The thread on protection against cougars got me to thinking. How many of you pack some kind of handgun when fishing?

I dont waste my time with those little pea shooters. It's cannon balls for me. Am looking to pick up one of those TOW rockets or possibly one of those Exocets if I can ever get the paper work filled out right.

I said "never".....not quite true....I haven't when fishing. I do have a concealed permit and pack from time to time, for whatever that's worth.

Yep! A nice little .38
Cougar seen on the upper Trask last weekend!

I have never carried anything more then a knife with me (and not for protection) but back in Nov. while fishing the Sky. I had a close encounter with 2 dogs, 1 pitbull 1 rottweiller, I saw them coming from about 100 yards away and actually had my hand on my knife, the rott ended up being friendly but the pit kept its distance, they eventually wandered off. That was the 1 and only time in 25+ yrs. of fishing that the idea of packing a gun ever crossed my mind.
As for protection from cougars, I'm more worried about a bolt of lightning striking my graphite rod.

AK kings - I once was fishing out on the sound during a lightning storm. My graphite rod shocked me - your post was the first rational explanation that I have heard. Do graphite rods conduct electricity?

I have several hand guns, but they are just used to punch paper. Hopefully I never need to use them at home. I pack a 22 autoloader when I'm hiking in the back country, but I consider it more for entertainment than protection. Like Silver Hilton said " put a lot of rounds thru it".

My brother earns his keep fishing for bass in AZ and CA. He was just telling me this evening of a day in September of last year on Bartlett lake. It was the end of monsoon season and there was a bunch of thunderclouds building. He picked up his graphite spinning rod to fish and it started "humming". He said at first he thought it was the wind making the line whistle but when he put the tip straight up in the air he got a shock. Nothing big, but he definitely felt electricity..... Needless to say the fishing stopped for a while while the storms played themselves out.

I always pack when I bank fish. It's not about the Cougars, though. It has more to do with those pesky two legged predators. There's WAY too many Crank addicts roaming the woods down here.

D.

Frequently.
It's nice to see so many people here exercising their rights.

1911 Colt .45, here kitty kitty!

Graphite conducts electricity very well. I found out while climbing under an electric fence once.

S&W 9mm - kitty/crankhead want some candy...

No need for firearms as long as you have a roll of aluminum foil.

I pack a snubnose .38 sometimes when I'm banking it alone in remote areas, especially on the peninsula where the kitties are thick. It's always within arm's reach when I sleep in my truck too.

In thick cover, it wouldnt matter if you had 4 guns. I was there. Tracking a big buck injured when it tried to jump over a car doing 45mph. I followed the blood to an area with very dense growth. The cougar was also tracking. I decided to leave, but on my way out untill I was clear of the thick stuff I realised the cougar had a big advantage. Noise was probably a better tool than a firearm in that situation.

A Beretta 40 cal. or a S&W 9mm with some Black talons. Here kity kity

Colt Delta Gold Cup 10mm

I usually pack a sawed off Winchester 12 gauge pump when I fish the rivers. Shoulder strap...Works good for Grizzlies in Alaska with slugs but buckshot is fine for around here.

M-1 30 caliber carbine... with two 30 round jungle clips..