Take a gun fishing

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Many years ago in CA when fishing canals for strippers I carried a handgun in tackle box. I considered it illegal, but come night, there were often some strange beings to be found along those canals.
 
My cousin had to use is 500 S&W not long ago while guiding for fly fishing in Alaska. He was able to make the charging grizz change course with a warning shot just in front of its front legs. I'm not sure I'd have exercised that much restraint.

I haven't had the opportunity to fish in such hostile and beautiful areas, so my carry gun isn't nearly that big. I almost always carry, and that goes triple if I'm out in nature....or the 'hood.
 
I usually carry a 9mm on my hip when fishing, but if it's hot out, I might rely on my truck gun. When I catch a big catfish, I'll shoot it in the head before getting them ready for the skillet. Suckers are hard to kill with just a knife.
 
I use a Fishpond chest pack that has a pocket for a (small) hydration bladder. That pocket is a perfect place to securely hold a pistol. I don't have to worry at all about it while I'm scrambling around. It rides high enough that everything stays dry unless I take an accidental swim.
 
I acquired a Leinad DD .410/45LC SxS derringer, and it resides in the tackle box. Even rusted after time, still goes bang when trigger pulled, and spits out 3" #4 buck and 3" #1 buck on demand. Obviously not for bear through, but I'm not worried about bear.
 
lemaymiami said:
you're not going to like this..... but 99% of the time I would never consider having a weapon with me on the water.

I work on saltwater (some years I'm in my small 17' skiff more than I'm out of it) and I wouldn't even consider carrying a sidearm or long gun with me unless it was for a specific situation -and only then.... If you work around saltwater it's tough enough keeping stuff meant to be there from corroding or rusting - much less a decent firearm. I routinely handle sharks up to about ten feet long with only gloves on my hands (among other hazards in the saltwater portions of the Everglades) and have never needed a weapon on the water in over forty years. Recently I've considered adding something to kill pythons with (yep, we've got both Burmese and Rock pythons in numbers where I work.....) but still haven't made any decision. Since I'm a permitted guide in Everglades National Park, firearms and keeping your license might just be a problem...

Funny thing, back in my police days, once or twice I actually did use one of my skiffs for special situations with one or two SRT members aboard. I had them pose as fishermen until we could get close enough to the water side of a marina where they removed their foul weather gear and stepped up on the dock in uniform with MP5's in hand to deal with a problem child...

While I've never carried a weapon on the salt... it's an entirely different situation when I'm towing my skiff from one place ot another and I always have a weapon somewhere nearby in my vehicle. South Florida can be an adventure day or night and I'm towing an average of 20,000 miles every year - much of it either before sunup or late, late at night...
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Already had this issue living in the florida keys. Boat gun? Simple.

870 Marine Mag 12ga or 500 Mariner 3" 12ga
 
Take a gun fishing.

Yeah, years ago. In '66 my parents moved from NYC to Worthington, Ohio. I found myself in the woods on the banks of the Olentangy river, known for great bass fishing. A few miles walk upstream in the woods and there was some great fishing. I would often drag along a little 9 shot 22 revolver. Not for any type of self defense from man or beast but when the fish weren't interested in being caught I could have fun running a few boxes of 22 LR at home brew targets I would make. Entertainment at its finest. :)

Ron
 
For a fly fisherman to carry a gun, that gun would have to be readily obtainable, secure, waterproof, and of significant power to do whatever job that you had in mind. That's a tough one. I'm thinking some kind of stainless revolver in a chest holster may be a good bet, though not perfect.

I would advise anybody wearing any type of waders to carry a very sharp knife, in case you need to cut yourself out of said waders. Don't drown in your waders.

And, I know that this is a fish thread, but the fishy-est thing on here has got to be Outlaws story about a relative scaring off a charging grizzely by shooting at his feet. That type of stuff only works on The A-Team and I call balderdash on that story.
 
Dr. Sandman said:
I would advise anybody wearing any type of waders to carry a very sharp knife, in case you need to cut yourself out of said waders. Don't drown in your waders.
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Waders won't drown you. Panic drowns you. Swimming in waders, even if they're full of water isn't any more difficult than swimming in jeans and shoes.

Matt
 
Palehorseman said:
when fishing canals for strippers
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That's dark.

99% of the fishing I do is diving. I only have pointy things, no bang-y things.
 
I believe that in Alaska a rifle or handguns is considered part of the tackle box not extra.
 
The advice to carry a knife if wearing waders goes double if you work on the water... I work two castnets and routinely handle lines and my skiff single handed. More than one guy on the water has been dragged overboard and drowned by his own gear. I always carry something sizable enough to cut myself free if needed and it has to be something easy to open with only one hand...
 
I carry a firearm everywhere it is legal for me to do so ! Fishing , hunting , grocery shopping ! When carrying around water ,I often use a GI style lanyard attached to the butt of my Glock 30 sf ! I clean and lube it after every trip ! i would not be around any boat launching facility in south florida without being armed ! Kevin
 
I went fishing with my uncle opening day here in Oregon. We went to Antelope Reservoir outside Prineville. I used to carry a 2.5" 66 outdoors hunting and fishing but it's heavy and the 357 is just more firepower than needed. So I've started carrying a 642 with 158gr swc handloads in a Simply Rugged holster. Holds it close and tight and is so light I forget its there. My uncle saw it and showed me his 642 he carries concealed every day.

And, I know that this is a fish thread, but the fishy-est thing on here has got to be Outlaws story about a relative scaring off a charging grizzely by shooting at his feet. That type of stuff only works on The A-Team and I call balderdash on that story.
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I don't know. The 500 puts out alot of noise and a significant pressure wave even a grizz feels in its chest. It would make me reconsider for sure.
 
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We use 'em. My 14 year old son with an old Ruger Flattop 44 Mag chopped to 4 5/8" and loaded with 275 gr WFN's at 1100 fps in SimplyRugged leather fishing after a 4 mile hike to a quiet mountain lake outside our place in north Idaho. More snow than we expected... I carry a 4" Smith 45 Colt loaded with the RCBS SAA 270 at 1000 fps.

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I'm an avid fisherman, and fish from land 99% of the time. I've shared the pier with some very nice, courteous, and interesting people. I've also met some very sketchy people, and there have been a couple occasions where my spidery senses were going crazy. So yes, I carry while fishing. Violence doesn't make plans, and fishermen aren't spared from it!
 
I have a police trade in G17. I put it away when I'm on the water, definitely have it available on the boat ramp.
 
10mm for critter's up to 300 pounds, larger critter's .44 Mag., 280 gr. Beartooth at 1150 fps. Simply Rugged Pancakes work well for the .44.
 
I used to stand on the bow of my grandfathers paddle boat and shoot (at) alligator gar with my (his at the time) Model 67 single shot.

Now I mostly fish either from my parents dock, or from a campground on federal land. No carry at the campground, but I usually take my Heritage 22 down to our dock for snakes / critters / etc. Usually put 22 shorts in it since we have neighbors on either side.

I want to know more about that stripper fishing that other guy was talking about. Sounds like something you could get in trouble for!
 
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