Otis Fishing Report for August 8, 2023
Even with our best contrast settings, between midnight (when cams go wide) and 1:00ish a.m. Katmai time, visibility is kinda dismal for this gal. So just estimating for that hour, we believe Otis consumed 462 fish during that timeframe (probably). 😉
When Brooks Falls cam zooms in, Otis is still alert (while balancing his Zen). He’s standing and scanning the water, as Otis Style dictates is proper form given current conditions. It takes a bit of minutes, but Otis lands his first punch — FISH, and it’s a big one!
Otis catches another a short bit later and, eventually, takes to Sit Fishing a while. It’s not surprising consider the 11 fish he had yesterday up to midnight — that boy’s gotta be feeling pretty full right about now. And Sit Fishing does not disappoint — Otis scores again!
The fish may not be running hard and fast, but they are not in short supply today where Otis is concerned — he scores 7 over an hour! Otherwise, it’s a slow and steady stream he’s inspecting back there.
And then 151 Walker, who is… you know… a bear… does a bear thing. He invades Otis’ personal space (because human political correctness is just not Walker’s thing, and Otis sliiiides to the left. Walker moves forward a bit and Otis sliiiiides to the right. And Walker… leaves. (Okay, that part was unexpected!) Oh, wait — Walker returns and sits his big bear booty down in Otis’ Office like he signed a long-term lease. Otis sliiides to the left… Walker moves forward again, and Otis waits it out this time.
Eventually, Otis inches his back end closer to his coveted Office. He does this while facing more to his left than right like that methodology provides some kind of camouflage keeping Walker from noticing he’s shuffling along. Sneaky, our guy is today! This time, Otis retains his spot, and Walker heads off, presumably for his own snoozles.
Later, Otis’ pal 747 arrives and the two nod at each other silently. They commence fishing in different, but with equally e-fish-ent styles.
The fish continue their steady pace and as an example, here is one such fish graciously offering to meet its end in Otis belly.
A while later, Ms. Grazer pops in. Otis has her number, and knows it’s time to head out. He grabs a long drink of water on his way and stops for a visit with Alice.
He meanders across the River, toward the Sandbar, and heads out for naps behind the Platform nearing 10:30 a.m. Katmai time.
A little shy of a four-hour nap and just before 2 p.m., Otis is seen returning on Riffles and Brooks Falls Low. It’s rare for Otis to get a shot at the Jacuzzi these days, but as luck would have it, it’s open for him a minute, and he gives it a whirl!
Not thrilled that his Office has a big ol’ brown occupied sign on it (with teeth, no less), Otis chills near the Platform side (mostly). Behind the Jacuzzi. At the J Rock. Kiddie Pool. Gives 747 a reason to look over his shoulder behind the Conveyor. And then he tries them all again. Just not jiving the Otis jive, and at 3:20 p.m. Katmai time, he decides that snoozles are better than no fish — he heads for a nap behind the platform.
Total fish count on this slow and steady day (up to now) is 17 Fish + 1 Scratch-n-Sniff — he did let one go today; smelled… fishy, we think. We’re heading out soon, so we assume Otis will be heading in, and we’ll catch the rest of the midnight-to-midnight action for August 8 count in the morning.
Because inquiring minds want to know: Between Otis’ arrival last night and (first) departure for his (first) nap today, he fished 13h 13m. During this session, the total count is 24 fish (from arrival to departure versus our typical midnight to midnight count). And…
An Otis Fun Fact: Sometimes it looks like Otis doesn’t finish a fish, and sometimes that means he’s high-grading. But if you watch carefully, other times he will partially eat a fish, and when it’s small enough to be grasped in his claws, he puts his foot down under the water — and it looks like he’s discarding it. But keep watching — he will bring that claw back up with that partial fish in his paw and finish it.
That’s it for tonight. Wishes for fishes and sweet salmon dreams! ♥
Bear cam images in this post are copyright National Park Service and/or Explore.org
