New Member!!!

[Steelie28]

Hello Ifish Community! It's a pleasure to be aboard. As is the custom, here is my story.

A few years ago, I had the privalege to spend a summer guiding in Alaska. Once at the lodge, I quickly volunteered to head up to one of the lodge's "outcamps" on what I had heard was a great trout river located about 50-60 miles away in the middle of the fabulous Alaskan wilderness. I lived in a wall tent for about 6 weeks during the early season (june-mid july). My camp was set up on a lake that connected to the river via a short canal. I had a 16 foot john boat with a 40 horse jet outboard at my disposal. Clients were flown in everyday and we drifted in rafts 8 miles to another canal and lake for pickup. Well, one Saturday the plane never showed up. Finally, a day off! I first tried my luck at some of the very large Northern Pike that lived in the far end of the lake. One of my clients landed a 42" pike earlier that week on a spinner, and I thought it would be one hell of a fight on a flyrod. After catching a half-dozen or so pike, I fired up the motor and headed down the canal, then downstream in the river. Once I got to the "Big Bend Hole", I parked the boat and walked upstream to the head of the pool. Rainbows were rising everywhere, and I had what they wanted (caddis fly). First cast, missed the strike. Second cast, wham, a nice 20" rainbow. I was in heaven catching 18"-24" rainbows on a dry fly for about 2 hours. Then I noticed a very large rainbow pull in behind a rock about 15 yards upstream from me. I guessed it at about 26" and gave myself 3 casts to catch it. First cast, no take. Second cast.....I'm not sure if the fish moved for the fly or not, because I heard some branches snap behind me and to my left. I turned and saw a big, brown hump behind some small bushes. Then the head popped up. About 40 ft. away stood the largest bear I had ever seen (up to that point anyway). I started making noise and rattling my split shot container. That got his attention and he took about 4 steps towards me. I grabbed my gear and started walking backwards, still yelling and making noise. "Big Ben" as I call him now, was slowing making his way towards me. He was close enough that I thought I would grab my 357 just in case I needed to fire off a few warning rounds. Well, one grab to my right hip and I knew I was in a bad situation. I had left the gun at camp. So here I was, in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, with nobody around (I had not heard or seen any other guides on the river all morning), no gun, and one big grizzly bear slowly making his way towards me. I briskly walked backwards toward the boat, about 30 yards away. When I reached the boat, the bear was standing where I had been when I first heard him. I fired up the motor and he took off running up the hill. I headed back to camp with my heart pounding. The next day I told the story to one of the other guides while we were cooking lunch for our clients. He had lived at the same camp the summer before and said there were twin boars that were about 4-5 years old. He had more than one run in with them the season before at camp. Those teenagers are always causing problems, aren't they?! Anyway, I was lucky enough to not have another run in with Big Ben while I was alone, although there were numerous times that I spotted him charging at a school of Sockeyes later in the season. Alaska is truely a fisherman's paradise. But then again, so is Oregon, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper!!! I've yet to see a bear here in Oregon, though I have seen some tracks on the upper Nestucca. Tight lines.......Steelie28

[KingFisher85]

Welcome to ifish Steelie28
So, big ben was gonna get ya. Thats a place that I would not want to be. :shocked:

[Bobby Ray]

You left the part out about having to change your shorts, just kidding, gotta have a sense a humor.

Scary story Steelie28, but exiting

Welcome aboard

So where do you do all your fishing these days?

BnB

[Steelie28]

I like the north/central coast rivers. Nestucca, Alsea and Siletz are my go to places however. I went to OSU and would not schedule any classes before 11 am during winter term. I spent many mornings at Clemens Park on the N. Fork Alsea. I also grew up fishing the Sandy, and am planning on learning the lower Clack this year. I also try and hit the big waters (Bouy 10, T-Bay, Coos Bay) when the big guys are runnings. How about yourself Bnb?

P.S. - I didn't have to change my shorts, but I took one hell of a swig of whiskey when I got back to camp. And that 357 never left my sight after that!!

[Small Fry]

Well did you get the big one or not?

Great story
Welcome aboard

[tipndwater]

Welcome Steelie,
I would of had to change my shorts!
Thats is the only reason I have not seen Alaska yet.
:shocked:

[blackdog]

Welcome aboard! My only suggestion, should you ever venture back into Griz or Brown Bear country, you may want to file the front sight off your .357. That way, when you shoot at a bear with that thing and make him mad, it won't hurt so bad when he takes it from you and shoves it up your *ss! :grin: :grin:

You weren't camped on the famous Copper River were you? I did a summer with a lodge on Lake Illiamna and your experience sounds very familiar.