Lived there for ten years and fished alot of remote out of the way streams, filled with Brown Bear sign and bear activity... First off the brownies along streams are pretty passive compared to a mountain Griz... Take that with a grain of salt as any bear whenever it decides your food, you don't have time to react.. PERIOD... Cut your line if you got fish on and the bear is near the shore.... I have been charged a couple times -thank god false bluffs, but didn't have the time or ability to think and process what was going on. It happens way to quick, but I am sure there are some John Wayne's that talk a great game about what they would do, but read anyones tales of being mauled, NO TIME TO REACT.... If those bears wanted me they would have gotten me... plain and simple. I don't care what you carry, bear spray, slug gun, handgun. Unless your set and conditioned to a extremely high alert, your toast... if they really want you. And if your fishing, highly unlikely your going to be that alert as your focus is on the fishing... But carry a hangun for the mentality stress relief and the syc effect it will have for you..
The best all-around gun for AK is a .22 pistol and a friend... Shoot your buddy in the knee cap and run, atleast the bear won't get you... Oh and by all record read BEAR TALES prior to fishing these remote streams....lol