October 15, 2023 Otis Fishing Report

Otis Fishing Report for October 15, 2023: Otis graced us with another Quick Hit today, but first…

In case you haven’t heard GABear posted this morning that The Otis Fund total raised by last night’s deadline is $310,636! Great job everyone who donated, shared, and supported the Katmai Conservancy‘s annual fundraiser, and thank you to Explore.org for matching up to $300,000! ♥

Now back to our story…

Just before noon in the Land of Katmai, Otis awakes from a long nap — not hibernation long; but overnight long on his fresh sheets (probably). He walks into the frame on Brooks Falls Low cam at 11:49 a.m., as he has so many days in so many summers before, and walks out of the frame toward Riffles.

Flipping to Riffles, we spy Otis heading toward 708 Amelia + 3 on the Riffles peninsula (noting that we’re not sure it’s a peninsula; it just looks like it should be lol). If it were any other boar, we might worry. Alas, we are aware that one of his redeeming qualities is that Otis is non-confrontational. Sweet. Polite, even. If we’re holding our breath at all, it’s because we fear Otis may be confronted and not that Otis would do the confronting. 😉

Smart mom that she is and not wanting to take chances, Amelia gathers her Squad behind her for the COY Block, as Otis approaches. He ambles along the path, slow and steady, as is his way. But, wait… Is that the perfume of my one-time summer love, Amelia, in the air? Otis wonders. Hint: Fluffy Ears lower left corner!

Well, Otis thinks (probably), we did part on a high note the Summer of 2018, so all is well, right? But did she just say “GET OFF MY LAWN!”? I think I left my keys at home anyway… yeah… that’s it. Over here. Away from over there. Slowly. Veeerry slowly, so as to attract no attention whatsoever…

He looks over his shoulder to be sure his love stays with her cubbies, and continues his amble. (Though it *did* look like he had a little swagger in that amble after seeing his old flame!)

He makes a wide loop — at least the size and shape of a mama bear and three cubbies — and then gets back up on the path. Trouble averted! Whew! (You know how us Mama Bears can be!!)

We pick Otis up on Brooks Falls cam and, much to our delight, he’s eating lil eats! Posture tells us not quite breakfish, but a little Petite Salmon Appetizer, perhaps wrapped in bacon. Looking mighty fine, our boy is!

He heads toward the Cut Bank directly, as though Rock Climbing may be his destination and not just the journey today. Yup — UP he goes! (That’s 2 ups; 1 down… for the moment).

His cute floppy self is just meandering along the path, when he suddenly freezes. He sniffs the air. It’s not what you think. Neither 856, nor 747, nor 32, nor 151 is atop the Cut Bank. Not 602 nor 89 nor 820 nor 164… Not Dasher nor Dancer…

It’s the infamous Girl Gang that goes by 910s. Ms. 910s, to you there. And while mama bears are a force to be reckoned with, a groggy Otis should be covering his lower extremities and perhaps the Royal Family Jewels, because it’s the half-pints, 910 Jr and 909 Jr, who make the Girl Gang infamous!

The pause is long. Perhaps I shoulda hit the snoozles button one more time, he thinks (probably). Or perhaps it’s not my day for dry land…

In the end, always the gentleman and having skipped Yoga Class this morning, Otis realizes this is his stop. 😉 He walks down the Cut Bank with grace and ease, doing a little yoga stretching along the way, as 910s look on — the Royal Jewels and Otis’ extremities intact.