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andyk74
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
Sean,
I agreed with your comments about the fence being erected and the newsletter. My whole point of the past few posts has been that both you and Colin seem happy to sit there and make suggestions, and then when someone, be it me or anyone else, either highlights a problem with one of your suggestions or suggests that you yourselves should get involved in implementing one of your own ideas you just turn round and argue back or say I have all the answers.
As I said at the start of this post, I agreed with you about the fence and the newsletter - what more do you want from me on here?
And as for Colins response to me putting my ideas into something more productive (he is a fine one to talk). . . well that should become apparent later on this year.
To me you only seem happy when you are moaning, which is a shame because we are supposed to enjoy fishing.
Last edited by andyk74, 14/3/09, 19:35
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14/3/09, 19:20
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colin33
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
andy74 it seems to me you are trying to take things personel, well how long have you actually been amember of the the club not to many years i would say so to put the records straight i have offered to do alot for the club in the past and even got people tooffer help free of charge members and non members but it was allto avail, all surgestions were knock back by ththe commitee and no they where not stupid surgestions either, people where going to offer free help at the airman pit but it seemed no one was interrested in any action there at the time .who do you think acually started clearing the back bank with les and nigel.? my wife also helped. equitment andmaterials were offered but turned down because it would cost to much money.
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14/3/09, 19:49
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wanabefishing
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
I have been fishing Willington since November and it was around December when the 1st confirmed Otter attack was found (mid 20 mirror). Ever since that time the bailiff would make almost daily visits to keep a check for any other signs, and I know through speaking to the bailiff that research into Otter defences were being thoroughly investigated from this point. An expert in Otters was also brought down to the lake to investigate the potential of the problem. A few patches of scales from smaller fish were found on a few occasions but no other carcases of larger fish were discovered. In the meantime I understand that an Otter proof fence was being investigated, but even I can see that the logistics of effectively fencing Willington is going to be a total nightmare, not to mention the cattle that are grazed and all the relevant authorities that permission will need to be obtained from. Even if a decision to fence the lake had been taken in Dec I would guess it would take at least 6 months to fence, even if permission were granted (too late for Star and the Common). I personally don't feel that Willington could ever be fully protected from Otters (I hope I am wrong). I feel that Shefford was doing everything that could have been done, and in the meantime it was a case of hoping that the larger fish survived until the threat subsides in the warmer months. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and the bloody Otter butchered two of the best fish in Bedfordshire in a little over 2 weeks. So to all the people out there dishing out criticism to the club, know the facts. I feel gutted for the club and totally sick with the loss of those great Carp. RIP big girls.
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16/3/09, 13:16
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colin33
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
well at last someone has ansewed the question of what has been done i thank you for that maybe if this imfomation was told before there would have been no need to go on about it
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16/3/09, 14:18
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steve67
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
i like to keep an eye on whats happening on shefford waters even though i did not join this season.
i am sorry to see the photos of your loss's at willington.
but i am also suprised that an otter would take on such large prey when there is so much prey that would be easier for an otter to deal with in willington.
have the club had a post-mortem carried out on any of the lost fish to see if there were any health problems that would explain why the otters would take on something twice their weight.
in simple terms were the fish already dying when the otters ate them.the following paragraphs are taken from an otters and fisheries website and give at risk species of prey none of which describe willington lake.
Large fish such as carp, stocked in enclosed waters without other fish
species; the fish may be particularly vulnerable in winter when they are
torpid.
• Heavily-stocked commercial or club fisheries, where fish are kept at high
densities in confined spaces, making them easy for an otter to catch or
damage
Last edited by steve67, 16/3/09, 19:24
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16/3/09, 19:06
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wanabefishing
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
The fish were fine, a fully grown Otter can handle Carp of 40lb+ especially when they are in a semi dormant state. Also as much as we love um, big fat Carp are not as agile as younger fish.
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16/3/09, 19:22
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steve67
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
i know a fully grown otter can handle a large carp and if willington had a heavy stock of big carp i would not question it. but like any predator they will always take what is easier to handle and therefore has less chance of causing themselves injury and willington has an abundant supply of other smaller species that an otter would take by choice.
blaming the otters for killing specimen carp without being 100% sure that the fish were in perfect health first is encouraging the illegal killing of otters which may not even be fully responsible for the deaths.
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17/3/09, 17:29
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Richard Bell
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
I have talked to other fishery owners who have suffered losses to otters. Unfortunately it is quite common for the largest fish to be targeted. Similar stories can be found on several web sites. The old text book description of the otter's diet consisting mainly of eels and sticklebacks doesn't quite ring true.
Carp are cold blooded and the latest victims had spent several weeks in an ice covered lake and would have been very torpid.
I think the only conclusion from any post mortem would have been the cause of death - otter predation.
How does a carp injure an otter? Are we getting confused with large cats hunting wildebeest in Africa?
There are many warm blooded predators that go for the largest parcel of food available. That way they don't have to have to waste energy chasing more victims.
No-one associated with the club has encouraged any illegal act against the otter.
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17/3/09, 20:27
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steve67
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
'' How does a carp injure an otter? Are we getting confused with large cats hunting wildebeest in Africa? ''
you try and hold a big carp in the water and feel how much power its got and then see if you still need to ask that question.......
as with the carp being torpid so would the bream have been and there are a lot more big bream in willington than there were carp.
''There are many warm blooded predators that go for the largest parcel of food available. That way they don't have to have to waste energy chasing more victims.''
name me 5
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19/3/09, 19:15
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Pikechops
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Re: Otter Predation at Willington Lake
There is overwhelming evidence to back up that otters take out the biggest fish first. And this predation always seems to be in the winter. You could also say that barbel are even more powerful than big carp yet they are also perishing in the same manner that the big carp are. I should imagine otters are pretty agile swimmers and while they may not be able to take out a large fish with one blow sustained attacks will kill a fish relatively easily. Have you ever seen goldfish attacking other goldfish and killing them? It happens and I doubt goldfish are a very feared predator amongst other goldfish.
The main problem fish have, especially big ones, is that due to them being cold blooded they rely on external heat to make their muscles work better, faster and for longer. Surely you must have caught fish in the winter that barely put up a fight yet in the summer the same fish will be tail walking! A cold fish is unable to display the same quick reflexes and sustained muscle speed as a fish in warmer water. Also you have to bear in mind that the fish will have been barely eating, if at all, during the very cold winter we just had so would have been very low on energy. Also bear in mind that a carp seeing an otter will be a completely different response to a carp seeing a human. As far as carp are concerned there is nothing underwater that will take them on and try and eat them. They dont get preyed upon, simple as that. Smaller fish (roach, rudd, chub etc etc) are used to having to dodge pike etc being at the bottom of the fishy food chain.
So, if you were an otter, would you go for the big, slow unsuspecting meal or several faster, more clued up smaller meals? Also, a dog otter will be longer than Starburst, it's teeth would sever vital organs with just a couple of bites condemning the fish to certain death.
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19/3/09, 21:38
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