SNOWBEE WADING BOOTS.
Warwick Powell steps out in the latest no-felt footwear from Snowbee.

"We’ve got didymo, you know.” That was the terse greeting from NZ Customs that met my fishing party as we landed in Dunedin in early February bound for the Mataura.

“I know,” I replied, “that’s why we’ve bought ourselves new wading boots with rubber soles and metal studs.”

In researching our latest ‘study tour’ to New Zealand’s south island, we found that didymo (or rock snot) was, despite the best efforts of that country’s Biosecurity Department, spreading from one water body to another with some alarm. Since October 2004 when didymo was first discovered in Southland’s Waiau River the algae has been confirmed in no less than 51 locations on 31 rivers and lakes in the South Island.

The problem was so bad that the Fiordland Fish & Game Council had actually just banned the use of felt-soled boots as didymo spores were found to be able to survive up to 30 days in the felt. So we thought we should do the right thing and ensure our gear was not didymo-friendly. Besides, we don’t have the pest in Australia and no-one wanted to be responsible for bringing it back in their felts.

A quick call to Alpine Angler before Christmas had a pair of Snowbee XS Studded/Cleated Sole Wading Boots in the post ($149.95). Everyone else in the group did the same.

After 60-plus hours on the water in Southland, I can confidently report that the boots came up trumps on all relevant measures.

In terms of comfort: no blisters, no sore feet. Being entirely synthetic, the black and grey boots are light weight. As for traction—in rivers and on land—the studs and rubber soles made traversing diverse terrains a breeze. I fought and landed browns with confidence that my footing was sure whether I was on the bank or knee deep in the Mataura.

The only criterion left is durability. Sixty hours is hardly a sufficient test of how tough these boots are, so I guess, in the interests of thoroughness in research, I had better find more time to get on the water.

www.ejtodd.com.au