable, quick-draining Ariaprene® tongue retains less water, and dries faster than the previous generation Ultralight Boot
Pros:
Versatile choice, great for pairing with waders or wet wading
Lightweight construction keeps the spring in your step at just 40.5 ounces per pair
Available in women’s sizing
Cons:
May allow fine debris to enter the boot if wet wading without a gravel guard
The Orvis Ultralight Boot is our pick for the best overall boot, thanks to its exceptional versatility in numerous saltwater wading contexts. Built with a 100% recycled ripstop polyester upper construction and laminated TPU mudguard, these boots are impressively durable for their weight (40.5 ounces per pair). They might not be as durable as heavier wading boot options, but you’ll no doubt be impressed with their integrity and lifespan, as long as you’re not consistently using them in absolutely punishing environments, such as oyster beds and hard coral.
I was a huge fan of Orvis’s last iteration of the Ultralight Boot, and the newer model is truly enhanced. They retain less water and dry faster than the previous generation. They also feature a new sole compound and lug shape for better grip and self-cleaning properties. The boots utilize closed-cell foam in the sidewalls (previous generation had open-cell foam) that is thinner, less absorbent, and wraps the ankle comfortably while providing better impact protection.
As a northeast angler who targets striped bass from rock jetties and gnarly shore structure, I love that the Ultralights are stud-compatible for some added traction. The Michelin® rubber outsoles are killer on their own, but having the option to add studs takes the versatility of these boots to the next level. When wearing the Ultralights without waders, a 3mm neoprene sock is perfect for wet wading endeavors.
Non-marking, boat-friendly, gum rubber outsole is stud compatible
Neoprene lining ensures easy on and off, added insulation, and premium comfort
Pros:
Built with non-corrosive, saltwater-friendly materials throughout the boot design
Design is ideal for scenarios demanding extra ankle support and overall durability
Cons:
Not an ideal wet wading boot due to the inherently higher weight (54 ounces)
Some saltwater anglers find themselves in areas like the northeast with cold water and slick rock faces. In these scenarios, wet wading is oftentimes not an option. Enter the Simms FreeSalt wading boot, a wading system designed specifically to be worn with waders in the salt.
This burly boot is designed with slick and cold conditions in mind. The non-marking outsoles offer plenty of traction and can be paired with Simms Hardbite cleats/studs or Alumibite Star Cleats for added grip. High, sturdy sides provide exceptional ankle support for rock jetties and precarious wading conditions where you need to endure the pounding surf. The Neoprene lining goes on to add some insulation benefit when water temps are chilly, and also assists with easy on and off action. Like any wading boot Simms makes, the FreeSalts are designed with comfort in mind. A dual-density EVA midsole offers plenty of cushion and support to fish all day with minimal fatigue.
If you find yourself in a scenario in which you’d like to wet wade, this boot can do that too. Just make sure to add a neoprene wet wading sock to effectively simulate the neoprene booty found in waders. If you want to utilize the FreeSalts out on the boat, the gum rubber outsole is conveniently non-marking and boat-friendly (as long as you haven’t equipped them with studs).
Unique boot/bootie hybrid design employing traditional laces with a zippered gravel guard
Abrasion-resistant PU cast exterior and tough rubber toe ensure high durability
Easy-grab heel loops on lace cover and liner heel for easy on and off
Pros:
Provides far superior ankle support when compared to traditional neoprene booties
Designed for barefoot comfort, so no wading socks required
Great for conquering especially suction-prone environments such as mud flats and estuaries
Cons:
Gravel guard has a tendency to trap shell bits when wading in deeper mud
Designed exclusively for wet wading, so the sizing won’t allow you to pair these with waders
Orvis set out to design a wet-wading boot capable of handling any warm saltwater fishery with the Approach Pro Hiker Salt. After putting these feature-rich booties to the test in the Bahamas, Orvis achieved this in a lightweight and comfortable package. Perfect for the flats fisherman who crushes miles, anglers who put in a lot of steps per day will find a friend here.
Unlike traditional neoprene flats booties, this unique wading option is designed to offer maximum support. This is achieved with an inner laced boot extending over the ankle and an integrated outer gravel guard to keep sand away from your feet. The result is a much sportier and snug feel than traditional booties. This makes the Approach PRO Hikers surprisingly just as suitable for clambering on sketchy rock jetties as they are for traversing sand and mud flats. The combination of inner boot body and outer gravel guard furthermore very effectively protects your feet from debris, so no more pouring out pesky sand midday (the one exception we found was in deep mud where shell fragments occasionally sneak in).
When it comes to traction, Orvis has employed an exclusive, non-marking Michelin® outsole for killer grip on both wet and dry surfaces. The soles are totally boat-friendly, so you won’t scuff or mark up the bow when you’re jumping on and off the flats skiff. The outsole also feels inherently more robust than your average bootie, so you can comfortably walk over uneven, hard surfaces without any pokey pressure underfoot.
Expected lifespan is not terribly long if you’re hard on your gear
Fly fishermen seeking an affordable and reliable option for casual saltwater wading should consider the Aransas 3.0 Surf and Sand Shoe. While this option might not offer the same level of premium support, comfort rating, and long-term durability as higher-quality boots, that doesn’t mean it’s not a perfectly suitable choice for the right wading contexts.
Built with a 5mm neoprene upper and a high-density front zipper featuring a full gusset, the Aransas is designed to form a snug fit around your ankle and block out debris. The lack of laces means you won’t feel quite as snug and supported in there, but an adjustable ankle-tension strap at least enables you to cinch these booties down fairly well. The rubber outsole provides solid traction on wet and dry surfaces, but we don’t recommend these booties for use over hard surfaces. This recommendation has more to do with support than it does traction—the inherent design of the Aransas Shoe just doesn’t feel as solid underfoot while traversing uneven rocky or coral-ridden terrain. Frogg Toggs has named this wade shoe the “Surf & Sand Shoe” for a reason—it thrives when worn on sand/mud flats, and while fishing uniform coastlines.
If you wet-wade over mostly friendly, even terrain, you will find the Aransas 3.0 hits all the necessary bases without breaking the bank. Not to be overlooked, these are awesome booties for kayak missions, shore fishing, and all sorts of outdoor light-duty, so the versatility here extends beyond saltwater wet wading applications.
OmniTrax® Interchangeable Sole System allows you to select from multiple outsoles and customize your traction based on your needs
EVA midsole provides solid rebound and shock absorption
Mono-mesh side panels block sediment and effectively vent to keep feet cool on hot days
Underfoot sole plate for added protection from rocks, coral, and uneven terrain
Pros:
Extremely lightweight at just 30 ounces per pair
Very versatile option suitable for all sorts of salt and freshwater wading/fishing scenarios
Interchangeable soles enable you to experiment with different traction options, and also to replace your favorite outsole when it eventually wears out
Cons:
Lack of ankle support
No integrated gravel guard or gusset to exclude finer debris and sediment
Korkers is known for building innovative wading solutions, and the All Axis Shoe is no exception. Similar in looks to a regular sneaker, this shoe is designed specifically for wet wading and is a versatile fishing footwear option.
Featuring mesh sides for low total weight, ample air circulation, and quick dry times, the All Axis Shoe is a very bare-bones, high-speed wading option for those anglers who put in a lot of steps each day and want to remain nimble on their feet. An EVA midsole provides solid rebound and shock absorption, while an underfoot sole plate adds protection from rocks, coral, and uneven terrain.
Like other Korkers, this shoe comes equipped with the OmniTrax® interchangeable sole system, so you can choose your outsole based on the day of fishing ahead of you. We found that we prefer the Trailtrac sole for maximum versatility. It’s great for getting in and out of boats and fishing various bottom types. If you find yourself most frequently wet wading over hard bottom, more thoroughly studded options are available. Korkers even offers their Kling-On Deck Gum Sole as an option here if you want your wet wading footwear to instantly double as deck shoes.
Beyond the All Axis Shoe’s versatile soles, these sporty wet wade shoes are also compact and lightweight (30 ounces per pair). This makes them a stellar choice for both quick grab-and-go missions as well as international trips. The utilized materials here are furthermore hydrophobic, so the All Axis Shoes dry that much faster when it comes time to stuff them back in your pack. The combination of its lightweight design, quick-drying features, and comfortable fit makes this a great option to simply keep in the boat or truck. If you find a particular flat or piece of water that looks good, slip them on, and you’re ready to wade.
Molded rubber toe and heel cap for added integrity
Pros:
Neoprene liner ensures all-day comfort
A highly versatile option great for the rocks, the flats, and the boat
Provide excellent ankle support and rigidity for especially challenging wading environments
Cons:
The sneakers are purpose-built to be stiff, so there’s a break-in period
Not compatible with studs
Tall uppers and heavier weight (45 ounces) mean these aren’t especially packable for travel
May allow fine debris to enter the boot if wet wading without a gravel guard
Flats fishermen who demand a high level of integrity and support from their wading footwear should consider the Simms Flats Sneaker. Built for maximum sure-footedness over dodgy uneven terrain, this purpose-built workhorse is ideal for navigating the most pokey and unforgiving flats.
Simms describes the Flats Sneaker as “combining rugged puncture resistance for sharp, rocky terrain and a sneaker-like fit for effortless on-the-go comfort and support.”, and we couldn’t agree more. This is a high-speed wading option that offers the durability and support of traditional boots, along with the sportiness of an agile sneaker.
The former model of Flats Sneaker featured wonderful performance, but fell short regarding integrity. I’ve seen more than a couple of pairs of Flats Sneakers delaminate at the sole and blow out firsthand over the years; yet my angling companions would return to the same model of footwear due to its performance during its lifespan. If you fall into this category, the new Flats Sneakers feature reinforced soles and seams. Designed with a reinforced TPU upper, non-corrosive hardware, and molded rubber toe and heel caps, Simms has engineered the Flats Sneakers with a longer lifespan and overall integrity in mind.
We recommend these sneakers for wet wading applications, but if you size them accordingly, we don’t see any reason they won’t wear just fine with waders. Simm’s Guide Wet Wading Sock pairs wonderfully with the Flats Sneaker, but if you already have a favorite sock for wet wading, chances are it’s a great match as well.
What You Need to Know About Saltwater Wading Boots:
Saltwater wading boots endure more than most wading boots. Corrosive conditions, varying bottom types, and harsh UV rays mean the boot must be built to withstand these conditions for seasons to come. When looking for a good boot, it’s important to consider where you fish, how you fish, and the needs of your feet.
Where You Fish:
Depending on where you fish, your footwear needs may dramatically change. Anglers in the northeast face slick rock jetties and cold water. For these scenarios, a boot made to use with waders, with lots of traction and good ankle support, is a must. On the other end of the spectrum, tropical anglers should look for lightweight wet-wading boots that keep sand and debris away from their feet. Consider the conditions you’ll be facing before deciding on your saltwater wading boot.
How You Fish:
Determining the needs of how you fish is equally as important when deciding on your preferred boot. If you are a mobile angler who likes to cover water, finding lightweight boots with plenty of foot support is essential for long days on the water. In comparison, anglers who fish from a boat and occasionally get out to wade a flat should look into a sneaker style they can throw on and take up a minimal amount of space.
Boot Fit and Features:
Every angler has different requirements for how a boot fits. It’s important to consider this when buying a saltwater wading boot. If you need good ankle support, look for boots with high and stiff sides for maximum support. On the other hand, anglers who like to cover water should look for lightweight boots. These often have less support but are less taxing when covering miles. Boot fit and feel vary across brands, so when possible, try them on in person to narrow down the best option.
FAQs:
Q: When should I wet wade?
The best time to wet wade is when the water temperature is tolerably warm and pleasant to be in without waders. As soon as I can comfortably stay in the water for the entirety of a fishing day, I far prefer to be wearing board shorts and booties rather than waders and boots. While wet wading requires a few more pieces of gear and apparel beyond your footwear, such as submersible storage and full coverage sun garments, it’s liberating to be free of your chest waders.
Scenarios such as flats fishing typically demand a lot of steps per day, so ditching the waders and utilizing a streamlined wet wading system can make your high-mileage angling endeavors a lot more enjoyable.
Q: Do you wear socks with wet wading boots?
Thin neoprene or wool socks can be a great option for pairing with flats sneakers or wading boots if they’re not designed for barefoot comfort. I personally prefer to wear a wool or wool/synthetic sock with my wet wading footwear because they are much thinner than even the thinnest neoprene options, and therefore allow me to purchase my footwear true to size. If you want to utilize a wading boot for wet wading applications that you would normally pair with waders, a 3mm neoprene sock is typically an effective way to match the fit and feel you’re used to.
Final Thoughts:
Saltwater anglers love their gear, and an essential piece of the kit is a quality wading boot. Whether fishing for striped bass in the surf or wading a flat for bonefish, every angler has their own saltwater needs. When looking for the best boot available, it’s crucial to consider where, how, and what you are fishing for. These conditions will ultimately determine the best boot for the job. Once you’ve narrowed your options, it never hurts to try them on when you can. The result will be a comfortable boot ready to tackle many seasons to come.
One of the countless resident rainbow trout in the Limay.
Over the past few years, research by biologists from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department (WGFD) has shown significant hooking injuries to fish in the North Platte River, particularly on the Miracle Mile and Gray Reef sections near Casper.
According to reporter Christine Peterson, with Wyofile, nearly one-fourth of all trout in the North Platte River show some signs of a “hooking injury.”
You’ve probably seen this on fish yourself. Trout with deformed jaws, missing mandibles, or even lost eyes are just a few examples of the types of hooking injuries caused by catch-and-release with barbed hooks.
This regulation isn’t new to the Cowboy State. Barbless hooks have been the norm in Yellowstone National Park for years now, but that’s under the jurisdiction of the Park Service, and not the WGFD.
Why Now?
The surge in popularity of the North Platte has only made these issues worse in recent years. So, the WGFD proposed a barbless-only rule on all sections of the North Platte downstream from Seminoe Reservoir (where the Miracle Mile starts). That rule was adopted by the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission last week and will go into effect January 1, 2026.
In reporting at both Wyofile and Cowboy State Daily, guides seem to largely be in support of this ban. Guide and co-owner of North Platte Lodge Tent Tatum told Cowboy State Daily he’s seen some fish with jaws so mangled, “you really have to wonder how they were even able to feed?”
Additional Regulations
Also included in the new regulations is a complete ban on pegged attractor rigs. Pegging beads for salmon, dolly varden, Arctic char, and rainbow trout is a popular, effective method in Alaska that’s made its way to some trout fisheries in the Lower 48. This involves pegging a plastic bead a few inches above a bare hook. The fish thinks the bead is an egg, eats it, and the angler sets the hook, driving the hook point home.
With all that distance between the egg and the hook, though, it’s easy to snag fish in the head, side, stomach, or elsewhere. This rig was apparently enough of a problem on the North Platte that it’ll be illegal as well starting in 2026.
Each year, the fishing industry makes its way to Orlando, Florida, for the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST. The show is the largest fishing trade show of the year, representing every sector of the fishing industry. From offshore tackles to micro bass swimbaits and, of course, fly fishing. Our goal at every ICAST is to sort through the endless amount of conventional gear, seek out the fly fishing gear, and find the best gear for the year. After a week on the show floor, this is the best new fly fishing gear of 2025 and 2026.
All products featured on Flylords are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Image courtesy of ICAST.
The Moment is TFO’s newest and most expensive fly rod. It’s built as a premium saltwater stick on a fast action, and with a lightweight feel and swing weight. While it’s the most expensive TFO to date, it still falls into the wallet-friendly price point ($650), nearly half that of other flagship rods. Prior to ICAST, we fished this rod targeting redfish on the Gulf Coast. The rod threw tight loops with weighted flies accurately, and the 7-wt we used was able to put the brakes on reds heading to oyster bars.
St. Croix Legend Elite
Image courtesy of St. Croix.
Last year, we saw St. Croix debut its new Evos and Technica fly rods, two premium, purpose-built rods. Keeping with the theme, St. Croix is yet again revamping and adding to its fly rod lineup with the redesigned Legend Elite series. The series consists of two versions, the Legend Elite and Legend Elite Salt. Freswater anglers have options ranging from 3-wt to 8-wt, while saltwater anglers have models from 7-wt to 12-wt. These rods are made in the USA and come with a 15-year warranty.
St. Croix Tannic MP
Image courtesy of St. Croix.
We are a sucker for a good specialty rod, so when we came across the new St. Croix Tannic series, it was a clear pick for this list. The Tannic Musky/Pike series comes in sizes 10-wt through 12-wt and has all the features musky anglers expect. This includes an extended fighting butt for figure-eights and an extended handle for two-handed casting. The Tannic series also features a cactus cork grip, which adds texture for wet hands. For bass anglers, check out the Tannic Bass lineup.
Many fly anglers know Epic Fly Fishing as a rod manufacturer, and while that is true, they also make fly reels. This year, they debuted their most interesting fly reel to date, the Trutta Hubless Reel. This reel is a click-style reel that has no center hub. As a result, you get a modern-looking, lightweight reel with the classic feel of a click reel.
Cortland Carbon Click Drag Fly Reel
We love a good, solid frame reel, and Cortland’s newest reel is the perfect blend of modern and classic styling. It resembles old-school trout reels, but features a carbon fiber plate instead of a metal one. This results in a lighter overall reel while retaining the benefits of a full-frame reel (eliminating pinching small-diameter lines). It does come with a small drag knob, giving anglers the ability to add drag, although much less than non-click reels.
Okuma Integrity Fly Reel
The new Okuma Integrity fly reel took home the honors of best new fly reel at ICAST. This reel features a cast aluminum frame and spool as well as a multi-disc drag system. We played around with it at the show, and the drag output is certainly smooth and fairly strong for a budget reel. Unfortunately, it does not come with a fully sealed drag, something that would have certainly helped this reel play a bigger role for saltwater anglers.
The new TFO Dispatch Reel gives anglers a solution between performance and affordability. It is a cast aluminum reel, featuring a fully sealed drag system. It retails at just $199.95, meaning anglers have a worry-free reel for a reasonable price. The reel is available in three sizes: 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8.
Every year, Marsh Wear releases new gear and apparel tailored to anglers at ICAST, and this year was no different. One product that stood out to us was the Pursuit Backpack. Sized at 22L, it’s capable of holding all the essentials. Whether out for a day trip or catching a flight at the airport, this pack is right at home.
Duck Camp Rockport Pro Guide Hoodie and Deck System
Duck Camp continues to expand its technical apparel, and this year, anglers get two new products. The first is the Rockport Pro Guide Hoodie, which is the most technical piece of sun apparel from the brand to date. It features a built-in hat clip, thumb holes, neck covering, and lightweight material built for the tropics. In addition, Duck Camp released its Deck System, featuring a jacket and bib for rough weather and wet boat runs.
Snow Peak is a Japanese Camping Brand with a cult-like following. Now they are entering the fly fishing space with technical apparel built for the water. In the new lineup, the vest is one piece of gear that really caught our eye. It borrows a lot of the styling of old school vests with modern fit and function. If anyone can bring back the fly fishing vest, this Snow Peak offering may be the one.
Scientific Anglers Magnitude Textured Clear Float
SA has revolutionized saltwater fly fishing with its clear tip lines, and now is bringing that technology to freshwater anglers. The new Magnitude Textured Clear Float features a 10-foot clear tip for a stealthy approach to wary risers. The taper also features a half-size heavy design to help balance modern fast-action rods.
Of all the products we saw at ICAST, the quick-change system by Flytime caught our eye as the most innovative. Essentially, the product is a rig storage device enabling anglers to store several different fly combinations at the ready. Where it really differs from other rig-storing products is the quick-change system. A patented plastic piece enables anglers to rig any flies and tippet to a leader in seconds. It’s a cool concept and one we’ll definitely be testing more of to see how it performs on the water.
Costa Schoolie Sunglasses
Outfitting young anglers for the water can be tricky and somewhat expensive. In an effort to solve both issues, Costa released its Schoolie Sunglasses. These glasses are sized with youth anglers in mind, while still delivering the same eye protection and performance we’ve come to expect. Best of all, they come in at $157, bridging the gap between affordability and performance.
Rambler Angler and Blade Co. is a US-based company building knives and fly-tying equipment. Their new Nomad Fly Tying Vise is designed as a lightweight and versatile travel vise. It is a full rotary vise and features jaws that can hold hooks ranging from size 32 to 7/0. Every vise is made in the USA and comes with a pedestal and clamp base.
This year at ICAST, Turtlebox unveiled its newest portable, waterproof speaker. The Ranger is the smallest speaker Turtlebox has made, and it still produces plenty of sound. It features magnets on the back to cling to boats, 4x4s, and anything else metal. If good tunes are important on the water, definitely check out the Ranger.
Trxstle Rod Vault
Trxstle, known for its adjustable rod vaults, debuted its newest addition to its lineup this ICAST. The new version is built to hold conventional rods as well as fly rods. It extends to 10 feet and features a large, upward-opening door. Inside, you have the option to add and remove organizers to keep rods separated. For longer rods, Trxstle also released rod keepers to break down rod sections while still staying organized and untangled.
An old cowboy who’d finished loading his horses leaned out of his one-ton’s window and asked us if we’d seen any bears that day.
“Nope, just a lot of nice fish,” I said.
“Well, you’re lucky,” he replied. “Last week, I saw a grizzly up there, she was so big, her head was the size of two basketballs.”
He jammed his truck in gear and drove off, leaving my buddy Alex and I to load our fishing gear with one eye over each shoulder.
I’ve lived in Wyoming for four years now, and I’ve spent a cumulative five or six months in Alaska (including a few weeks on Kodiak Island). I make it to Yellowstone once or twice a year, and I hunt elk every fall.
But I’m seemingly grizzly bear repellant, because in all that time, I haven’t seen a grizzly in the wild. I haven’t even seen any bear in Yellowstone. And yes, before you ask, I know how to spot a grizzly. When you hunt, fish, and live in grizzly country, it’s something you become familiar with.
Grizzlies have short, rounded ears, a dished face, and a significant shoulder hump. They’re often brown, but can come in a variety of shades. Black bears have taller, pointier ears, no hump, and a straight face. I have plenty of experience with black bears, including this one I spotted last fall while elk hunting. It was chowing down on a carcass someone had shot on the opener.
I was hunting one of the few mountain ranges in Wyoming without a confirmed grizzly population, although a juvenile male was killed in the foothills last summer. It’s probably a matter of time before they cross the plains and reclaim their old habitat.
Going Back
But last week I was fishing in the heart of their territory—the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Alex and I were back at the same spot where the cowboy had told us about the gargantuan grizzly. We’ve fished here a lot the past few years, and haven’t seen anything besides deer, elk, some nice cutthroat, and brown trout pushing the two-foot mark.
The day followed a familiar pattern. We hiked a few miles from the trailhead, dropping into the river to fish a spot we’ve caught big fish from, but we both have a sneaking suspicion something larger is lurking.
From there, we walked through marginal water, hitting all the likely hiding-holes. This river is interesting in that most of it isn’t great trout habitat. It’s steep, shallow, and rocky. There’s little holding water and not much structure. But it’s packed with aquatic insects, and where the current slows up and the riverbed drops, the fish stack like cord wood. For every good hole, you might walk through five or six that aren’t deep enough, or are just too swift, to consistently hold trout.
We’d just finished with one pool and were headed to some pocket water upstream when Alex hollered from behind me, “Bear!”
I looked up in time to see a smaller, brownish bear standing in the river. It looked at us, then charged straight into the willows. It was probably 100 yards away, and the glimpse was quick enough that I wasn’t sure what I’d just seen. Had I finally seen a grizzly?
We pulled out our bear spray, started making more noise, and tried to make sense of the situation. I reckoned whatever we saw was a cub. It was too small to be anything else. That meant mamma bear wasn’t likely far away, hence the bear spray and the noise.
In all likelihood, we’d probably scared both the mom and cub, and both had hightailed it well away from us. But if it was a grizzly, we weren’t out of the proverbial woods. I wanted to keep fishing because the bear was gone and likely spooked. But the rational part of my brain won out. Was a shot at some nice trout really worth getting mauled by a mamma grizzly?
One More Day
We left the river earlier than we wanted, and argued the whole way back about whether the bear was a grizzly. I’m still not sure—my look at it was too brief to say one way or the other—but Alex is sold.
The next morning, we went back and fished a much lower section of the river. Like many in this neck of the woods, the river flows through a patchwork of public and private land, so access was tricky, but we finally made it to a public stretch without any trespassing.
Alex fished first while I got my rod rigged up. The river was maybe 20 feet wide here, and the opposite bank was thick with cottonwoods and brush. When Alex hooked up, I helped net the fish. I knelt down to pull the hook free when we heard a branch break.
We both looked up, on high alert after the previous day. There, 20 feet away, was a bear stumbling through the brush. I don’t think it saw us until I hollered “hey bear” and pulled out my bear spray.
It stood up on two legs to see what all the fuss was about. It had tall, pointy ears, a straight face, and was jet-black. Before I even slid the safety catch off the bear spray, he’d gone to all fours and shot off downstream, back to the mess of woods.
“That was definitely a black bear,” I told Alex. “So I still haven’t seen a grizzly.”
Living in grizzly country, I’m curious how long this streak will last.
My first pair of wading boots weren’t even wading boots. They were an old pair of Lowa hiking boots I “borrowed” from my uncle. They lasted surprisingly long, but eventually fell apart. When I found myself at a local big-box store looking at new wading boots, I had no clue what I needed.
I settled on a pair of Korkers, which kicked off a lifelong appreciation for that brand. Since then, however, I’ve had the chance to wear a few different boots. Wading boot comfort and design have come a long way since that first pair, but the best boots all share a few common themes:
They’re durable
They’re relatively light
They’re comfortable for longer walks/hikes between fishing spots
The boots in this roundup hit those points, albeit to varying degrees. While your choice will likely come down to fit and personal preference, you should be able to find something on this list that’ll meet your needs.
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I do quite a bit of walking and hiking in my boots, so comfort on long walks matters a lot to me. So does ankle support, since mine are made of glass. I put around 150 days a year on the water, so I can also gauge durability in these boots.
I’ve been lucky enough to test hands-on nearly every boot on this list. The two I haven’t used—Simms Freestone and Skwala Carbon—have been tested by anglers I personally know and respect. Every boot on this list has earned its place after seasons of hard fishing and plenty of miles covered.
New design process to increase stability while wading
Durable
Cons
A bit heavy for longer hikes
The RS Boots from Skwala are new, but they’re already my favorites. These are easily the most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn, and that’s thanks to Skwala using a higher midsole, like you find on traditional hiking boots.
The RS Boots are built to survive a nuclear blast, with minimal stitching and double-lasting in all the places where most boot blowouts occur. They do sit higher than most boots, giving you great ankle support. This makes them ideal for scrambling over rocks, wading slippery freestones, or trekking across scree fields in the high country.
Speaking of the high country, I had the chance to hike a few miles in these boots the other day. They’re plenty comfortable for that long of a walk, but they are a bit heavy. If you’re doing a lot of walking, you might be happier with Skwala’s Carbon Boots. But it’s hard to beat the durability, comfort, and stability of the RS Boot.
That stability is achieved through a new design of the sole. Most wading boots utilize a metal plate through the sole, which is supposed to give you more stability when walking across constantly shifting environments. It works, but it also lessens the sensory input you receive while walking. So, Skwala uses a smaller plate that allows you to feel the riverbed while wading, so you can better adjust to changing conditions. For these reasons, the Skwala RS Wading Boots also won Best Wading Boot in our 2025 Gear of the Year.
The Korkers River Ops are an impressive boot. They were my go-to until Skwala showed up with the RS. I’ve put more miles on the River Ops than I have any other wading boot I’ve ever owned or reviewed, and they haven’t failed. That’s thanks, in large part, to the complete lack of exposed stitching. Between Korkers’ Exo-Tec material and molded toe caps, every stitch is protected behind something durable, which means these boots are very unlikely to blow out.
Korkers also went to great lengths to up the comfort, with extra foam padding around the ankles. These boots also feature a raised midsole. I wouldn’t hesitate to strap these on for long days of treks through the backcountry. In fact, last summer, I put nearly a dozen miles on these boots in just a few days, and my feet felt fine.
Korkers offers a ton of different sole options. You can swap out the included rubber soles for studded rubber, ones with aluminum bars, or felt. But this is also the boot’s only real problem. While interchangeable soles are fantastic (and extend the lifespan of the boot), I’ve had issues with them popping off if I get stuck in deep, nasty mud. It’s not a huge problem, but something to think about if you spend a lot of time in silty environments.
Uses the same sole as the RS Boots for superior stability and comfort
Purpose-built for hiking between fishing spots
Bonded and double-lasted construction for durability
Cons
Shorter, so less ankle support for those who need it
The Carbon Boots are the favorite of one of my longtime fishing buddies. While these boots aren’t as light as other “lightweight boots,” they’re light enough (3.6lbs/pair) to maintain durability. In general, when you go with lightweight gear, you sacrifice durability. That’s not the case with the Carbon boots. They’ll last through a good deal of abuse, but still be light enough for long hikes.
These are a true mix between a trail hiking boot and a wading boot, which was Skwala’s goal. They wanted a boot that helps you go anywhere, and the Carbon delivers. The only drawback I can point out is that these are shorter, so there’s a bit less ankle support if you have glass ankles, as I do. That said, for the rank-and-file angler, I reckon these boots will be plenty.
They feature a unique “burrito tongue” in which the tongue of the boot opens on only one side. This allows you to really cinch down the fit and keep your feet stable as you’re traversing long distances, or wading across a river to drift a fly through that eddy you’ve always been curious about.
Comes with red and black laces to customize your look
Cons
Durability
Not much ankle support
These are the lightest boots in the roundup, at just 2.2lbs/pair. When you lace these up and head out from the truck, it’ll feel like you’re wearing your sneakers. They’re comfortable and have an athletic feel to them.
The Stealth Sneaker doesn’t come with interchangeable soles, like other Korkers products, but the sole will accommodate smaller studs. I studded mine with the available kit from Korkers, and it significantly helped with the traction. These boots are just flat-out fun to wear because they’re so light, and they fit differently than any other boot I’ve worn. Korkers knocked it out of the park from a fit and comfort standpoint.
If you don’t get out much and want a pair of boots that won’t break the bank, but still work well, it’s hard to beat what the Stealth Sneaker offers. Unfortunately, I’ve run into some durability problems with my pair. I wouldn’t recommend these to anglers who are consistently fishing hard, long days. The soles on mine started wearing away, and the stitching along the bottom of the boot has pulled away from the upper material. If you need a lot of ankle support, you also might want to look elsewhere.
If you want more functionality than the Stealth Sneaker, but you’re not ready to drop close to $300 on the Carbon boots, the Simms Freestone is probably for you. This isn’t Simms’ top-of-the-line boot, so it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. I’m most worried about the exposed stitching being a potential failure point.
I bought the women’s version of these boots for my mother-in-law, and she’s loved them so far. They’re comfortable, stable in the water, and offer enough ankle support for someone like me to feel plenty stable in them.
I love that Simms cut down on the weight of these boots, too. Heavy boots are great for stability in a river, but they’re awful if you’re walking more than a few hundred yards all day.
The Orvis PRO boots are fantastic. These things are solid, stable boots that’ll have you feeling comfortable in even the most demanding of wading environments. They’re also light, at 3.1lbs/pair, which is surprising with how much tech Orvis jammed in here.
They partnered with Michelin (yes, the tire company) to produce an outsole that they say is 43% better at wet traction over “the competition.” That’s extremely hard for me to quantify in my own reviews, but they’re definitely a stable boot.
They can feel a bit stiff, so they’re not the greatest for longer hikes. But once you’ve broken them in a bit, they feel just fine. The one big problem I’ve had is the laces. I’ve blown through both pairs of laces in a relatively short amount of time. That’s hardly a dealbreaker, but I’d make sure to buy a spare pair if these are the boots you opt for.
FAQS
Q: Do I really need wading boots?
Yes, wading boots are an essential piece of gear. They’re designed specifically for use in the water and in demanding wading environments. Other boots aren’t meant to constantly be wet, and will deteriorate quickly when exposed to that sort of abuse.
Q: Should I stud my wading boots?
It’s getting more and more popular to add aluminum studs to the bottom of your boots for added traction. Some folks think the extra noise scares the fish, but I’m not sure I buy that argument. Studding your boots can certainly add some extra bite, especially in tough wading situations. But it’s not necessary.
Q: Can I just buy the cheap wading boots from my big-box store?
You certainly can. But I blew through two cheap pairs of boots like that in one summer. As with most things in fly fishing, you get what you pay for, and it’s worth spending at least $150 to get something of quality. You’ll have a better experience if you’re not constantly stumbling around because you opted for cheap wading boots.
Final Thoughts
Wading boots are probably more personal than waders. You need ones with the right fit and style for your specific fishing situations. Regardless of what you pick, I highly recommend spending as much as you can. Wading boots are literally the foundation of your day on the water. Bad boots that don’t fit right, that don’t grip worth a darn, and wear out quickly, will just leave you frustrated.
An average day of flats fishing while field testing gear in Mexico entailed 15-20 miles of walking, so wading boots that didn’t feel anything short of great underfoot were quickly cut. The abuses of the saltwater theatre while testing in the Northeast were equally punishing, demanding our saltwater wading boots to go up against slick rock scrambles, pounding surf, and mucky estuary bottoms. We didn’t go easy on our wading footwear, so we feel confident we weeded out each pair’s advantages and shortcomings.
