This fly fisherman had two battles to wage before bringing in this sizable catch, first reeling in the fish after luring it with the perfect bait and artistic cast, second shooing away an opportunistic black bear that was waiting on the sidelines to snatch it up.
While many commenters were quick to point out that the angler should have simply let the bear have the fish rather than confronting it, Jeremiah Mast had to issues that should be taken into consideration before casting judgement on his defense of the catch.
Firstly, the section of river he was fishing on is a highly populated place with lots of fisherman and tourists and if folks started feeding bears they would quickly become habituated and no longer view humans as a threat which can lead to negative encounters and ultimately a bad outcome for the bears.
Secondly he reminded people in the comment section that fish had a big octopus short-shank fishing hook in its mouth and had the bear managed to steal the fish chances are it would have ingested the razor sharp tackle specifically designed to skewer live bait which could have wreaked havoc on the bears digestive tract.
Thankfully a combination of stern voices and quick splash of water was enough to deter this thieving bear from securing its ill gotten gains but it seemed far too comfortable in close proximity to the fisherman. In fact this wasn’t the first time the bear had approached the man, earlier in the day it did successfully steal a fish off his line. Learn more about the importance of not allowing bears to steal fish and how to avoid the situation below.
Fishing In Bear Country:
Splashing fish sounds like food to a bear. Bears will often move in your direction to investigate a fish on a line. Always be prepared to cut or break your line, so that you can free the fish and move out of the water until the bear passes. Never let a bear acquire a fish from you.
It is easy to become so engaged in fishing, that you forget to be alert for bears. They are surprisingly quiet and difficult to see in dense grass or tall brush, so always have someone spot bears for you.
At minimum, keep 50 yards between yourself and all bears. All fishing must cease when a bear is within 50 yards of you. No lures or flies can remain in the water. Stop fishing and move away well before a bear approaches within 50 yards. If bear is close and you hook a fish, you must lose your tackle to break your line or find yourself in a situation with a bear pursuing your fish.
Why You Should Not Let Bears Take Fish:
Tackle hazards: Allowing a bear to snatch a hooked fish can cause the animal to swallow fishing hooks or line, causing severe internal injury.
Food conditioning: Letting a bear take a fish teaches the animal to associate humans with easy food.
Increased danger: Habituated bears become aggressive, demand food from people, and often have to be destroyed by wildlife authorities.
What to Do Instead
- Cut the line: If a bear approaches or shows interest in a fish you have hooked, immediately cut or slack the line to stop the splashing and release the fish.
- Surrender the catch: If a bear tries to take a fish already near you, let it go into the fast-moving current rather than fighting over it
- Maintain distance: Keeping a safe distance and stop fishing entirely if a bear moves close.
