Otis Fishing Report UPDATE for August 19, 2023: Otis had been sleeping in his Bank Bunk for just around 4 hours, when last we saw him. It was, honestly, a fairly uneventful (though adorable) nap.
Until 128 Grazer enters the chat. She heads into the Far Pool, and 747 has decides now is the time to illustrate his dominance. He chases Grazer who pre-plotted her escape (probably). She runs up the Far Path on Brooks Falls cam with such a clatter that Otis awakes from his summer afternoon slumber. In typical Otis e-fish-ent manner and expending as little energy as possible, he lifts his head to see what the heck has happened. And then puts his head back down. 🙂 
At 7:00 a.m. Katmai time, Otis is awake and standing in the River — far right against the bank in this Brooks Falls snap.
He walks to Alice’s Restaurant and, if you guessed that he climbed on the rocks, you’d be right! He performs post-wake-up surveillance and contemplates his next move. Decisions are made: We shall climb back in bed and additionally ponder the fish.
Otis climbs down from his Bank Bunk and walks a short distance toward Riffles. He sniffs the air, presumably to determine the fish count, as compared to the number of bears currently at the Falls (6, by our eye). And then he heads toward the Falls.
It looks like the Boys Club here today, except that might be 909 in the Jacuzzi and she may be a bit of a tomboy, so we’ll count her in. 😉 Otis takes up a position behind 747 at the Conveyor. That’d be 151 Walker in the Office, 164 Bucky behind 747, 903 Gully gargoyling on the Lip, and (possibly) 909 in the Jacuzzi. (Disclaimer: We stink at IDs; please grade us gently! lol)
After a minute, Otis steps back a bit (off Brooks Falls cam) and we can see him sitting on Riffles (it’s a good distance, but he’s there). Brooks Falls pulls back a little wider, and there he is. Collecting intel. Willing the fish to come to him. When that doesn’t work, he treads that fine line between Walker and 747 and heads to the Boulder.
747 walks away a minute, and Otis takes the Conveyor. 128 Grazer appears at the Conveyor. Otis to Boulder. And round and round goes the Beary Go Round (except Walker doesn’t budge that big booty of his haha).
After about an hour of being between Walker and Grazer doing all the catching, Otis meanders to Alice’s Restaurant. He chooses the salad of grasses from the salad bar to get him going (literally, probably). He meanders. Stands on rocks. Tries more grasses. Chats with the Alices. Bucky runs by with a fish. Otis hangs at the corner of the Office.
At last! Walker leaves, and Otis takes back his Office! And then Grazer comes to chitter chatter and Otis, not wanting to listen to it, moves to Wallflower’s Wall. And since 820 Wallflower is not a skinny bear, this is not the worst place Otis could be!
Otis, however, decides maybe it’s a good time to get his steps in for the day. He heads to Alice’s and sniffs the salad bar. Sniffs the air and heads across the River. As he does, we get a good look at his Bear Bod on Riffles cam — salmon does a body good!
He pauses to inspect Bucky’s technique in the Jacuzzi on Brooks Falls Low Cam. Seeing no pointers are required to be given at this time, he moves on.
He continues his nature walk. Up the Fish Ladder. Across the top side of the Falls. He pauses at the back bank for munchies.
Half an hour later, Otis returns, down the Fish Ladder. He heads toward the Far Pool and takes up the position between Walker and 747. And immediately, FISH. Like the civilized bear he is, Otis dines at the Table Rock.
Walker, 747, and Otis hold their places for a good bit. Eventually, 747 walks off to dine at the Sandbar with a catch, and then Walker moves out for the night. Ahhhhh… at last, Otis is in his rightful place — his Office. It’s 2:30 a.m. at the Falls, and Otis is looking lively.
Just 4 minutes later, FISH! Another minute, another FISH! We’re 30 minutes later now, but, yes, there’s another FISH! Bucky comes a beggin’, and Otis takes his feast Behind the Curtain.
And the day must come to an end, as days do, and we total the August 19 count at 13 Fish — not bad for a mostly fishless day which included much (adora-bear) naps!
Sending wishes for fishes and bright a sunny day! ♥
Bear cam images in this post are copyright National Park Service and/or Explore.org
