July 26, 2023
Otis Fishing Report

Otis Fishing Report for July 26, 2023
You’re probably wondering how we got here. 🙂

I’m fortunate to work from home with multiple monitors (uh… 4), so I’ve had RW and BF up every day since cams went live, except two. Today was one of those two. Oof.

On such days, I checked cams every 30 minutes to see if chat had exploded — a sure sign of Otis’ return. On this particular day, I was with my daughter and her newborn — it was truly a lovely day! And at exactly 5:55 EDT, as that baby lie sleeping on my lap, I checked BF and… WAIT. THAT’S OTIS. Highlights? No. THAT’S. OTIS!

I grabbed a snap, and then I quietly, but swiftly handed off my beloved granddaughter and explained I had to leave. I have to go count fish, I said. I knew my daughter would understand — she works at a shelter and is an animal lover herself. ♥ She did. 🙂

And so it began. 🙂 I’m sure y’all, especially those of you who doubted his return, have similar stories you’re going to repeat of when and where you were when Otis returned in 2023 — just like 2021, when he also returned on July 26 — while he meandered from one cam to the next to come home to us.

I raced home and traced Otis’ tracks. TL;DR version is Kat’s River View (per Tobyhannah) to River Watch (per Bommy) to Riffles (my best guess) to Brooks Falls (Otis’ obvious destination).

Long version in pictures, starting at about 1:30 p.m. Katmai time:

KRV – Good eyes on Tobyhannah!

RW — Bommy with good eyes too!

RF — Logical next appearance for a meandering sort of bear.

BFL — With a little pep in his step, Otis walks across the Sandbar (formerly known as the Island).

BF — Otis is home. ♥

And that’s how we got here. 🙂

Otis heads to the J Rock — that rock just on the other side side of the Jacuzzi where we see bears fish from time to time. Fun fact: Otis is seen in that same spot in Disney Nature’s 2014 movie Bears.

Moments, later, Otis enjoys his first Brooks fish of the season! GIF BF by SuspectCelery.

Several minutes later, he snags another… (GIF BF also by SuspectCelery).

And then moves to the J, and catches another! (GIF BF by SuspectCelery)

On his way back to the J, that pep in his step kicks in and gives 912 a little… uh… greeting to show who’s boss (since 856, 747, 32, and 151 don’t happen to be around). GIF BF by Zen.

Weary from his Meander Journey (probably), about 4:00 p.m. Katmai time, Otis heads off to freshen up. I’m guessing there were cocktails at a reception in his honor — and he wouldn’t want to miss that! (Snap is BF))

An hour later, he returns, and his buddy 747 greets him at the Sandbar. You know… for old time’s sake. 🙂

Otis heads toward Alice’s, and then to his Office to catch up on paperwork and whatnot. It’s some time later, but Otis catches a big ol’ juicy FISH (snap is BF), and then another 15 minute later.

It’s just before 8:00 p.m. in Katmai, and Otis has left his office for the Jacuzzi, wistful for a mouthful of salmon.

Total Fish Count between Otis arrival and my bedtime is 5 fish. But don’t be sad! The fish are averaging upwards of 5 pounds this year, so we’re counting 5000 calories each, and that’s 25,000 calories for Otis’ first few hours back!! With many more to follow!

Sending wishes for fishes and sweet salmon dreams! ♥ More tomorrow! (I’ll check for typos then too! lol)

Bear cam images in this post are copyright National Park Service and/or Explore.org