Nevermind

If you were not paying attention you may have missed the news that Simms is getting back in to the felt soled wading shoe biz. Other than Chandler and Barton, who to their credit called it like it is, the industry press just parroted the return to felt announcement without much comment. Not surprising considering they were complicit, along with TU, in spinning the Simms marketing hype surrounding the decision to walk away from felt and the performance of the product.

Not only did the industry parrot the talking points coming out of Bozeman, they also equated rubber soled wading shoes with the second coming of David Brower. There are better ways to be a good environmental company other than putting petroleum based soles on wading shoes? If you were really committed to being an environmental company you would be using organic cotton and recycled polyester in your ever expanding apparel collection. If dropping felt was truly the right thing to do foe the planet why not stick to the program despite the continued demand for felt in the market? Turns out it was all just about the bottom line, nothing more.

I'll give Simms and the whole rubber sole push props for helping highlight the problem of invasive species but other companies have been committed to the issue since 2004 and the industry has ignored them.

House Bill 2338: Felt sole wading boot ban in Oregon state legislature

This bill would take effect in 2015.

LINK (Via: The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog)

One of the best quotes I've heard on the felt ban movement sweeping the nation.

"It is the equivalent of trying to ban shot glasses to prevent drunk driving."

Maybe we should start a new grassroots organization to fight this big government intrusion into our private sector angling lives?

Remember, If felt is outlawed, only outlaws will wear felt.

Fly Fishers Serving as Transports for Noxious Little Invaders

The N.Y. Times wades in on invasives and the felt vs rubber story.

LINK

"Just because you eschew felt, does not make you some sort of environmental hero."

That's the money quote from Monday's Phil Monahan's Fine Lines column on MidCurrent. We would add that just because your company made the choice to only offer sticky rubber does not make you some sort of enviro friendly brand.

The issue of invasive species transport is much more complex than one's sole choice. As Phil points out, clean dry and inspect is the critical step that anglers can take to help prevent the spread of invasive species........and don't forget to clean dry and inspect the dog, the drift boat, the trailer, the anchor line or anything else that was in the water.