I wear my big boat shoes, but take less/smaller steps. Those are crocs for 10 months of the year, and bogs for two months. I take the bogs off after launching and wear a water resistant Salomon after launching.

On 6/28/2026 at 8:55 PM, Bazoo said:

What kind of shoes do you wear when you’re fishing from a kayak or a boat, where you might end up needing to put your feet in the water?

Do you just take your shoes off, or do you wear crocs or other waterproof shoes?

I have been wearing these guys from Korker's. The soles are removable and you can put new ones on when they wear out. They have three different types based on the type of tread you want. I have tried many other sandals over the years and there is hiking pair from Teva that has a non slip sole. They may have been discontinued but they were the best and most comfortable.

Also, once again, I beg you do not wear Crocs. They are a death trap as they have no slip resistance to them. Once they get near a wet surface, you might as well be on an ice skating rink. I have seen so many injuries with them, it's nuts. This year alone I have seen two ambulances called to the boat ramps because of these shoes. I say this and I myself have fallen (twice on the same day) in Crocs about 10 days ago. I got a call from one my buddies that he needed help with getting his boat back in during some high winds and his boat was taking on water. I was close by the lake so I headed over. I had to get in the waters edge to help get the boat on the trailer and I slipped and fell in the Crocs I had on. I hit my head on the trolling motor, fell and fractured my ring finger and sprained my wrist. Then when draining the water out of the boat, I slipped and hit my tail bone. Since it has been about 100 degrees for a week, I haven't fished so I haven't been too upset about it. Today is the first day I have been able to type without pain. I will also add that the DNR had just put chemicals in to kill the blue green algae outbreak. This makes the gunk push up to the bank and boat ramps, making it the worse case scenario.

Muck boots if cold. Chaco’s or Birkenstocks otherwise. I usually launch barefooted in my kayak, if not, I launch in my Chaco’s. Then, whatever I’m wearing, I take them off in the kayak - because Birkenstock tan is not sexy.