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Stingray Protection

8.8K views 31 replies 20 participants last post by  maikleoliver  
#1 ·
From my research, I only see Barts Bay Armor and Ray Guard Reef boots with Ray Guard shields as complete setups for stingray protection. And Foreverlast doesnt even show their ray guard shields anymore so maybe they are not even an option. Am I missing other brands or options? Im never going back in without full protection.
 
#20 ·
lmao, when shuffling you kick them and **** them off, step over them. I didn't listen to my own advice and stepped on one a decade or so back, he got me good. So I bought a couple different types of ray protection and it all sits in the garage. I have the entire kitchen sink with me when fishing, the ray guards are just more clutter, that is until you need them. I've made it forty years with only one hit, if my next forty are the same, I'm good, lmao.
 
#9 ·
I've shuffled for 25 years.. still no strikes. That said I picked up some Barts for the summer... I needed new wade boots anyway.


That said, there are times when you can't shuffle.. some people I know have been hit when they made a cast.. and got just a little off balance and stepped back .. right onto the ray. I also know guides that jumped out of the boat and landed right on top of them.. Yes, both rare occurrences but lightning does strike.

Enjoying the Barts and his customer service is great.
 
#10 ·
I have used Bart's Bay boots for close to 2 years now. Although I have not taken a hit from a stingray they have held up well walking through oyster reefs which are pretty **** tough. Plenty comfortable enough. I use neoprene socks under them while wet waiting and stocking foot waders when it's cold. I am confident they will protect me if the day ever comes and that is very important to me. I look for stingrays in the shallow flats that I prefer to fish because if you find them you often find the redfish in the same area.
 
#11 ·
I have waded for 30 years with no problem until last week. Fishing was slow so we decided to try live shrimp. Me and a buddy caught 7 rays in one morning in a tiny area. 6 of them were pretty large. I had never caught one before. I was freaked out wading back in and it really messed with my head. I would have never known they were there if it weren’t for the shrimp. Anyway, I won’t be wading again without wearing something.
 
#14 ·
I’ve found the shin high ray guards to be extremely bulky and uncomfortable while wading (wet). On a soft bottom where your feet and legs have to unstick and wiggle around, those shinguards kept digging in and rubbing my shins. Could not take them off fast enough when I got back to the shore and left them right there in the mud. Never again!!
I’ve always used the ankle high foreverlast reef boots and I tear them up on shell every year and replace them for $50. Wash and repeat.
tried on a pair of Barts Bay recently and although I think they could be a good summertime boot with a thin sock, when I tried to put a lightweight wool sock inside of a neoprene wader, they did not have near the room my foot needed, even two sizes up.
 
#23 ·
I use the "my wife's foot" guard when one makes it in the boat or to shore.

Works pretty good most of the time except when she lets go early.

For real though, I had no idea this was such a problem. Kinda makes me nervous about wading without protection (which I have done a few times, some on purpose, some on accident, always shuffling). Those guys make me nervous anyway, even when I have good control of them and their tail.

Never been stuck by one, and lord I hope I never do!
 
#24 ·
I went the first 30 years of my fishing life, mostly wading the surf and bays, without ray-guards and never got hit once. I'm a born shuffler; just ask my father, and I can't tell you how many miles of shorelines and mud flats I've waded.

About 2008 (??) I got some Everlast Boots with the leggings. I got real confident (lazy?) and started picking up my feet. I got hit twice in less than 20 trips. Neither did any harm, but I learned that the confidence of wearing those boots was making me forget the long-formed habit of shuffling. Stopped wearing them most of the time 10 years ago and haven't been hit since.

All that said, the other reasons the Everlast were put on the shelf were that they are heavy, uncomfortable, certain parts can break and are then hard to replace and they wear out pretty quick for what you pay for them (Neverlast) including the soles if you wade much shell at all.

I plan to buy a pair of the Barts Bay Armor boots at some point, since everyone I know with a pair says they are as comfortable and much lighter than Everlast
 
#27 ·
I went the first 30 years of my fishing life, mostly wading the surf and bays, without ray-guards and never got hit once. I'm a born shuffler; just ask my father, and I can't tell you how many miles of shorelines and mud flats I've waded.

About 2008 (??) I got some Everlast Boots with the leggings. I got real confident (lazy?) and started picking up my feet. I got hit twice in less than 20 trips. Neither did any harm, but I learned that the confidence of wearing those boots was making me forget the long-formed habit of shuffling. Stopped wearing them most of the time 10 years ago and haven't been hit since.

All that said, the other reasons the Everlast were put on the shelf were that they are heavy, uncomfortable, certain parts can break and are then hard to replace and they wear out pretty quick for what you pay for them (Neverlast) including the soles if you wade much shell at all.

I plan to buy a pair of the Barts Bay Armor boots at some point, since everyone I know with a pair says they are as comfortable and much lighter than Everlast
What did it feel like when you got hit while wearing the boots? Did it cause any damage to the boots?
 
#31 ·
Currently using Barts and they are so far so good. The first pair with the original sole didn't make it thru winter In the Ayers/Carlos Bay area but that's also like walking on daggers. The new soles have held up great here in Galveston all summer ever on the tougher shell. I do however know a guy who did get wacked with a pair of Barts on and it did get him. Nothing is gonna stop a dagger short of Knights Armour if it hits u just right. Foreverlast is also coming out with a new pair that may be worth checking out. I know some guys who have waded for the last 30 years daily in tennis shoes and never shuffle and never been hit. I know a guy that has been hit twice and fishes 5 times a year lol. When it's your turn to be unlucky it's just your turn lol. Agree with Tobin though, sometimes u just can't shuffle in some of the stuff we risk it all in. Good luck out there.