I have watched on some outdoor TV show, filmed up north in AK, that the bears near some of the commonly bank fished salmon streams have learned to wait in the bushes, then when an angler hooks one the bear runs out and grabs the easy meal on the end of the scared/pissed fisherman's line. Some friends of mine fish an area north of Terrace B.C. for salmon, with bears always nearby. They have experienced this fish stealing act firsthand. One of them, F.C., was busy watching his float drift several times. Upon one of his retrieves he turned to see a black bear had quietly sauntered up and was sitting right behind him, on his haunches just like it was his pet dog. Within 5 ft.! FC slowly turned and backed away while looking slightly to the side, as he had been told to do. Worked fine. Nothing on or in his pants either! The bear just wandered off the other way. I think FC will pay a little more attention around him from now on. I ribbed him that the bear had probably been watching for a few days and knew it would take FC a long time to hook a fish, so it was just being patient. - I am making the trip up with them this year. And King., I promise not to spray anything this time unless I am actually charged by a bear. - Steve