Otis Fishing Report for October 13, 2023: We log in to post a humorous little Not-A-Report about Otis. But first, let’s take a meander through chat a hot minute, and… wait? Whaaa…? Otis climbing down the Cut Bank? Otis climbing up the Cut Bank? WHAT is this nonsense?
Based on recent history, we hit Riffles to see if there’s any chance we might catch Otis going Down the Fish Ladder to help alleviate the imbalance in our Fish Ladder count. We focus solely on the top of the Falls while a mink crisscrosses, two bears stroll in and out of the frame, and Alices fly about. We decide our Fish Ladder count will have to stand at 12/7 for another day.
We let Riffles roll in our periphery, as we prepare our writing space. We glance over at movement that turns out to be a bear butt. Wait. That looked like Otis’ bear butt! Rewind, rewatch, snap — GOTCHA! The time is 4:28 p.m. in Katmai.
Having confirmed Otis was in the vicinity, we go back and try again to balance the Fish Ladder count. Not happening.
Flip back to Brooks, rewind, and rewatch. 🙂 There’s our boy! Give that cam a little nudge to the left, and Otis is eating at the far right of the frame.
It feels like we’re focused on the bear on the Cut Bank and not Otis. He does kinda blend in with the landscaping. 😉 Yup… cam pans to the left to focus on Who Bear. Who Bear continues on, and CamOps pans to the right. Confirmed — there he is! Okay, but wait! I only thought and only one time “Otis doesn’t go up to the Cut Bank”… oof, did we get our boy wrong this year!
But WAIT, there’s MORE!
Once on top, he makes a short turn right, appears to pause to eat a bit of this or that, and continues walking out of cam’s purview. He appears again — about halfway the Cut Bank — and then climbs up the rest of the way!
You know what that means, Otis Fans! *Clearly* Otis has graduated at the top (hahaha) of his Rock Climbing class!! Look at him go!
Eagle-eyed CamOps follow him as he walks behind the tree line. CamOps hold their position on Operation Otis (thank you!). As Alices stand guard, Otis re-appears to greet the cheering fish (and chatters)!
And this is the part where we enter the chat (to post something completely… not this!). 😉 Otis climbs DOWN the Cut Bank!
He Meander Fishes a minute or six and disappears off cam heading Down River. And while our fish count for October 13 is not very exciting — 1 Happenstance Scrap — how exciting is it that Otis graduated Rock Climbing class? See, you can teach an old bear new tricks!!
If you’re tracking, this sighting is 4:52 p.m. Katmai time, Brooks Falls Cam, October 13, 2023.
Time for snoozles, so Wishes for Fishes and Savory Salmon Slumber! ♥ See ya tomorrow!
I love these clever reports! Thank you!
Thank you for saying so, and you’re welcome!