September 10, 2023
Otis Fishing Report UPDATE

Otis Fishing Report UPDATE for September 10, 2023: When last we saw him, Otis was headed Down River via Riffles cam, as seen in this GIF by Scooch’s Mister.
10-Sep-23 Otis Leaves the Falls via Riffles GIF by SCOOCH | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

Just after 6:00 p.m., Otis is captured on the River cams. He meanders in and out of the tall grasses hunting wabbit. Oooh, wait, wrong storyline… in search of the treasured spawned salmon that’ve done their duty and are ready for their next uh… journey. Yeah, that’s it!

What do you think the chances are that’s 274 Overflow crossing paths with Otis for at least the third or fifth time today? haha Otis is in the front, by the way.
10-Sep-23 Otis Eating in the Lower River | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

Yes, he’s eating; no, we don’t know what. For all we know, it could be leftover pizza (except humans aren’t allowed food… but still). It’s River Watch, so we presume DOAs.
10-Sep-23 Otis Eating in the Lower River | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

Otis is on-again-off-again cams a while, and then only if you know it’s happening would you realize that the tiny spec moving along the Far Bank on Riffles is Otis about to waltz into his Office from Down River. Brooks Falls cam is zoomed in elsewhere, and when it sliiiides to the left, we see Otis firmly planted and fishing already.
10-Sep-23 Otis in His Office at Brooks Falls | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

Not too long after, SPLOOSH!! Otis has a FISH (with a wiggle!)! At first it didn’t look at that big, but we think that’s just compared to all the monster fish we’ve seen this season and, well, compared to the size of a bear’s head… We’d classify it as medium (probably).
10-Sep-23 Otis Splooshes for a Fish | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org
10-Sep-23 Otis Splooshes for a Fish | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org
10-Sep-23 Otis with a fresh Salmon | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

And then again! This one is more like what we’ve seen this year — closer to monster than minnow! And remember what Mike Fitz of Explore said: “Otis probably only needs a couple of fish per day to meet his daily energy needs in calories. The rest is gravy for him.” So everything after this — dead or alive, seen or unseen — is gravy for Otis today!
10-Sep-23 Otis with a Fresh Salmon in his Office | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

Around 3:00 a.m., 128 Grazer enters the chat. She flits and splashes around Otis for a few minutes on Riffles cam.
10-Sep-23 Otis and 128 Grazer in the Far Pool | Copyright National Parks Service and/or Explore.org

Ms. Grazer wanders off and Brooks Falls cam follows her. She earns a fresh catch or two. We hear you asking “Why doesn’t Otis do the same?” and to that we say Otis didn’t get to be a near-30-year-old bear by doing things the wrong way. 😉 Let’s practice our own Zen, shall we? ♥ And while the cam is off Otis, we imagine he eats a fish… or five. 😉

Not too long later, Otis walks off Riffles cam. Brooks is still following Grazer and then returns to the Office just as a bear is leaving the Office area — but don’t be fooled… the Brooks Falls cam bear is NOT Otis (no No. 7 and differently shaped).

We’re unsure whether Otis went up the Far Path for snoozles or headed out to the River, but we’ll try to find out and report back later.

Total midnight-to-midnight fish count for September 10 is updated to 2 Fish, yes wiggles and 9 DOAs, no wiggles!

Until next time, wishes for fishes and salmon-filled tummies for all! ♥

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