At the Catskill Flies shop in Roscoe, the village at the confluence of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc rivers that calls itself “Trout Town USA,” all wading shoes with felt soles are on clearance sale.

A bad hip interfered with my fishing in a big way, so much so that I often decided not to go out at all if it meant struggling into my waders. And I really struggled. One day, I just said heck with it ...

My first fishing shoes were old sneakers I wore as a kid. From boat to wet wading in rivers, they served the purpose. But here’s the thing: They weren’t meant to be water shoes. Spend a day fishing in ...