On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 18:03:44 GMT, rw
wrote:

wrote:
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:42:15 GMT, rw
wrote:


Considering the condition of your feet and your maximum ground speed,
I'd be delighted to have you around in camp in bear country, if only you
weren't such an obnoxious asshole.


Yeah, it's tough walking. It's even tougher to grow old. But, I've
spent many days on the banks of Alaskan rivers, within sight of brown
bears, and, whatyaknow, here I am! d;o) I have never heard of a fly
fisherman having a bad encounter with bears.

http://www.sportfishingkenai.com/con...D=37&CAT_ID=72

Now you have heard of one.


He seems to have been fishing at night. Bears are most active in the
evening and early morning. It doesn't say, however, if he took the
necessary precautions - making noise, allowing the bear to not be
surprised by his presence. My guess is that he startled a bear. That
ain't whatcha wanna do. Also, the encounter was in the Russian River
area, which is in the center of bear attack country, the Kenai
Peninsula.

I have seen about 100
bears each week I have spent in Alaska, and there was never even a
"close encounter." They are too busy feeding on the salmon to care
about humans.

Here's an apropos quote from the link above:

Larry Lewis, a Wildlife Technician, who among other duties teaches bear
safety for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, would agree. He
maintains that too often people get in trouble because they lose contact
with their surroundings, becoming totally engrossed in their fishing,
for instance. The other problem, he says, is complacency or a cavalier
attitude, believing that “it couldn’t happen to me,” or that because I
know all the “rules” for being in bear country I’ll be alright.

Golly. It's deja vu all over again. I have said I am not being
cavalier about it. Simply be aware of your surroundings and act
accordingly. Talk to any bear you may see. Never startle one. Never
run - you become prey if you run. Make noise, lotsa noise and make
yourself big by waving your arms if one comes too close. All of this
info is given to the sports before they ever see a fly rod. If you go
to Woods River, you have to take a "bear class" before they let you in
the park. Again, they give the same advice. If you think I was being
cavalier or compacent, you are dead wrong. Witness my remarks with:
http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/Alaska9-Aug04.html