Home Forums Fishing Flyfishing Felt Sole wading boots in Montana???

What are Montana's regulations on felt sole boots? I thought I read somewhere that they were not permitted. My friends and I are coming out this summer and would like a heads up. We are aware of the spreading of aquatic parasites and which boots are better. Just want to know the regulations. I have interchangeble soles but my buddies are felt, as these are best fo PA streams.

Can't help on the MT question, but I also use felt soles, and felt guilty.

After some research, even the "experts" mostly agree that allowing the boots to dry for at least 48 hours kills the stuff that you don't want to spread.

Even better is a good washing, then setting them in an inch or two of a bleach solution overnight, and then allowing a thorough drying, which is what I do now.

Thorough drying may not be practical for an out-of-state trip where you're likely to be fishing every day, but for a guy that only gets to fish on weekends, they have plenty of time to dry and render themselves "safe". For the more frequent angler, go the bleach route for added assurance.

Hopefully ingwe or shrapnel will see this. I imagine one or both will have a ready answer for you.

They're legal in Montana. Alaska is the only place I've been where they are not.

Yep. They're legal here.

I believe MD banned them last year.

And possibly Utah, on certain waters? I know they were talking about it a few years ago when I was there.

Thanks for the info guys. My buddies will be happy.

Still buy a bottle of bleach dilute it with H20 and soak boots after fishing

I do every time I fish MT ID WY

There could be other places too, ColdBore. I said the only place that they were illegal that "I've been to" is Alaska.

I wasn't implying that your list was complete or wrong, just adding a couple that I think are (or at least were thinking of) banning them as well. Places that like you said, are places I've been lucky enough to have fished.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if there are more.

As for Alaska, it's been way too many years since I've been there. Would love to find time to get back up there...

Amen, brother.