When you are out casting a line in big sky country, it is easy to get hyper-focused on reading the water and looking for the perfect eddy. However, angling in Montana means you are sharing the ecosystem with apex predators, and tracking what is happening on the shoreline is only half the battle. Rushing water can easily mask the sound of an approaching animal, and thick riverside brush provides the perfect cover for a surprise, close-quarters encounter. In fact, many people forget that rivers and lakes are shared hunting grounds and travel corridors—meaning you have to look beyond the banks and sometimes even IN the water!
As footage all over the internet shows, grizzly bears are elite, powerful swimmers that won’t hesitate to take to the water if they spot an easy meal or a curious object. Seeing a massive black bear or grizzly cut through the current straight toward your boat or wading spot is a reminder that the water isn’t a safety barrier. Whenever you head out, stay alert, avoid fishing near carcasses, and always keep your bear spray (or firearm) readily accessible right on your chest or hip, not buried in a backpack. Stay safe out there, keep your eyes on the horizon, and always be prepared! Check out some tips via the National Park Service:
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
Here’s some footage of a bear encounter with anglers from Alaska: