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Otter numbers
- Thread starter sawman
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Word is that Otter numbers MAY be on the decline again nationally.
Where is the source of that info, Charlie?
No doubt that do still have human enemies.
I will not give out the name of the scource other than to say it was from the good Drs. **** who trained me in Otter survey work quite a few years ago now. They are both retired now but no doubt still have a finger on the pulse, so to speak.
I will be getting out & about locally though, to check on spraint sites etc.
I did say the numbers MAY be going down.
specialman
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Wonder if the decline in eel numbers is a contributing factor? Maybe it's just what was meant to happen.... no one is shedding tears for the barbel they're wiping out. Not saying it's just desserts, but obviously a balance is being found by nature.
Mind you, maybe someone should tell Mother Nature about the cormorants......
Mind you, maybe someone should tell Mother Nature about the cormorants......
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Eels were favourite food for otters and there numbers are massively down, but otter numbers did increase during the eel decline.
I have trout fished for half a century and always delight in seeing an otter. As much as I like fishing if I was forced to make the choice between catching fish and seeing otters then I'd opt for otter watching without hesitation.
You may well be on the right track. I have lost contact with any local Eel fishers (if there are any left) so cannot get any numbers.
I too used to fish almost every evening & at least one afternoon in the weekend. One day, I just lost the notion & have never fished since.
Looking for signs of the elusive Otter was always high on the agenda.
specialman
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Arclight - I don't mind seeing wildlife like otters, it is a nice spectacle, but when i hear stories of fisheries being decimated by them (like the Wensum), the angler in me gets very annoyed that there isn't a wider public knowledge of the hardships that anglers and the angling industry have to go through to maintain stocks of fish in waters that really shouldn't be struggling.
Sawman - I think eel fishing is pretty much on its backside. Commercial fishers are very thin on the ground in the UK. I don't think I could lose the notion to fish, it's too ingrained, but I've certainly taken my foot off the peddle in recent years, especially with kids in the picture now. I used to fish Monday and Wednesday nights through the summer up at Mallory Park, and used to squeeze odd Thursday matches in, plus all weekend fishing matches around my area. I just can't justify that amount of time these days and to be honest, I love rivers too much and no one fishes them competitively really, so I can just chill in my own company....
Sawman - I think eel fishing is pretty much on its backside. Commercial fishers are very thin on the ground in the UK. I don't think I could lose the notion to fish, it's too ingrained, but I've certainly taken my foot off the peddle in recent years, especially with kids in the picture now. I used to fish Monday and Wednesday nights through the summer up at Mallory Park, and used to squeeze odd Thursday matches in, plus all weekend fishing matches around my area. I just can't justify that amount of time these days and to be honest, I love rivers too much and no one fishes them competitively really, so I can just chill in my own company....