Healthy Rivers

[Andy_1984]

Quite right.

 

It's a bit of a quandry. As an angler, I like seeing otters but I also like catching big fish. Otters obviously aren't going to wipe out fish stocks entirely, but I think the balance they end up achieving may have a dramatic effect on stocks of specimen fish.

 

A number of 'celebrity' barbel and carp have been taken by otters, which may not be a concern, depending on your viewpoint, but it does nevertheless illustrate the point that they are very capable of decimating the stocks of bigger fish in a given water. Obviously non-anglers won't be worried whether the otters are taking 20lb pike, 2lb roach or 5lb chub, but personally speaking, if I'm targetting any specimen fish of any particular species, I'd prefer to not have to compete with otters.

 

 

your views are perfectly reasonable and who wouldnt be a bit angered or upset of a 2lb roach getting eaten by an otter, i know i would, but we are on the water to catch and release, the otter is catching to eat and survive the argument should stop there

 

just wondering if an otter is capable of taking a 20lb pike ? i know how hard i tried when fighting my 20lb'r

[Grandma]

your views are perfectly reasonable and who wouldnt be a bit angered or upset of a 2lb roach getting eaten by an otter, i know i would, but we are on the water to catch and release, the otter is catching to eat and survive the argument should stop there

 

just wondering if an otter is capable of taking a 20lb pike ? i know how hard i tried when fighting my 20lb'r

 

I don't get angry or upset about otters, there is nothing to do but accept them.

 

You can find pictures of half eaten 20lb pike if you do a google search. I've heard of 30lb pike and 40lb carp being taken also. I guess that such fish will become even more scarse on waters where otters are not excluded.

[dapper64]

I don't get angry or upset about otters, there is nothing to do but accept them.

 

You can find pictures of half eaten 20lb pike if you do a google search. I've heard of 30lb pike and 40lb carp being taken also. I guess that such fish will become even more scarse on waters where otters are not excluded.

A lot of the big pike are disappearing from the rivers where I fish,and its not because of otters. Edited March 20, 2009 by dapper64

[Guest tigger]

I don't get angry or upset about otters, there is nothing to do but accept them.

 

You can find pictures of half eaten 20lb pike if you do a google search. I've heard of 30lb pike and 40lb carp being taken also. I guess that such fish will become even more scarse on waters where otters are not excluded.

 

 

That's nonsense, many large fish have been chewed on after most probably dying of natural causes. All kinds of predators and vermine mamalian and featherd will have a munch on a dead fish. Just because a specimine fish is dead and has been half eaten doesn't mean it's an Otter kill.

[Jeffwill]

I seem to have opened up a hornets nest with my March 2009 Update.

 

It’s a pity we cannot separate rose tinted views formed from watching Ring of Bright Water and reading Tarker the Otter and real facts , acquired from first hand experience.

 

I have seen the worst of the predation, as I reported in my update, previously I was chuffed to catch a glimpse of an otter but when I saw a pair on a stretch every time I visited and a shoal of chub averaging 4lb disappear…….inevitably my opinion has changed.

 

I also fish a still water, famous in wales for big tench and otter sightings, indeed I have seen an otter on most visits and have even had an otter chasing a fish through my swim. It is a very weedy water and the fish have a chance unlike on the river so hopefully there will be more of a natural balance.

 

For those river anglers who think there is not a problem, with otter numbers bound to increase I hope you don’t have to learn the hard way.

 

I bet most people, let alone anglers, don’t even know the otter is the largest member of the Weasel family? Probably thought they were related to Teddy Bears!

[Worms]

I seem to have opened up a hornets nest with my March 2009 Update.

 

It’s a pity we cannot separate rose tinted views formed from watching Ring of Bright Water and reading Tarker the Otter and real facts , acquired from first hand experience.

 

I have seen the worst of the predation, as I reported in my update, previously I was chuffed to catch a glimpse of an otter but when I saw a pair on a stretch every time I visited and a shoal of chub averaging 4lb disappear…….inevitably my opinion has changed.

 

I also fish a still water, famous in wales for big tench and otter sightings, indeed I have seen an otter on most visits and have even had an otter chasing a fish through my swim. It is a very weedy water and the fish have a chance unlike on the river so hopefully there will be more of a natural balance.

 

For those river anglers who think there is not a problem, with otter numbers bound to increase I hope you don’t have to learn the hard way.

 

I bet most people, let alone anglers, don’t even know the otter is the largest member of the Weasel family? Probably thought they were related to Teddy Bears!

Just a reminder from a previous post..........The Lugg has had the largest growth in otter populations of any river in the UK over the past 15 years or so. The fishing? Bloody excellent and improving year on year for coarse and game fish.

 

Otters will not eat all of the fish in an area and then move on, they will stay and take the fish that they need and, will be there for possibly (hopefully) generations.

 

They don't care about the natural balance as such, they are the natural balance.

 

On top of this they have a large range and will eat almost anything of (small) animal origin, not just fish. They are certainly not a problem on the rivers I fish and I love seeing them. Don't forget, we are in their habitat not they in ours!

 

Otters are the longest of the weasel family in this country, badgers are the heaviest. Worldwide the wolverine is the biggest.

Edited March 21, 2009 by Worms

[Jeffwill]

Just a reminder from a previous post..........The Lugg has had the largest growth in otter populations of any river in the UK over the past 15 years or so. The fishing? Bloody excellent and improving year on year for coarse and game fish.

 

Otters will not eat all of the fish in an area and then move on, they will stay and take the fish that they need and, will be there for possibly (hopefully) generations.

 

They don't care about the natural balance as such, they are the natural balance.

 

On top of this they have a large range and will eat almost anything of (small) animal origin, not just fish. They are certainly not a problem on the rivers I fish and I love seeing them. Don't forget, we are in their habitat not they in ours!

 

Otters are the longest of the weasel family in this country, badgers are the heaviest. Worldwide the wolverine is the biggest.

 

Does anyone have any scientifically gathered information on otter numbers and distribution throughout England and Wales?

[Worms]

Does anyone have any scientifically gathered information on otter numbers and distribution throughout England and Wales?

Here you go mate, there are a load of references on the JNCC site as well, check out the low estimate of otter numbers in the UK, frightening eh?

 

Mammal distribution inc otters

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/pub05_ukmammals...tes02_final.pdf

 

Biodiversity action plan

http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=428

 

JNCC species report

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/Article17/FCS2007-S1355-Final.pdf

[Worms]

Here you go mate, there are a load of references on the JNCC site as well, check out the low estimate of otter numbers in the UK, frightening eh?

 

Mammal distribution inc otters

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/pub05_ukmammals...tes02_final.pdf

 

Biodiversity action plan

http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=428

 

JNCC species report

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/Article17/FCS2007-S1355-Final.pdf

And advice from the EA for fishery owners!

http://test.environment-agency.gov.uk/cy/b...orau/32661.aspx

 

and an interesting one from the Specialist Anglers Alliance back in 2002

www.anglingsites.com/saa/campaigns/docs/UpdateArticle23.3.02.doc

 

It would seem that if there are still problems with otters after all this advice then perhaps some fishery owners may need a gentle boot up the behind for letting otters eat their fish!

[Steve Burke]

It would seem that if there are still problems with otters after all this advice then perhaps some fishery owners may need a gentle boot up the behind for letting otters eat their fish!

If only it were that simple!

 

I assume from your location you have few gravel pits in your area? Whilst it's realistic to protect small commercial fisheries it's prohibitively expensive to protect gravel pits. The problem is their sheer size coupled in some cases by their isolation. This is why angling organisations have been lobbying for grants for specialist fencing.

 

I'm a huge fan of otters. Indeed I used to belong to the Otter Trust and I've paintings and pottery of otters throughout the house. Not surprising really as I run a 160 acre nature reserve. The costs of running it are largely met by letting out two of the gravel pits on the reserve to anglers.

 

In lowland areas such as mine the reintroduction of otters would be a disaster for many fisheries, especially specimen carp ones. Thankfully, the authorities have listened to reason and such reintroductions have been stopped.