Bear safety tips while fishing in Alaska
If you’re fishing for salmon in Alaska, then you need to know these bear safety tips. Our bear population loves to fish just as much as you do and can get pretty upset if you get in their way. Peak season for salmon fishing occurs from May through September, with the five major species spread across the season. King Salmon fishing begins in May, and you can continue fishing for Silver Salmon all the way through November.
Whether you’re salmon fishing, or just traveling the area and capturing our salmon and wildlife with your camera, here’s what you need to know so everyone has a good (and safe) time.
Preparing for an Alaska salmon fishing trip
Knowledge is safety and preparing ahead of time is the best way to make sure you have a positive experience. No matter what you are doing – fishing, camping, hiking – always be aware that bears can be close by, and don’t make yourself attractive for them to visit. This means:
- Choose an area to fish where you have good visibility and always be aware of your surroundings so you can see approaching bears.
- If a bear gets close while you are fishing, cut your line and calmly back away. Give him a wide berth and if it looks like he’s staying pack your things and find a new spot.
- Don’t leave food or fish bait where a bear can smell it. Use bear-proof containers and never leave trash laying around.
- Know the regulations for where you are fishing. Click here to access the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website for information about licenses, permits, wildlife safety, protocols for specific areas, etc.
Bear safety while salmon fishing
Splash Zone: Fish splash a lot. Especially when you hook them on your fishing line. When a bear hears or notices a fish splashing around, they will approach. It’s not uncommon to fish for salmon with bear that are in eyesight distance. But if bear are near enough to you that they take notice when fish start splashing on your line, stop fishing and back away. If the fish is on the line, give it slack or cut the line and back away.
Catch Protocol: When you start reeling in the salmon, deal with the fish immediately before bears notice that you’ve got something tasty. If you use a stringer, keep it in the water close to you. Do not leave fish exposed on the bank, in an open cooler or basket, or in the woods out of view. This is like a magnet for bears.
Another option is to kill the fish immediately, bleed it out in the water if you can (do not clean it yet, though), then store on ice in a bear-proof container. Regular coolers are not bear-proof.
Cleaning Salmon: Fish remains are also a big attractor for bears. If possible, wait to clean fish until you are away from the water and at a designated fish cleaning station or home. Properly dispose of remains and do not leave waste on the riverbanks, in trash cans or dumpsters, near campsites, etc. If you clean at home, keep waste frozen until trash day pickup.
