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Otters at Apley Estate

scousehooker

scousehooker
Total Posts: 4
Joined: June 20, 2017

First morning of the new season, 0730 just sitting back and relaxing only to have an Otter pop up at my feet, who jumped higher me or the Otter ? me probably, fished this stretch for a few seasons now never seen an otter here. As a club do we have anything to worry about.

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Posted on June 20, 2017 at 2:52 PM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Bad news,unfortunately they are being spotted more and more often now up and down nearly every river and they don't seem to have any fear of humans anymore.Just wish the Do-gooders knew the damage they are causing not just to fish.Very worrying.I believe they are the main reason behind the decline of barbel on the Teme,let's hope the Severn is a big enough river to cope with it better.

Posted on June 20, 2017 at 5:56 PM

Johnny_Care

Johnny_Care
Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Scousehooker, they're probably on every Severn stretch these days. Bizarrely, I'm still yet to see one, despite me being out three times a week on average. The Teme, being a small river, spends most of its time without much water in it, so is just a series of deeper pools separated by riffles, meaning the barbel were easy pickings for the otters, so as Stu says, otters are the reason for the demise of the Teme, IMO.

The Severn, much bigger, and although barbel stocks are falling, I'd like to think that nature will find a balance at some point, and the predator/prey balance will level out. The situation is the same on the W.Avon.

One thing people do forget, is that otters were on the Severn, Avon, Teme etc, long before barbel were. It was us that hunted them down to near extinction, but I do think they've overdone the reintroduction a little.

That's my take on it anyway.

Posted on June 20, 2017 at 8:58 PM

ricasso

ricasso
Total Posts: 16
Joined: April 17, 2017

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Good post Johnny, like you I have never seen an Otter down here on the lower Severn, although I have come across mink quite often, and seen what they're capable of with regards to fish stocks, half eaten small carp and silver fish etc left on the banks of the pools and the river itself, possibly more of an issue than the otters? I dont know.

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 6:45 AM

Johnny_Care

Johnny_Care
Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

I saw a whole family of mink back in February at Severn Stoke, probably six or seven of them on the opposite, they make a lot of noise. I remember seeing one years ago on the rocks there, it had just been down and caught an eel. Deadly killers those things are.

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 7:47 AM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

I've had a mink in my peg on the staffs-worc canal at kinver,let's say that was the end of that peg.Mink like otters will take anything they can,I think some people are under the impression that otters just eat fish but they will kill any moorhens,coots,ducks etc they can get their hands on.I've seen a video of an otter killing a heron too,vicious animals.I've heard off reliable sources at crt that the otters are in the canal network too and have been for some time.

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 9:42 AM

Johnny_Care

Johnny_Care
Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

They certainly get around Stew, I read somewhere that they can travel miles in a night, lots of commercial fisheries that aren't too far from running water are also having to put otter fencing up, Hawford, Cobhouse etc. An otter that finds a commie must think all his Christmasses have come at the same time on venues like those.

Mink have been on the loose for donkeys years now though, I think their numbers have 'levelled out' a little, let's hope the same happens with otters.

I do think life moves in circles though to be honest, back in the 80's and 90's, there was a huge demise in perch, and now they are back with a vengeance, I watched dozens of them the other night on the Severn chasing fry. Chub also seem to be on the increase now, currently it seems to be the turn of the barbel to suffer a decline.

JC

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 9:58 AM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

True,face also seem to be on the comeback,last few years on the Severn they seem to reappeared from nowhere,good size ones too.

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 10:25 AM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Dace not face

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 10:26 AM

Branchie

Branchie
Total Posts: 37
Joined: September 23, 2016

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Saw a mink at knowle sands last weekend. I've also seen them at wasperton

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 11:29 AM

scousehooker

scousehooker
Total Posts: 4
Joined: June 20, 2017

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Thanks, for the replies gents i can confirm it was deffo an Otter, i can assure you no Alcohol or substance abuse involved im my session!!
I've seen plenty of mink in my time especially on the Dane, hate them things.....

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 12:34 PM

scousehooker

scousehooker
Total Posts: 4
Joined: June 20, 2017

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Thanks, for the replies gents i can confirm it was deffo an Otter, i can assure you no Alcohol or substance abuse involved im my session!!
I've seen plenty of mink in my time especially on the Dane, hate them things.....

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 12:34 PM

atlast

atlast
Total Posts: 161
Joined: June 20, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

mink are as JC said evil little things. and will kill for fun, plus they have to eat liver hence why you see fish less than half eaten.
on the plus side with otters they kill to eat. and they will hunt and kill mink in a flash.
i know salmon beats who have otters. but no mink .and the gamekeepers happy with that.
iv still to see one myself in england or wales and im outside and near waterways eveyday with work,
all will sort its self out. always has, always will.

Posted on June 21, 2017 at 10:15 PM

Hornet

Hornet
Total Posts: 108
Joined: June 23, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

It won't sort it'self out if Otters are continued to be introduced. The word needs to be spread that introducing them to some waters not only hurts some rivers but is cruel to the otter itself as it hasn't enough food to survive.

There's enough to spread naturally now

Posted on June 22, 2017 at 10:48 PM

stew83mul

stew83mul
Total Posts: 663
Joined: May 30, 2015

Re: Otters at Apley Estate

Not sure if this link will work,recent video of an otter.https://www.facebook.com/mark.watling.5/posts/1523680974320039

Posted on June 30, 2017 at 12:23 PM

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