Alaska is home to an estimated 30,000 grizzly bears, far more than anywhere else in the America. They’re distributed throughout the entire state except for islands south of Frederick Sound, west of Unimak, and islands in the Bearing Sea. Many of them frequently feed on spawning salmon, an abundant resource in the northern most portion of the country and the same salmon that tend to attract a large number of anglers and fly fishermen.
Fishermen in bear country are responsible for their own safety. Bears are specifically attracted to the sight of splashing fish and will approach if they catch sight of disturbances in the water. Additionally fish remains have the potential to attract bears through sight and scent and should be dealt with appropriately. It’s not clear exactly what brought this bear to this angler in Alaska. It could have been the smell of caught fish, it could have been food in the man’s Simms Slingpack, or it could have simply been wandering in the area.
General bear safety is necessary knowledge for those recreating in the Alaska wilderness or any other grizzly bear territory. Grizzlies need to be given plenty of space, and in the event that one approaches you should back away slowly and let it pass. If the bear continues to approach, then you should stop and hold your ground. Approaching a bear, even if it’s stolen your bag, is never a good idea. Anglers need to understand that providing fish for bears, whether on accident or on purpose, can be dangerous both to them and to future fishermen.
Alaska Fish & Game Guidelines For Fishing In Bear Country:
Splashing fish attract bears.
- If a bear is near enough to notice splashing — STOP FISHING!
- If the bear approaches you while you have a fish on the line, give it slack or cut the line to eliminate splashing.
As soon as you catch a fish —
- Immediately kill your fish, and then bleed it in the water by cutting or ripping the gill arches. Bleeding into the water improves the quality of the meat and reduces the chance that blood will get onto clothing or the stream bank, potentially attracting bears.
- Store fish on ice in a proven bear-proof container. Coolers are not bear proof. If you use a cooler, keep it near you and closely attend it.
If you must must use a stringer —
- Keep it in the water and near you (within 12 feet) at all times. Keeping fish on a stringer in the water keeps fish cool and better preserves meat quality.
- Do not leave fish exposed on the bank or in the woods out of view. This affects the meat quality and increases the risk of attracting bears.
If you are fishing from a boat or have accessed a bank fishing area with a boat, closely attend your catch just as you do with your fishing rod, or secure fish in the boat. Try to stay within reasonable distance from your boat in case a bear approaches.
Fish remains attract bears — Stop, chop and throw
- When possible, clean fish at a designated fish cleaning station, or at home.
- Cut filleted fish carcasses into smaller pieces that can be easily carried away in the current.
- Toss all fish waste into deep, fast-moving currents — not in dumpsters! Do not leave entrails or other fish waste on the bank or in shallow water.
- If you clean your fish at home, place entrails and fish waste into the freezer until the morning of garbage day. Do not leave fish waste outside in garbage cans for multiple days, as bears will be attracted to the smell, even in town. A benefit of filleting at home is that it yields cleaner meat than filleting in the field.