David Gauntlett
Senior Member
I returned from my holidays recently to the devastating news that otters have now been seen and positively identified in my stretch of the tiny river Colne in Hertfordshire In a stream the size and nature of the Colne, which is mainly very shallow and narrow, with almost non existent streamer weed in most areas and virtually devoid of sizeable snags etc., there is nowhere for large fish to hide from an efficient predator like an otter. Obviously then, this means that my fellow club members long held collective nightmare is about to become a reality. Though it breaks my heart, I must recognise that my own period of well over 40 years of enjoying the stupendous quality of fishing in this lovely little stream (which contains BIG upper double barbel, carp over 20lbs, 8lb + chub and double figure bream)....is very likely about to come to an end. Sadly, the huge pleasure and numerous PB's that this little gem of a stream has afforded to myself and generations of kids and adults alike is quite possibly about to be lost, never to return. I am devastated, to say the least.
Now, before the inevitable happens, may I just say to the tiny minority who seem not to understand....these tiny streams are UTTERLY different to big rivers, not just in size, but also in their ability to survive the affects of apex predators. Most of those lads who fish big and medium sized rivers understand this. To those who don't, and who may well be typing comments along the lines of 'My river has had a healthy otter populations for years, with no noticeable affect on fish stocks'....and to those others who seem compelled to trot out banal comments like 'Otters are natural predators, with every right to be there', and all the similar unthinking, unfeeling and pretentious guff that always follows complaints about otter damage (usually from those who have never suffered from it).......could you please not bother? If you feel that those comments are about to burst indignantlly forth, could you instead just grab them and shove them as far as you can where the light doesn't shine?
I know you are entitled to your views, but just this once, in recognition of my depressed state and the devastating effect this will quite likely have on local anglers....could you please keep them to yourselves?
Regards, Dave (A depressed, gutted, angry, saddened and utterly peed off angler, in case you hadn't already noticed )
Now, before the inevitable happens, may I just say to the tiny minority who seem not to understand....these tiny streams are UTTERLY different to big rivers, not just in size, but also in their ability to survive the affects of apex predators. Most of those lads who fish big and medium sized rivers understand this. To those who don't, and who may well be typing comments along the lines of 'My river has had a healthy otter populations for years, with no noticeable affect on fish stocks'....and to those others who seem compelled to trot out banal comments like 'Otters are natural predators, with every right to be there', and all the similar unthinking, unfeeling and pretentious guff that always follows complaints about otter damage (usually from those who have never suffered from it).......could you please not bother? If you feel that those comments are about to burst indignantlly forth, could you instead just grab them and shove them as far as you can where the light doesn't shine?
I know you are entitled to your views, but just this once, in recognition of my depressed state and the devastating effect this will quite likely have on local anglers....could you please keep them to yourselves?
Regards, Dave (A depressed, gutted, angry, saddened and utterly peed off angler, in case you hadn't already noticed )