I guess I'm just overly cautious.  I don't want fish (even fillets) anywhere close to my packs.  Yes, I understand placing fillets in a plastic bag and wrapping in burlap or something else to create evaportive cooling.  But, if the plastic bag gets punctured ... guess what the pack will smell like, and that's going into camp with you.

I also get a mental picture my paddling partner told me about when he was in a group fishing along a river in Alaska.  It had been a pretty good day as they were walking the trail back to camp in single file; the last in line having his catch slung over his shoulder.  They were making enough noise that they didn't realize until almost too late that a griz was keeping pace with them, stide for stride, as they walked.  As soon as they realized their peril, they dropped there catch and quickened there step as they left the bear feasting on their deposit.

I'm not interested in repeating this senario, even with a black bear, especially since its not too unusual for me to be alone on a portage.


dd