TenkaraUSA founder, Daniel Galhardo carries a whistle just like that. I know because he used it to round up my then 14 year old son who wandered away while we were fishing a very dangerous canyon in the Sierra's.

Slough Creek? Three of my buddies are fishing it next week. Any suggestions on flies?

Hi...

Good post. I keep a "Storm" (brand name) pea-less whistle in my BOB. It is SO loud that I've never used it without covering my ears...!!

pealess whistles run 4 bucks and up. The standard referee whistle is a fox40 - it'll cut thru a noisy crowd in a stadium or arena, so it'll get you noticed when you need it to. There are a some a little louder, too.

Worn around the neck, tucked in the shirt, is one of the best tools. Put it on a short lanyard so it doesn't get snagged and chocks. I used on on ski patrol for years, out on the ranch, on the river, during a hike. Even in the shopping mall to call all to leave! (this is when I've used it the most and soonest!) Seriously, great advice, excellent tool along with a fire starter tool tucked away, along with your Leatherman.

Great idea Kirk. Sure could have used one while we were down below you. Our encounter was a little to close for comfort.

It pains me to say this, but some of what sayfu says is in line with my thinking. Your greatest resource is the gray matter between the ears. Use common sense, (yeah, the phrase is it is not so common may apply here). A whistle aint gonna be much help when a b'ar is hot on your water soaked heels because you got between him/her and his/her food/young or just to close.

Jealous that you saw grizzlies. We were just there and spent 3 nights in Slough Creek Campground. The last morning we saw a black bear and her cub walk through the campground. Cute little bugger. We saw two more black bears on the trip. Two years ago fishing on the Lamar River we heard people honking their horns while we were fishing. When we got back up to the car the drivers explained that they were trying to let us know there was a grizzly walking along the other side of the river while we fished. Not sure how close they were but it was a little unsettling (and disappointing that we didn't see them). I guess they were obscured by a bluff and the cut bank.

I probably saw you on the water at Slough Creek. We fished below the campground two days and hiked up to the first meadow one day around that time. It's a great place there. It seemed like the water below the campground had less fish than I remembered two years ago, but it was still great fun. Were you in the group fishing from what is best described as a "trout bum van." I was impressed by how much time they spent on the water.