Otters on the Kennet

[Matthew Simmons]

Fishing the Kennet at Padworth on monday evening, I was able to observe 2 otters working the far bank. I have only ever seen one on this stretch before, and once at that. I wonder if the fact that with TAA loosing the water, and apparently no one now fishing that bank means that the otters have moved in as they are not disturbed? It used to be quite busy certainly on the TAA bank.

 

 

 

 

[philocalist]

I'll see your two otters and raise you a very large seal ... spotted a couple of hours back as I walked the dog along the banks of the river Wear! Just wondering about whether or not a seal would take a duck ... the resident population looked decidedly edgy ;-)

[JV44]

Matt we saw one a few weeks ago on the prison loop section of the river in Reading itself whilst we were moored up overnight don`t think they are as wary dusk/after dark mate ,did it look like a dog and his mate or mother and large cub?

[Matthew Simmons]

It was darkish - but both heads looked about the same size. Not as big as the dog otter I saw a couple of years back - I though it was a Black lab in the river!

[Chris Plumb]

Seen otters on the Kennet quite regularly over the past 4 years or so. Seen a big dog otter at Brimpton and Padworth and a smaller bitch (presumably) at Hambridge. My last sighting was off the smaller one at Hambridge back in June.

[kenj]

Caught this trout on a tributary of the Lodden last month, would you say mink, or otter, judging by the size of the teeth marks?

[lyn]

A pair of otters were introduced/put on the Kennet at Burfield when I fished there some 15/16yrs ago. We had to keep quiet about them but as I knew where the holt was I knew where to look for them. I'm surprised they haven't multiplied somewhat by now.

[JV44]

Lyn I take it you mean the north bank of the old cemex bit between the weir pools?? the boat club where we keep our NB is on the island just aboveand there have been Otters in that area of river and lakes for years and whilst fishing there what was then RMC Otters were seen back in 89 . Occasionally see evidence on our island backwater of them but only seem to be a couple with the odd cub ,but they never stick around posing for piccys

[Matthew Simmons]

Saw them again last night in the same spot on the far bank at Padworth. I caught nothing all evening from 3 different spots on the stretch - 4 blanks on the bounce there - I think its time to move on!

[Tigger]

I saw an otter on a small local river a couple of years back. As soon as I had seen it I walked down to where it had just been and had a trott through...I caught a dace a trott so the otter hadn't frightend the fish very much.