What are you talking about I hear you say. This guy has gone mad. He has been fishing in the sun too long. I am very serious. Non Americans fishing in America are in danger of being killed or of being seriously injured. There are hazards like bears, alligators, stingrays, poison ivy, hunters with guns and monster sharks that can cause you harm if not fatal damage. The locals know of the dangers and take steps to try and avoid being hurt. Here in Britain there are no dangerous animals to interrupt a great days fishing. I hope to help you have a safe fishing vacation by providing you with knowledge you need to avoid the pit falls of fly fishing in the America Continent.

SHARKS
The chances of a shark attack as you stand in the shallows hunting for your target fish is very slim, but you should take precautions as you wade.  Passes, salty bays and inlets are almost certain to hold sharks. If you are catching fish and keeping you fish near you on a floating stringer rather than putting them immediately in a cool box on the boat you may soon get a very close and personal encounter with your very own shark. Although most wading shark encounters result in harm to the captured fish there have been times when a shark has mistaken a flailing fisherman's leg for a wounded redfish or mullet. If a shark has target you latest catch that you are still retrieving. Play out the line to create distance between you and the shark. Then give it up and live to fish another day with all your body parts intact. If you try to bring your line in before the shark has been able to sink its fangs into your catch, the danger is the shark will still be worked up. It will decide that you are the next best think to feed on. A fighting fish on the end of a fishing line is like a dinner bell for sharks. When you play out some line the fish sometimes stop struggling when it feels no resistance and wait on the bottom. The shark may lose interest and go on its way. 

If you do use a stringer to keep all the fish you have caught never tie it around your waist with a knot. If a shark grabs it you will be pulled under. Untying it may take too long when seconds count. Choose one that can be immediately released.  Common sense says get out of the water when the sharks become too numerous. 

STINGRAYS
Wading anglers encountering these bottom feeding do occasionally get stuck in the leg by the stingray's razor sharp toxin-rich barbs. One of the safest things to do is the 'Texas two-step'. Shuffle your feet as you wade across the flats. Do not take steps as you will be in danger of stepping on a stingray. The sound of you shuffling normally alerts the stingrays of your presence and sends them scurrying out of your way. That is all it takes to stay safe. It lets you wade fish with peace of mind. If you do get stung it can feel like a red hot nail has been stabbed into your body. Sometimes the barb brakes off. Your fishing trip is finished as you have to go to a medical facility to get several anesthetic injections in the affected area before the barb is extracted. The injury can keep you from wading for a couple of weeks. If this happens at the beginning of your fishing holiday you will be really pissed off and you will only have yourself to blame. Some stingray injuries can be more server and take months to heal. There is always the problem that things can get complicated if the wound gets infected. Do not use ice and never try to take out the barb yourself. Doctors say the best first aid treatment is to put your wound under hot water (not cold water as in some other first aid injury treatments). The discharge from your out board engine is a good source of hot water as you head back to harbor. The arm water draws out the venomous proteins out of the wound. It encourages blood circulation to the affected area and helps sooth the pain. Investing in a pair of protective wading boots is good sense. There are a number on the market but Hodgman Reef Boots or ForEverlast Ray-guard Wading Boots are good choices. They also protect you from sea urchins and sharp rocks and shells.

JELLYFISH
These will not kill you but wade into a pack of them and it feels like you have been stabbed with hundreds of tiny stinging pins. Wearing the right clothing will help. Long trousers or waders will help prevent your exposed skin coming into contact with Jellyfish.

WARM SEAWATER BACTERIUM
Keep all open wounds dry and out of the water. If you have an open sore on your leg wear waders. A warm sea bacterium from the same family as cholera called Vibrio Vulnificus can enter your body through any open wounds. If infected common symptoms are abdominal pains, sickness and diarrhea. If it gets into your blood stream the symptoms are fever, chills, septic shock and skin lesions. In some cases the infection is fatal.

WEATHER
Keep an eye on the weather. Check the weather forecast before you go fishing. the East Coast of America and the Caribbean's Hurricane season runs from May until November. 

THE SUN
Use lots and lots of suntan cream. Wear long-sleeved cotton shirts to protect you arms. Wear good sunglasses and a hat that covers you neck. In humid conditions drink lots of non-alcoholic liquids. 

BEARS
Bear encounters and attacks are extremely rare, but they do happen. Make a lot of noise as you approach your fishing spot so they know you are coming and have time to move on. Make noise particularly near bends in the trail and other places where visibility is reduced.  Remember the effects from wind and streams on diminishing noise levels. Check the weather and if possible walk to the site with the wind behind you. Carry food and other scented items in double-bagged ziplock bags. If a grizzly bear is sighted while hiking, do not approach.   Approaching a grizzly bear to try to get a close-up photograph, or for any other reason, is asking for serious trouble.  If a grizzly wants your fishing spot let him have it. If he has grabbed the salmon on the end of your line, I don't care if it is the biggest you have ever caught, cut the line and walk away. Do not have an argument with a bear. You will lose. If you encounter a female defending cubs: get away from the bears and remove yourself as a threat to the cubs. 

Be Alert! Detect bears before they are a problem. Bears are unpredictable, and seeing one early decreases chances of a dangerous encounter. Be careful around open water leads, or mammal carcasses, places where you may encounter a bear. If a bear approaches do not run, stand your ground unless you can move away slowly to a safe shelter like your car and drive away. Don't holler, shout or yell. Don't wave arms. Try not to pose a threat to the grizzly. Don't look the bear in the eyes. Talk softly; this may help the grizzly identify what you are and may tell him/her that you are not a threat. Do not drop a rucksack as you may need that to protect your back or drop an item of clothing if you decide to retreat.

If the grizzly charges, things have changed.  If you are with others, they must be prepared.  It is important to discuss this possibility before setting out with them. If you run expect to be attacked. DO NOT RUN. Keep in mind, all charges do not result in attack, physical contact.  Many charges are broken off at the last instant. Hold your ground. If he gets too close use anti bear pepper spray.

Carrying Pepper Spray is a good idea (do not bring it back into the UK as it is illegal and you will be arrested) Pepper spray manufactured specifically for use against bears is the only type of spray I would consider carrying in Bear Country a large can, proper concentration of the active ingredients (capsaicin and related capsaicinoids ingredient). The use of pepper spray as a defense against a grizzly bear attack may prevent you from being seriously injured and may prevent a grizzly bear from being destroyed.  But do not think "If I run into a grizzly bear, I don't have to worry because I carry pepper spray." Sometimes it will not work. It won't do any good if it's in your pack. Have it to hand in bear country. I might also add that pepper spray is effective against pumas (and all kinds of bears), though it needs to be the large "bear spray" type, not the tiny sprayers carried in lady's handbags for defense against muggers in the city. Additionally, bears rather like the taste of pepper spray, they just don't like it in their eyes. They will actually come back to the location where they were sprayed the next day to lick up the hot pepper! Some large US cities may have bans against pepper spray, but it's completely legal to carry on every river in the US. Just don't fire it against the wind and hit yourself, or the Grizzly Bear may consider it a condiment!

A grizzly bear can cover 50 yards in about 3 seconds. Before running off for a tree, you must consider the distance between the grizzly and yourself and the distance to the nearest climbable tree that you could climb to a safe height. Your decision to run would be the reason the bear needs to attack. The best advice is to stand your ground. Once you start climbing how high do you need to go?  A grizzly bear has been known to climb to slightly less than 33 feet during an attack. There may be instances when climbing a tree is an appropriate response: such as sighting a bear at a distance that would allow time to find a suitable tree and climb to a safe height.

If you are attacked curl into a ball on your side or lie flat on your stomach, with hands clasped behind your head to protect your neck (a rucksack will help protect your back).  Lying flat on stomach might prevent being rolled over by the grizzly. If curled into a ball, pull your knees toward your chin to help protect vital organs. Try to remain calm and quiet until the attack ends.  Try not to scream.  Do not resist or fight back. Try to make sure the bear has left the area before getting up, but also try to see what direction was taken (peek). A grizzly bear that attacks a human likely does so because the human is perceived as a threat.  If the grizzly attacks and then stops the attack, the victim is no longer perceived to be a threat. Movement is again perceived as a threatening action.  Give the bear time to move away before moving or getting up. Get up slowly, checking to see if the bear can be seen or heard. If the bear returns, return to the ground and stay motionless. Assess my injuries and the injuries of others and treat as best as possible. Get out of the area or get help. Injuries are almost certain to occur during any grizzly bear attack; the idea is to be subjected to lesser injuries than are likely to occur by trying to run or by trying to fight back. It will hurt.

Food and other items with odors must be properly stored and hung on ropes in trees out of reach of bears at all times when not in use, including cookware that had been washed.  Trash and food waste must be taken  home with you. If a bear starts invading campsites and eating human food there is a good chance it will be destroyed by the rangers. It's blood will be on your hands because of your ignorance. A rule for camping, or any other activity, anywhere in grizzly country is: Never allow a grizzly bear to obtain human food.  A grizzly bear that becomes conditioned to sources of human food becomes very dangerous, may cause injury in obtaining the food and will likely be killed as a result either in "self defense" or by authorities charged with grizzly bear management.  "A fed bear is a dead bear."

Do your part to keep a clean camp to prevent attracting bears.  If improper food handling and storage practices are observed by other, don't hesitate  to inform the offending party and notify park rangers as they are putting you at risk from attack. Cook away from sleeping area and 100 yards downwind if possible.  Cook foods that don't give off too many inviting odors. Don't burn or bury leftover food and garbage--place it in zip lock bags and pack it out. Never cook inside a tent.  Keep tent free of odors that attract bears, odors from food (including pet food) or other items with odors.  The list is very long and includes:  soap, toothpaste, lip balm, insect repellent, water containers, cooking gear, sweaty clothes, clothes worn while cooking, tobacco, and many more).  These items must be hung when not in use, at least 10 feet above the ground (preferably higher) and 4 feet away from tree trunk or pole and well away from sleeping area.  I hang almost everything, including my backpack. Wash hands and face before going to bed to try to remove cooking odors.   Use a non-scented soap. Never sleep in clothes you have cooked in until they have been washed (cooked in today, yesterday, or last week).

CANYONS
They may look fantastic places to get away from other fishermen. A place of virgin tranquility but check the weather forecast before you climb down into the gorge. You can die if you are caught in a flash flood. You will not have time to climb up the steep sides before you are washed away by a wall of water. Wear big boots that will protect you from rattlesnake bits. Avoid rocky scree slopes as they love hiding in the cool shade of the nooks and crannies between the rocks. Look out for Grizzlies, and mountain lion who come to the water to feed as well as drink.

ALLIGATORS
What do I have to say? They will eat you!

BOATS
If you are wading up to your waste you are less visible to high powered boaters. Remember that some of the people driving these machines may have been drink beer for most of the day. Take precautions and be aware of what is happening near you. Be prepared to get out of the way fast. If you are using a boat always wear a life preserver buoyancy aid.

SEA URCHINS
These things sting and some of them leave their poison in your foot and leg. Investing in a pair of protective wading boots is good sense. There are a number on the market but Hodgman Reef Boots or ForEverlast Ray-guard Wading Boots are good choices. They also protect you from stingrays, sharp rocks and shells.

CORAL, ROCKS & SHELLS
If you do not wear the correct foot wear you will slice up you feet and legs on these razor sharp hazards. Investing in a pair of protective wading boots is good sense. There are a number on the market but Hodgman Reef Boots or ForEverlast Ray-guard Wading Boots are good choices. They also protect you from sea urchins, stingrays, sharp rocks and shells. Check that if you do catch a fish that all your hard work will not be to waste because your leader or line was cut on coral. Check out where you are in relation to coral.

HUNTERS
Find out when the hunting season is. If you are fishing in an area frequented by hunters consider wearing a bright orange fluorescent outer coat and hat so they can see you. Most local North American outdoor stores sell them. It will make your fly fishing a bit more challenging but at least you will reduce the chances of you being shot.

MOUNTAIN LION (PUMA COUGAR)
These large felines are closely related to fuzzy, friendly and purring house cats, but adults weigh 100 pounds and up. And they'll do the same thing to you and your children that your friendly Siamese does to the mouse in your pantry! Pumas are attracted to prey that is running away (just like your house cat is), so if confronted by one of these beasts be sure to make yourself as large and terrifying as possible -- hold your arms high, yell, scream, bang pots and pans, and throw small poodles at the cat to divert its attention from eating you -- but DO NOT run away. Most puma attacks in the US are directed at joggers and bicyclists, who appear to the cat to be "prey running away." Fly fishermen, even if solitary and especially if British, tend to cover the water slowly and methodically and don't resemble rabbits, though you might watch which material your winter hat is made of. Rabbit fur is right out! <GRIN> I might also add that pepper spray is effective against pumas (and all kinds of bears), though it needs to be the large "bear spray" type, not the tiny sprayers carried in lady's handbags for defense against muggers in the city.

MOOSE
Moose are very large, and they KNOW they are very large! They really could not care less about you, as you are extremely puny by comparison, but if you threaten them moose will trample you into a pulp. Your biggest danger from moose is hitting one at high speed while driving your vehicle--both you and the moose may die, since the moose may weigh more than your car. If you meet a moose close up in the American wilderness, back away slowly but steadily. Talk calmly to the moose, and explain that you were just passing through to fly fish. If it's a male (bull), compliment it on its finely formed antlers and excellent wattle, continuously explaining that you meant no offense. If it's a female moose with calves, just keep backing up and get out of the area as fast as you can. Moose HATE dogs, as they fear wolves (which are fairly rare in America). Moose will charge any dog at a radius of about 50 feet. If you are fishing with your trusty gun dog and encounter a moose, order your dog to go fetch something -- it's possible the moose will charge your dog instead of you. DO NOT throw sticks or other objects at an enraged moose, it will only induce them to charge you. Train your gun dog to run AWAY from you at a certain command if you encounter moose.

ELK
American Elk are mostly benign but in the autumn, it's rutting season and male elk are getting combative, "bugling" to attract mates and deter lustful opponents, just at the same time you might be stalking giant 15 pound, 30 inch brown trout as they spawn in America's numerous public access rivers. It's also hunting season in America, so you should wear blaze orange if you are out fishing in the wilderness. The wearing of silly fur hats with antlers is strongly discouraged here! In certain American "wilderness areas" you could find yourself in the middle of a herd of 1,000 or more elk as they migrate through your favorite fishing hole. Simply remain calm, don't make any sudden movements, and for God's sake don't apply any commercially-available "elk rut scent" behind your ears! A bull elk agitated by the rut might get the wrong idea about your intentions, and the results (and surgery bills) could be tragic.