It was either Napoleon Bonaparte or Frederick the Great, or maybe New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who once famously noted, “An army marches on its stomach.” So consumed with ensuring his troops had a reliable supply of food—granted his goal was to rule the world—Napoleon offered a huge cash prize to the person who could invent a way to keep food from spoiling. If that axiom is true for the military, then it might hold true that fishermen should fish longer and better on comfortable feet. But too many anglers neglect their dogs, and that unfortunate oversight can lead to back pain; a melody that anyone who suffers from it will tell you is hard to beat back once it takes hold. Like many of you, I spend lots of time on the water and on my feet, and perhaps like you, I too have searched high and low for the perfect footwear. I rate function well above fashion, but if I can have both, I take both. If you’re in need of a new pair of fishing shoes as I am, here’s a short list to get you started. You’ll note I’ve purposely excluded flip flops from this conversation, not because I dislike them—I’m a big fan—but because I don’t consider them fishing shoes. Rugged Shark Everglades I know Rugged Shark because I wear their watermen-style white boots. (Insert joke here.) But they also offer several boating shoes that are lightweight and durable, and perhaps most importantly, drain water without sacrificing comfort. The Everglades model neatly fits this description. A superlight shoe, it sports a synthetic mesh upper with strategically placed lateral supports. Fast-drying material curves to your foot’s shape, with molded EVA outsoles providing cushioning while deep grooves funnel water away from the shoe’s sole. The anti-shock midsole minimizes pain from heel strike, and a one-inch heel rise provides adequate lift. Also worth a look are the Marlin3 and the Starboard. The last two have more of an athletic shoe look and feel, as well as a padded collar and venting mesh sewn into the uppers as well as superb traction. Columbia Boatdrainers II PFG Columbia almost always comes through with top-notch gear at reasonable prices. Its Performance Fishing Gear (PFG) line of boating/fishing shoes is no exception. There are plenty of models to pick from; the surefooted and lightweight Boatdrainers II PFG shoes caught my eye. They have plenty of features active anglers desire in footwear: sure-grip rubber, water repellent materials, and water-draining ports. These shoes are made of Nubuck leather and mesh upper and feature Columbia’s Blood ‘n Guts treatment (gotta love the name!) that they say repels fishy stains and smells. Other shoes worthy of a strong look include the MegaVent FlyAir-flow and Rainmaker III, also in the company’s PFG line. Simms Currents Winning the New Product Showcase at last summer’s ICAST, Simms Currents boat shoe has in spades the fishing pedigree anglers have long associated with Simms gear. These fishing shoes are made with what the company calls its Right Angle Footbed technology, which lets you cast from a boat deck all day long in comfort and support. Seamless TPU welded and quick-dry mesh uppers fight water retention. Fly and kayak anglers will appreciate the smooth uppers that won’t snag your fly line, thanks to the bungee-lacing closure. And you won’t irritate that boat neat-freak friend since the soles are made of non-marking rubber. Siped treads (small slits cut in the tread) give you a reliable no-slip grip. Tack on features include EVA footbeds and Agion anti-odor technology, and it’s easy to see why the ICAST folks gave it one of their top prizes. For those fishermen who like to get out and walk, give Simms’ Flats Sneaker a look. You’ll appreciate the over-the-ankle coverage and Schoeller-dynatec panels for unmatched support and puncture resistance. Sperry H2O Escape Bungee You can’t have a conversation about boat shoes and not include Sperry. While I usually associate these iconic boat shoes with sailors enjoying cocktails after the regatta, they do offer the H2O Escape Bungee, which look awesome. Escapes are made with all-synthetic materials, are ultra-fast-drying, and have a cushioned copolymer EVA midsole with five molded channels that drain water from the foot box. Well-placed siping maximizes traction so you can traverse a stern deck, bow casting platform or even rocks awash in Bay water with the confidence of a squirrel monkey. A bungee lacing system lets you take them off and put them on quickly, and the very-low-cut heel collar lets your feet move freely without risk of blisters on your ankles. by Captain Chris D. Dollar