"FISH ON!!"
I yelled, as my seven weight fly rod bent over and the line played it's magical tune of "zinging in the rain". It was hard to tell just how big the fish was or if it was a Rainbow or big Dolly Varden.
Hooking a big upper Kenai river trout in fast water doesn't leave much time for species identification.
"Hang on to it-we'll chase it and go land it in some calmer water." said Allen, who was behind the sticks of our 20 foot Willie drift boat.
We had just entered the Canyon section of the upper Kenai river and while my three other compadres fishing with me on the boat had already hooked some BIG Rainbows and Dollies, I had yet to catch what I will call a "quality" upper Kenai fish. That of course means insulting every trout on every other river in North America, since the eighteen inch Rainbows and twenty inch Dolly Vardens I had already caught were hardly chopped liver!! It's just that I had watched numerous twenty-four inch fish caught in the morning and listened to Allen comment on how this was the best morning of fly fishing he had had on the upper Kenai this year. Again, don't get me wrong-I was catching my share of fish- but this was the kind of fish I was waiting for.
Ziiiiinnnnggggg.
I stood up in the front of the boat, and Allen gave chase in our wide bellied river pursuit vehicle. I held my rod high and reeled to keep a tight line on the fish.
As we drifted towards the "river right" bank, we heard some crashing in the trees. In my peripheral vision I saw some movement, but kept my eyes fixed on my pulsating rod tip. Allen nonchalantly mentioned that we had a Brown bear over on our right, kind of like a guy mentions seeing a 1957 Chevy.
It's neat-but nothing to get to crazy about.Keep fishing.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I pass within twenty yards of meat eating carnivores-I like to give them more than just a passing glance.Especially, since most of us on the boat were seeing our first Brown/Grizzly bear in our lives, and not everyone gets to see a Grizzly when they come to Alaska. Not to mention that any one of us would make a delicious mid day snack for a bear with the munchies.
Allen, trying to be the consumate Alaskan fishing guide, was trying to pass it off as an everyday occurence and make you feel like -"Heck, most of us guides sleep with bears"--but you could tell by his watchful back and forth looks--that he didn't get to see bears that often.
As Allen lowered the boat anchor in a nice back eddy, I turned toward the fish and got back to the task at hand. Pump, reel down, pump, reel down.
About that time, I started to hear some more commotion from the bank, and about the same time as my fish revealed his Rainbow identity by making an acrobatic leap into the air, I turned to see a bear clawing it's way up a tree.
Good, that's what I like to see from man eating carnivores!
I turned back at the fish--and then did a double take on the bear.
OH @%$+ IT WAS A CUB...
... and we're not talking the kind that play in Chicago!!
Faster then I could get the words " it's a cub" out of my mouth, mama bear went into protection mode. We all heard brush being knocked down like tackling dummies at the Chicago Bears training camp and then we saw "Mamas" round face,shoulders hunched, claws digging in as she made a charge at us towards the bank.
We all looked over at the same time,and for a brief second, my first thought was: "Oh great, why does this have to happen when I have a nice Rainbow on? I hope I don't lose this fish." Of course, sitting twenty yards away in a boat- in the water- gives one a sense of security.
A false sense of security.
That bear took to the sky like "superwoman". Paws out and legs flying- without even breaking stride- she was IN THE WATER.
You never saw ten eyeballs get so large in your life.
I looked at my fish, I looked at Allen, and I looked at that Grizzly, and thought to myself; "Great, I have three other fishermen on this boat and they all match the criteria that I had required to fish with in bear country. They are all bigger and slower and at this point- between me and the bear!!" BUT, if we had to go overboard-I sure wasn't confident that I could outswim these guys. Plus, I had a rod in my hand, a fish on the line, and a natural fishermen's instinct- to not want to lose my trout!! The bear would certainly pick me, because he would get the bonus of having a trout for dessert after having his "Fisherman ala Gore-Tex" entree. I guess I shouldn't have been too worried,afterall, Allen wouldn't have wanted to return to the lodge without his "guests"--too much paperwork!!
Right?
Allen frantically grabbed at the anchor rope, while "mama" thrashed about in the water. Meanwhile the rest of us had that "deer in the headlights" look, waiting for either instructions from Allen-or the voice of God- to tell us what to do next.
"I think we'll fight this fish somewhere else." Allen said, while grabbing the oars and pulling us away with Herculean strength.
That- is what they call an understatement. Somewhere else indeed!
How about Pennsylvania?
Mama had done what she had intended, danger to cub-gone, fishermen white as ghosts, and Brown bear Peace and tranquility restored to the right bank.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
She turned, and splashed back to the shore...
I don't know if it was the lowering of the anchor that had startled her, or the banging of the boat, or the splashing of my Rainbow, but we had just witnessed -first hand- how the Grizzly bear protects her cubs in the wild.
Pretty much by going NUTS!!
We drifted over to "river left", downstream about another 100 yards, and finally landed an exhausted 23 inch FAT Rainbow trout. Of course, the fish seemed an after thought now as all five of us checked our waders for "brown spots", but after all that, it would have made us cry to lose that fish.
We all "high fived" each other and still couldn't help but looking back upstream--just to make sure "mama" wasn't still angry. Allen said that it was the first time he had seen a Brown bear jump into the water like that.
Really.
Then we sat there and all gave our accounts of how the scene "went down". It was great to hear everyones reaction and different version of the "thirty five seconds of drama".
We took a picture of that fish- which will be forever on be referred to as the "Bear Fish", and even though it wasn't the biggest fish on that float--it will certainly be the one most remembered.
There was no picture of the bear-since everyone was riveted on the real bear on not the Kodak moment.
When we got back to our lodge, Allen told the story of our Alaskan experience and some of the older guides looked at him "sideways" like he might be working on a good fish story or nickname.I could see it now... "Who you going out with today? Grizzly Gillette? Allen the Bear Slayer?... Of course there were four witnesses that were ready to back him up and it wasn't exactly like we had said we had seen "bigfoot" or "aliens" for heavens sake!!
All in all, I would say we got the true Alaskan experience that day. Nice fat upper Kenai Rainbow trout and Dolly Vardens on a fly, false charged by a Grizzly mom and an unforgettable day in incredible scenery.
As the years go on--I am sure the"Bear Fish"will get bigger, the bear will get closer(maybe even into the boat!!) and the legend of "Grizzly Gillette" will grow tall.
But not nearly as tall as that BEAR!!
A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005. If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com
Competition between offshore and inshore anglers has skyrocketed within the last few years. As the competition increases, so does the need for fishing teams to differentiate themselves and stand out from other teams. To do... Read More
These are busy times we live in.Running a full time business, having a five and a half year old daughter, and becoming the world's most prominent "fish bloggering idiot"--has certainly cut into my fishing time.... Read More
Many shore anglers avoid fishing rock marks because they are scared of losing tackle. However, very few marks are totally unfishable, and often the most effective rigs for fishing rough ground marks are also the... Read More
-----SIDEBAR------------------------------------------Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth of knowledge for the beginner fly fisher as well as the experienced angler.The following is an excerpt from Practical Fly Fishing, by Larry St. John (1920)-----END SIDEBAR----------------------------------WADING A... Read More
The Best Type Of Line For Night FishingHere is a topic that is often debated between night fishermen. Depending on how you like to fish at night, here is what you should look for in... Read More
It's getting near the time bass will be on their beds. Not just any bass, but trophy size bass in Ohio. So, what are you going to use to catch those lunkers? Big baits of... Read More
Experienced fishermen know all about the cutthroat trout. That is because it is a huge gaming fish and it is difficult to catch. Why, then do so many fisherman go cutthroat trout fishing? These fish... Read More
For those of you that don't know, Alaska trout fishing is one of the most beautiful, most unbelievable experiences in this world. Not only are the trout big and beautiful, but the area around the... Read More
Should you approach the fishing industry for sponsorship?First let's look at it from the lure manufacturer's standpoint. Just think of your favorite lure manufacturer for a minute. Now imagine that you work at their plant.... Read More
Many people know just what type of lure they want to use in order to catch the elusive fish. In fact, one of the most common types of lures is called a spinner. Spinner fishing... Read More
Jack Karpawack here.I've taken to the road...Life can be simple,and life can be hard on the road, but mainly it just makes your butt hurt having to drive so far to pursue the call of... Read More
Successful Fishing: The mysterious "e" Factor.There has always been a strange, and to this day, unsolved mysterious theory in the fishing world.My wife knows of this theory and she thinks I am crazy, paranoid, and... Read More
If you take your children fishing with you, they can enjoy something for the rest of their lives, as long as you make it pleasant for them.If on the other hand, you yell, scream and... Read More
Many people go to Florida to fish for that trophy bass but did you know that 4 other states have a bigger state record than Florida? Not only that but one of the states is... Read More
We all have used buzz baits and we know why the bass like them right? It's because of that little stream of water. Wrong! It's the sound! Yep, sound attracts the bass then sight.Bass has... Read More
Just when you thought you had seen it all. Just when you thought what in the world can I get for a unique and different Christmas present,Fathers Day gift,or executive gift-- along comes a fun... Read More
Garmin 240 Fish Finder Depthfinder with Transducer - a reviewThe lakes that I normally fish are deep and quite rocky, and I have been delighted with the performance of the Garmin 240 Fish Finder, which... Read More
Brown trout fishing can prove very challenging. This is due in part to the fact that brown trout are smart fish. They tend to feed at dusk or at night. They do put up a... Read More
I was laying down on the bow of the boat gazing at the brilliant stars on this moonless night. All of the rods were set out, staggered by depths and distance away from the boat.... Read More
Night fishing is becoming more and more popular recently, and for good reason.Not only do you get cooler temperatures, less competition and congestion for the best areas, but there are also many more opportunities for... Read More
This aint exactly rocket scientry boys...I picked up a copy of The Oregonian this morning and read a story about how the ocean conditions this year are killing off seabirds in record numbers. Murres and... Read More
For those of you that don't know this, fishermen by nature are a frugal lot.Being penny wise and pound foolish is standard fare, and I am no different.I recently noticed that the felt soles on... Read More
Boat Fishing At Night ChecklistHere is an easy checklist of items you will need before you head out for a night fishing trip.** Two Flashlights with new batteries in each.-Sure enough, one of those flashlights... Read More
Inflatable boats, also called rubber boats or dinghies, have been around in one form or another for thousands of years. They now come in many different sizes and models and include inflatable kayaks, sport boats,... Read More
Cheap SinkersSpark plugs make excellent disposable sinkers. Need some cheap (free) fishing weights? Go to any gas station and ask for them. Then, loop a rubber band through the electrode and then tapping the wire... Read More
MABLETHORPE, is a beach resort on the East coast of England. The beach is a long stretch of clean sands with some great fishing. The clean and flat ground is excellent for Flounder and the... Read More
The next few days in Ohio are supposed to be in the 50's, so, guess what I plan on doing if the lakes thaw out? Yep, go fishing for bass.As you know the bass are... Read More
Class Is In Session.... Baitfish 101Okay.So you would think that in this information age we fishermen and fisherwomen would have all the knowledge of baitfishing at our fingertips.Evidently, some of us have been slow to... Read More
I was fishing a small lake in central California back in 1980, I think it was that year. I had been fishing for a couple of hours and doing ok, catching some 1-2 pound fish... Read More
Preparation is the Key To Successful Night Fishing, You Better Have These...Night fishing requires quite a bit more preparation than daytime fishing does. Even if you "think" you know the waters pretty well, you need... Read More
When fly fishing for trout, it is of crucial importance to understand their senses. Trout are fish, after all, and make different use of their senses than we do. Understanding these senses can greatly increase... Read More
Fly fishing has a history stretching back to the ancient Greeks, whose historians record people fishing for "spotted fishes" with fixed-line wooden poles. They used for bait wound with cloth and animal hair... Read More
Why Night Fishing Beats Day Fishing Any Day of the WeekWithout a doubt, night fishing is better than day fishing for many reasons.One of the biggest reasons is the size of the fish you can... Read More
As Forrest Gump would say, you never know what you're going to get.Not too many things get me more excited than the prospect of hooking and landing big fish. The mere thought of setting the... Read More
For those who are interested in speckled trout, you will be happy to know that these fish are some great catches. One of the most interesting features of this fish is the actual speckled trout... Read More
Fishing Fishing |