READ THIS russian river red fishermen (With update)

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Just as an FYI for anyone palnning on fishing the russian river for reds in the coming weeks. There is an abundance of bears this year, I have seen 9 bears in 3 trips. 1 lone black bear, 1 boar gizzly, a sow griz with 2 young cubs, and another sow with 3 yearling cubs. There is no need to sound the alarm or bring up a hip cannon, but use some common sense when walking the trails surrounding the russian itself. Walk in groups if at all possible and make plenty of noise. (talking loudly, bells, etc) Tonight I had a slight run with the sow with 3 cubs. Some dumbass kids from TX were walking in front of me and turned back around when they had walked within 10yards of the bears, then in an attempt to scare them off one of the bright ones started making a noise very similar to a growling sound. The sow got a little angry and started popping her jaws and growling back while trying to round up her cubs. I explained to the kid from texas in not so nice terms that growling is not the answer when dealing with bears. Our little discussion was loud enough to let the bears know where we were and they just headed off into the woods. I am sure that many others have some good advice on how to avoid conflicts with bears (keta). Please get some sound advice and use caution when hiking back to the campground.

[ 07-12-2003, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: willametteriveroutlaw ]

[marko]

When walking in bear country hikers are advised to wear tiny bells on their shoes and watch for bear sign. One sign to look for is scat and the way to tell if it is bear scat is to look for tiny bells. :laugh:

[Born to Fish]

Good one, Marko. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Grantspastor]

That's a bunch of bears WRO. In the years I lived there and fished the Russian we would only enounter the odd bear.

I agree with you...growling at a sow Grizzly that is growling at you is downright stupid. Fortunately the bear was smarter than those kids.

[ 07-04-2003, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Grantspastor ]

[Mad Mikey]

I fished it in 95' in Sept. Second run of reds was going through and the mouth was just like the postcard and photos you see. Wall to wall anglers.
We fished above with skaters for the big bows' and had a blast.
I was about 1/4 mile upstream of the mouth casting big dries and thought I saw the opposite bank "move". Nope, it was a BIG brown bear making it's way upstream, ignoring the reds and looking for silvers.
I watched it go up to a pool and settle in like it was sitting in a hot tub.
I decided to follow it and watch from the brush. About this time two anglers from upriver came tumbling down into the brush with me, very frightened. They were nice fellas from SF and were very funny, flailing about and trying to hide behind me.
I calmed them down and we watched the bear dip in and take three silvers while it just sat there. It picked up a fish and ripped it down one side then the other and tossed the carcass.
Fourth fish the bear bobbled it a bit and tossed it TOWARDS us and lunged after it. Keep in mind we are only 40 ft. from the bear. This was enough for all of us.
Me and my newfound fishing friends tumbled out of the bushes and scooted back towards the campground.
Another fisherman was with us watching unbeknownst to us and ran with us. He was an Airforce pilot stationed in Anchorage and fished the Russian daily. He told us later that the brown we watched was the biggest he'd seen in two years. 900lbs in his estimate and we were very lucky to have seen the show.
Another thing about the Russian, the bears are tuned to the sound of a screaming drag on a reel and WILL go after fish being landed.
Keep that in mind......

[ 07-05-2003, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Mad Mikey ]

[Gun Rod Bow]

Hey Ryan,

Don't you have any bear spray? You could use it on the Texans :laugh:

[RiverRogue]

Thanks for the warning. I will be there too, but with a little more respect than the boys from Tx. A few years ago, I was fishing the bend about a third of a mile downstream, near the hiway, when a sow and two cubs sauntered down across the Kenai from where we were. Was kinda funny, watching everyone over there scatter as she worked her way downstream. Save some for me!!!

[Tilla]

WRO-
I see by your avatar you got a picture of the brute! :laugh:

[willametteriveroutlaw]

i knew I needed it for somthing, although I generally reserve it for german tourists.

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Went up last night and saw 7 different bears. I got stuck on the island at the confluence for 2.5 hours last night because bears were blocking the trail. They also had to close the ferry for a while yesterday because a sow and her three cubs were camped out on the ferry dock trying to fish.
If you end up fishing in the river be careful, that sow likes the lower river, and there is a 300lb black bear that roams the area around grayling that stupid tourists have been feeding salmon carcasses to.
Tilla,
My bear will bite you :grin: :wink:

[DanS]

Growling at a sow grizzly, huh? Did he bare his teeth? :laugh:

[1pump]

i knew I needed it for somthing, although I generally reserve it for german tourists. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">:laugh:
I remember those guys. They were just starting to invade the area when I lived there 10 years ago. The Japanese faded away and were replaced by Germans. graemlins/eek13.gif

[willametteriveroutlaw]

The sow I mentioned in my first post was killed on wednesday by a tourist who got scared and fired a very off mark warning shot, from what I heard. Not a good situation, and a new sow has laready moved in with her three adolescent cubs and taken up residence there. (definately a different bear) There was 2 fishermen chased into the river this week by bears. This is post is also geared toward the lurkers who have emailed me with question. Please if you are going to be up there make alot of noise, don't walk alone, and use some comon sense!

[willametteriveroutlaw]

1 pump,
When I was 12 I pushed a japanese tourist in the river because he crowded me out too much. I mean she waded out in front of me 2ft and stood directly in front of me and then wouldn't move. Not one of my better moves. (young dumb and _________) The foreign tourists up here are a pain in the ass, but they do bring in good money for the local economy.
Anyone headed up here be careful.
tight lines
WRO

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Bear story (http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/071803/wil_071803wild001.shtml)
Things have gone from bad to worse recently, with two bear attacks on the kenai in the last week and a half. The other occurred at morgans landing with a 12 year old boy being severly mauled.

[RiverRogue]

Sorry to hear about the bear incidents. I think I am going to bring a long equalizer just the same. How are the counts in the lower river these days? And how is the Kenai now for those big kings? Will be there Thursday eve.

[Bill Monroe]

Dare I point out there's a similar Texan in the Whitehouse?

[enjoynature87]

Did u fish the Confluence Hole? How big were they? 1st or second run? I was there last year, did'nt come across one bear. I have heard stories though. I thought it was a good idea to pack my .44 mag. Those Reds are good eating! Enjoy!

[FishaholicAZ]

Yeah... We were there last year and we didn't see or hear of any bears. We were up there in mid August though. We did manage to shoot something though. One of the idiots with us shot his dad in the leg while playing with his gun.
Please, if you are packing your heat, be careful with it... Sometimes, we are more dangerous than the bears.

Fish on.
Romeo

[JohnB]

Here is an update. Sounds gruesome :depressed:
http://www.adn.com/front/story/3486845p-3517966c.html

[Mr. Shannon O'Brien]

It's a wall to wall slug fest. Lots and lots of fish. This is what I used to dream about down in the Willamette Valley.

The kenai just went to 6 reds pp a day. The counts were just over a 100,000 for one of the days.

I put on the action optics and watch a non-stop flow go by.

Unbelievable!

The kenai is seeing 1,000-1,800 a day going over the sonar counter. I heard of lots of 40-60's and a handful of 70's.

I'm scooting out tommorow to get my six on the kenai and then next week I head out with my seven-year-old son on a guided trip fro monsters. His pole is mine :smile:

Hope we get another over 50, and if so I'll place a pic on the board.

[Mr. Shannon O'Brien]

That came up wrong. My pole is his is what I meant to say. :tongue:

I'm always willing to allow him to have my pole on take downs!

[willametteriveroutlaw]

Shannon,
It has slowed down significantly lately (last 2 days) The commercials pretty much have the inlet corked off. Mixed feeling here, the sportsfishermen take out alot more fish than the bios give us credit for. i would guess that over the season we take out 50-75K reds (low estimate). They pretty much screw the last half of every red season. When there getting paid 55 cents a pound, the sport fish are worth much more. This (guess) 90/10 allotment commercials/sportsfishermen is messed up.