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How deep is it? Can you see the bottom? If so I'd free line a lump of meat and watch for them sucking it in - river carp seem to have a soft spot for meat! If it's too deep/coloured to see the bottom add a small piece of tungsten putty about 12" from the hook and use a float set over depth so it...

Great way to start the season Dave, nice one! I'm with Steve, an early spawning has helped and we had a fair bit of rain in the weeks leading up to the start - a good flush through has helped freshen up the whole river. Great to be back.

By rot are you referring to the influx of Barbel police to BFW that effectively killed off most if not all river threads? I remember it well . . . Maybe we could fence off the South, stop any more of 'em getting up 'ere!

Interesting post Alex as I've heard conflicting reports on trapping - some suggest removing the large adults creates an increase in numbers of young surviving thus making the problem worse. If you have first hand experience that it works I'm happy to hear that and would encourage everyone on a...

Nature did not intend the poor water quality or for the river channels to be managed to suit our needs or the water to be extracted either. It's a right bloody mess when you look at it! Crayfish are a massive problem and for me one of the major players in the demise of some rivers. It's no...

The worst infestation I've ever experienced and I pity you guys who have to fish rivers like that on a regular basis. I'd take Otters any day of the week over them horrible things and that is no joke. On the chub front, during a recon trip the closed season before last there was the most...

Crayfish eh Dave? I hope for your rivers sake the trapping is successful but as it's normally not now I fear for your river. If their numbers increase to plague proportions like they have on some rivers the likelihood of any eggs surviving to fry stage will be minimal. In time as the brood stock...

It's the only way if you want action now John. Saying that, you've more chance of hitting the euro millions jackpot than getting an Otter within range of a swing. Thee'l need t'shotgun - both barrels! Apart from John who else is hoping to club an Otter to death this season?

Top result Dave, I would have happily swapped my 1 Barbel and 4 Chub for that lot! Ribble's not quite 'on' yet but looking really good - looks like your timing is bang on!

I fished the Cherwell last season as my missus works for a company based in Biscester and makes regular visits down that way. Agreed to tag a long as long as I could fish. Asked a few polite questions to some of this forums members and one or two others - net result 2 Barbel on my first visit...

They just managed to get around a bit more with us around! ;)

Because you've logged in a couple of days before the new season starts to see yet another doom mongering Otter thread and it does your head in - fully understandable. Anyway - I've done the math that Dave talked of regarding predators and prey and it turns out Barbel will be extinct by the end...

Quite surprised by this thread as in 'reel line' threads of old more than half the posts would have involved Big Game! Still my number one choice although I did flirt with Subline. Interested in the Hydrotuff it's just a shame they don't do a clear option.

Mine too Mike! Should be banned in my opinion! Let's face it - it's a legally protected species that is the icon of conservation Britain! Having a load of threads on this site calling for culls isn't putting any of us in a good light. Ban 'em Andy! No more Otter threads! :D

Shaun - another fact in this whole debate is the Otter is a protected species and will remain so no matter how loud a small minority of anglers shout about it. There is nothing you can do about it legally. So what can we do to help our rivers? Start by joining your local rivers trust which in...

Totally agree Neil. Without the facts and figures that nobody has to prove the devastation some people talk of nothing will ever happen regarding the Otter and I for one am glad about that. Don't get me wrong - I'm well aware some sections of a handful of rivers have had a rough time - but...

Not a chance. Even if you convinced them to do a study into the impact of Otters it would take years to complete, in which time all the other environmental conservation groups who are actively trying to improve the river habitat for the benefit of Otters will have probably done a decent enough...

Keeping records of sightings/kills is action to help improve our rivers? How?! The EA are actively out there building Holts for Otters to live in! Good post Howard.

Out of interest what actions would you like to see take place to 'improve' our rivers regarding Otters? As Rhys mentioned earlier we would be better off joining forces with the other environmental groups to improve our rivers with regards to abstraction, pollution, lack of fry recruitment etc so...