Cool stories Hap. They reminded me of the few encounters I have had in Alaska with bears. I was never really scared of the bears but always leary when they were present. Being in the company of experienced AK anglers who regularly see them I was given good direction on how to act which likely helped a lot. The only time I was truly scared fishing in Alaska was when a freind and I were fishing a small trib of Kenai Lake for rainbows and a big bull moose decided the small island we were on was his. Nothing like a moose chasing you to get the adrenaline flowing. Fortunately once he claimed the island as his he stopped his pursuit of us. Both of us had madly scrambled up the steep bank on the other side of the stream.