Korkers?

[steelnewbie]

I'll be heading up the Salmon river at least twice this winter. I don't have korkers, currently using the felt soled wading boots. I would prefer not to die on those trips:) , so...
Do the korkers work much better? If they're a must have, does anybody have suggestions on what to buy?

[gman2153]

by doing a search, I found this thread in the archives..

various opinions on korkers & studs:

http://www.salmoncrazy.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=2860&highlight=korkers

[Ditchrat]

I'll be heading up the Salmon river at least twice this winter. I don't have korkers, currently using the felt soled wading boots. I would prefer not to die on those trips:) , so...
Do the korkers work much better? If they're a must have, does anybody have suggestions on what to buy?

Korkers are a must. I would go up early and check out the shops, they have a good selection. I use Korkers brand, the ones that have one buckle. My friends think they are heavy, I love them. Never walk out of them and I feel very safe in them, thats all that matters to me

[Crazyegg]

when u get them u should screw them into the bottom of ur boot so they stay. The ones I have the first day came off and then i found the one korker downstream. They work great though the felt i hated because i had no grip.

[gebbyfish]

I'll be heading up the Salmon river at least twice this winter. I don't have korkers, currently using the felt soled wading boots. I would prefer not to die on those trips:) , so...
Do the korkers work much better? If they're a must have, does anybody have suggestions on what to buy?
Korkers are a must have, especially in winter! I know some of us got by without korkers for our salmon trip, but if you ever wanted to feel like a snow vacuum, try walking in the deep snow up there in felts! That snow will wad up under the bottom of your boots for sure. I think you should try fat nancy's. Get the kind that Ditch recommended with the single button. with those korkers you can replace the studs as they get worn out. At about $60 bucks a pop, being able to replace the studs, (and they will wear out as you scout out spots to fish)is key. Also, since you'll be using them right out of the gate, when you get home, take out all the studs, and put a drop of "lock-tite" in each of the screw holes, then put the studs back in. This will help keep them in the shoes, because they can twist out when you are walking.

[toolmaker66]

Stay away from the Hodgeman brand. Half tthe spikes will be out on your first trip. other half will be rolled.

[JStreamside]

I think the main thing is...don't fish the river without them. They're just fish...if you don't have one, get an inexpensive wading staff too. I think you can find them in All Seasons or Fat Nancy's for under $30.

I would like to emphasize one important point...these 2 items do not make anyone on the water "Super Salmon River Fisherman"...the best "item" you have to go along with them is good common sense. Have fun and be safe!!!

[goat ball]

About a month ago, I fished with Top Gun (member on this site) up on the salmon river. I had my chota's with studs, and he had korkers. I got around OK, but he could cross places in about half the time it took me. Like JS said, they don't make you invincible, but they may save you from a spill here and there. Also, the korkers help ice and snow build up on the felt when walking to a spot thru the snow. I think they are a good investment and will own a pair in the next few weeks.

[jcstikfish]

There is another important reason to have Korkers in winter. No snow build-up. With felt soles the snow packs on and in 50 yards you have platform boots made of snow. With the hard rubber and studs of the Korkers you get very little snow build -up. Of course they are essential in stream as well. The last thing you want to do in the winter is take a dunking. Game Over, back to the motel, change, warm up, and thats the BEST possible scenario!


~James

[gman2153]

get an inexpensive wading staff too. I think you can find them in All Seasons or Fat Nancy's for under $30.

I would like to emphasize one important point...these 2 items do not make anyone on the water "Super Salmon River Fisherman"...the best "item" you have to go along with them is good common sense. Have fun and be safe!!!

A Mop Handle is less than $5... Take it from a Guy who tried them collapsible wading staffs - guess what - they collapsde when you least expect it.

[bigbear]

i'm with you on that one G, maybe its just we are alittle bigger than most, but mine broke as well :eek:
and taking a cold bath because of a piece of aluminum breaking is not my idea of fun....i just carved one for my self:woohoo:

[KingofKings]

I am gonna be getting a set of corkers as well. Last week I went up with felt soles and as I would walk, I would get taller and taller, after a minute or so I was on platforms. Sort of annoying, but I am short so no big deal:)

[JeffL]

I bought the new Korkers that have the snap buckles and absolutely love them. I used to use the old salmon river spikes/cleats but always had problems with the laces braking or straps pulling out of the base.

Not with these- They are a little heavy but I find that helps when wading / crossing the river.

I think I paid about $75 for them and I would suggest them to any and everyone.

Jeff

[steelnewbie]

Safety is my main concern, so I don't really mind if they're a little heavier.
I've heard that the felt soles pick up the snow pretty good. That can't help the traction at all.
This will be my first (of many, hopefully) COLD :snow: open water fishing
trips, so I want to get all of the necessary gear. I'll check out the links when I get home form work.
Thanks.

[fish-off]

$40 for a set of Korkers was probably the single best investment I have ever made (fishing-wise). A must-have, especially in the current conditions.

[Bunker Breath]

I wear my Korkers on my home waters too. You just can't beat them.

[Lacrosse Ref]

I saw a pair of Hodgeman wading sandals in Dicks Syracuse... Shopping Town Mall for $35
I have tried the Hodgemans... and I switched to the Korker brand... they stay on better and the studs last considerably longer

[Eric**]

Korkers all the way! I never wade fish in winter without them, they in my opinion are a must.

Definetly stay away from felt, as mentioned many times above they freeze and collect snow.

Eric

[TOPGUN]

Korkers are a must!!! I have the single snap like Ditch and others on this site. They're a little heavy but after a few times out you don't notice the difference. The biggest thing is THEY DON"T COLLECT SNOW like felt bottoms do.
I bought a pair of Chota's this fall thinking I could use them this winter...NOT...the spikes work ok in the snow but the build up from the exposed felt was a real pain. So I took the spikes out of the Chota's and wear my korkers...I feel VERY safe in them BUT NOT invincible.
Always proceed with caution.

Good luck

[Tiderunner]

I'm not a fan of korkers. They definitely work well, but I've been using chota stl's and they are a lot more comfortable, and they don't have the tendancy to slip from side to side, and sometimes OFF:eek: I've had my korkers Sucked off in mud before, man it sucks to have to go korker fishing in a foot of mud:mad:

I know a lot of guys that drive screws into the soles of their boots with good results. One drawback to the studded boot thing is they don't shed the snow like the flat bottemed korkers, but I unconsiously scrape them off on a rock edge when I first wade in. .

[rusty]

i have the korkers wading boots, the ones with the interchgangable bottoms..only reason i got them is it was a perfect deal....anyway, i got the studded felt bottom, regular felt bottoms and the regular studded bottoms....the boots themselves are very comfy....both felt bottoms are great but i had a problem with teh reg. studded bottoms, when bended forward, the glue inside came apart......anyway, korkers themselves made good on the issue.....but for my own peace of mind, i drilled and added a few x-tra rivets......no problems at all now.....anyway, the studded bottoms....it's a definate must!!!

[ELK HUNTER]

I just bought a pair of Stabilicers from cozywinters.com. They
have plenty of large studs(look like nuts) Cost was 44.95
I used them once and had no problems. I never had Korkers
and these look to be better

[Firefish]

Korkers are a must! I have had both styles and prefer the new style (with buckles) better. They are a little heavier but stay on very well, use some
11/4" Drywall screws to fasten them to the heel of your boots they will not come that way. Also, Ski Poles make great wading staffs just remove the baskets.

[gman2153]

I have both the older design and new design Korkers with straps...

I do not understand why some of you think you need to screw the backs into the heels of your boots...

In my experience, if you strap them on properly, they simply do not loosen...

[Ditchrat]

I have both the older design and new design Korkers with straps...

I do not understand why some of you think you need to screw the backs into the heels of your boots...

In my experience, if you strap them on properly, they simply do not loosen...

I have chotas on the new style, I havent taken the corkers off the boot yet this year, even when putting on my waders. No problems with the korkers. Other styles I can see the need for a screw

[Moochie]

I tried the Korker convertibles, great but I found them narrow on my feet, so I bought the Chotas, I think are real comfortable and "light" and then screw threw the side holes of metal golf spikes, to the bottoms "that are hard to get these days" but found some locally. The studds Chota give you are worthless in the snow. I have done this in the past with other boots and I find it holds up very well. I then cover the felt with several layers of contact cement, keeps the snow from sticking.

Merry Christmas,
Moochie

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/steelhant/DSCN0375.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

[Tiogafishaddict]

i got those slip on, aluminum korkers, used them for the first bunch of trips this year , best thing i ever bought and for the price, i dont care if the aluminum wears down,, ill still get some good years out of them. the slip over my boot foot waders like big golishes, ribbed aluminum on the bottom with felt,

[Tiderunner]

That is an impressive retro-fit!!

I'm just wondering, are you able to change out the golf spikes? I like the replaceable screws because spikes tend to start to wear down and round off on me, making them less safe than non-spiked boots.

[Moochie]

Tiderunner, on the Chota's you just have to drill out some of the rubber where the screws go in so that the thread part of the spike can fit flush on the felt. On the spike the two holes they use to tighten the cleat to the golf shoes is where I screw them into the felt. Just use the aggressive thread type screw, size 3/4 or 1" x #6 longer the better, just not to long that it goes through :eek: and some contact cement. Been doing this for years, if I loose one, just screw another one on. I know they are getting hard to find the metal golf spikes, but if you find the tungsten tip ones. They last longer than the boots.

Moochie

[Tiderunner]

Thanks Moochie

I'm going to see if I can come across those spikes. I've got an worn pair of Chotas that I can beta test this with.

[steelnewbie]

I checked out the chota web site and the korker web site.
Two more questions for you guys.
Will the Korkers fit over a felt soled wading shoe?
The web site shows them going over a regular soled boot, actually a korkers brand boot. Will they fit over most other brand names as well?

[fishoncamp]

I have felt soled Cabela's wading shoes and the Korkers fit fine. I have the Korkers with the straps instead of the laces and once their pulled tight they haven't slid around or loosened up for me.

[gman2153]

korkers will fit over anything - including old sneaks for wet weding in slimy rivers in the summertime.

[fishinfred]

I Love my korker konvertables ( intercangeble soles ). Santa gave 'em to me two years ago. They are so much lighter and easier to walk with with my back problems. Had the buckel strap korkers and liked them alot til i messed up my back, now the extra weight kills me after about 2 hours. My one freind still uses the lace type korkers, and just runs the korker laces in with his boot laces. Tied into his boot like that, he has no problem with them trying to fall off.

[screamon demon]

i went out saturday for the first time wearing korkers. I thought they worked great. I bought them from a friend for $20. That was $20 worth spending.

Now the stupid part. My friend and I fished the catt. we were on the ice but near shore. I wandered out too far and guess what!! the ice broke. I went down hard. I caught myself as the water crested the top of my waders and my feet never hit bottom. I have no clue how deep it was over there but f-- me I learned a lesson.

So I crept back to the truck with cold legs, hurt pride, and a lesson learned.

[fish-off]

i went out saturday for the first time wearing korkers. I thought they worked great. I bought them from a friend for $20. That was $20 worth spending.

Now the stupid part. My friend and I fished the catt. we were on the ice but near shore. I wandered out too far and guess what!! the ice broke. I went down hard. I caught myself as the water crested the top of my waders and my feet never hit bottom. I have no clue how deep it was over there but f-- me I learned a lesson.

So I crept back to the truck with cold legs, hurt pride, and a lesson learned.


And....alive to fish another day!:scared: :faint: :woohoo:

[screamon demon]

Crazy thing
My cell went down with me. It's limoing along and covered so I am not worried about it. But when I walked in the door my wife started in with the
"why didnt you answer your cell phone, i thought you fell in" I think that is what they call Irony.