Wading Anglers

We tend to think trout and flyfishing when we talk about wading anglers, but this is also a good time to consider those who are doing other fishing along streams and rivers. They all have to access the water or water's edge where AIS may be present. As a result they all may be picking up seeds, disease, tiny animals and their larvae like freshwater golden clam or New Zealand mudsnails, etc. These anglers tend to move! If fishing is bad at one stream, they may try one or more others in the same day or week. This group tends to also travel a lot across state lines. 

They might move AIS on footwear, on their bait, in fish containers, and on fishing equipment. As with boats and related recreational equipment, the species can be moved if they are attached directly to the footwear and equipment or are carried to another waterway in mud or water. 

These anglers are unique to those who fish on lakes since they may have any number of access points along a waterway. Although some will concentrate in a parking area before taking off to their fishing spots, many park along roads wherever an access is present, and often where there isn't an official access. For AIS Outreach, we lose the advantage of the boat launch where everyone must go in and out. A recent study in Michigan that included surveys and observations found this is a group that needs more outreach and alarmingly, sometimes walk right by those great boot brushes they have out like we do.

So, how to do you reach them? 

Know when the seasons are: The Early Trout Opener kicks off when you may not expect! It's opens the first Saturday in January. Click here for WDNR's listing of key fishing dates. 

Access points: Contact your local DNR Wildlife staff and Wardens to learn if there are any popular access points where multiple people may concentrate. They may also be able to help you figure out key dates and times. These are also places you may want to add one of the AIS Signs or a boot brush station if there isn't one present and provided you get permission from the land manager. 

Get to know local flyfishing groups: Trout Unlimited chapters and other fishing groups around the state are very active in AIS Prevention, having partnered with many of us on getting out signage and wader/boot cleaning stations at popular access points. When New Zealand mudsnails were fist discovered in WI, they were key stakeholders who did everything from sharing information to helping sort through the benthic samples biologists had collected throughout the state.  Take the time to learn what they have done in the past and what they'd like to have help doing because they understand the value of protecting the streams for their fishing future. 

Find events to present at: Many of these groups hold large events, especially early in the year, where you can speak or have a display. Be ready to learn as much as you teach. Don't be surprised if those you speak to cover the range from novices to people who know as much about AIS in riverine systems as you do, if not more. Event display can include:

• A poster or foamboard sign version of the boot brush sign

• Cleaning gear - sprayer, brushes, 409, etc. (A tips card is being considered - could be a sticker they can attach to a sprayer or large brush)

• Dirty waders and footwear - Great idea from Marco Scarasso-he took dirty waders, glued on some dead New Zealand mudsnails onto each foot of the boots. On one, he highlighted the mudsnails with pink marker. By comparing the two it was easy to see how well they hide. 

• Felt waders if you can find some. The removable ones can collect a large amount of debris under them and all can hid things like didymo. They are not restricted in WI and some people feel unsafe without them, so cleaning is key.

Utilize social media and press (print and electronic): Think about where anglers are getting information about fishing in your area and target some outreach in that direction. Above is a great video you can share that was created by Tim Campbell and WDNR's Office of Communications. Here's the link: How Wading Anglers Can Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers 

Don't forget bait shops and flyfishing supply stores. 

Materials:

• Wading angler card: These cards are not WI specific. They were created for a regional audience. Although they are only a few years old, the contact information is not correct or WI specific, so you may want to add an organizational sticker with your own contact information to them. We are considering a replacement for when these run out.  As of 10/18/23 there are only about 600 left. 

• Wild cards: focus on those that are of highest concern in river systems and to the anglers like freshwater golden clams, New Zealand mudsnails and didymo. 

• Prompts: Small boot brushes (WY-085) and the camo towels (WY-091) are good for this group. Supplies are limited but still available as of  4/14/2025. The towels are also meant for waterfowl hunter, but we don't use them for other boaters.

• Signage: As of 3/11/2025 we had 6 boot wading angler brush station signs (WY-084) available for free. The Wading Cleaning Station Sign is being updated as of 4/14/2025. The Stream Access sign with user icons below is great for wading anglers and others, the pdf files include three sizes for printing, including one for boot brush stations. 

Boot brush station building directions are found here in the Boot_Wader Cleaning Stations folder in Box.