While I was fishing yesterday something big swam right by me and made me jump. At first I thought it was a king salmon that had turned dark as they sometimes do when spawning, but then I realized that it was an otter.
The reason I mention this is that there was a discussion on here last week about the Snoqualmie tributaries not being listed as selective gear rules in the 2014 regs. Since there is an otter in the creek, and otters eat fish, then it would seem to me that they should make the stream selective gear rules and possibly catch and release to give the otter the chance to find enough to eat. Or do they just visit streams temporarily and move on?
While I was fishing yesterday something big swam right by me and made me jump. At first I thought it was a king salmon that had turned dark as they sometimes do when spawning, but then I realized that it was an otter.
The reason I mention this is that there was a discussion on here last week about the Snoqualmie tributaries not being listed as selective gear rules in the 2014 regs. Since there is an otter in the creek, and otters eat fish, then it would seem to me that they should make the stream selective gear rules and possibly catch and release to give the otter the chance to find enough to eat. Or do they just visit streams temporarily and move on?
I'm hoping it is one of the beavers that I've seen on many occasions up in that area, because as said previously, a otter would wipe out the trout population. Please be a beaver.
I've had plenty of familys swim by me , nothing to worry about unless maybe they aren't wearing swimming suits. now a group of otters swimming that would be a different story!!!
I ain't buying this crap that otters are resposible for wiping out fish. Otters have been in the rivers and streams around here for ions. They didn't get here the other day.
"River otters are opportunists, eating a wide variety of food items, but mostly fish. River otters usually feed on 4- to 6-inch long, slowly moving fish species, such as carp, mud minnows, stickle backs, and suckers. However, otters actively seek out spawning salmon and will travel far to take advantage of a salmon run."
Don't be messing around with no otters, just recently there was a lady fishing the Madison River who got attacked by an otter. I guess she tried to pet it and it took off a finger and a chunk of her leg in retreat. They're mean and vicious vermin just like wolves.
Wild animals are just that, wild. People that think they are somewhat tame from being around people should go get a cat scan to check if they are all there.
I fish this lake that has native cutthroats in it. Now, last year I saw a couple of otters. There didn't seem to be many large cutts. Then, this year, I haven't caught a large one there. I assume that the larger trout are slower than the small trout, so my "big boys" are scarce. Anyone know about this? Do they feed on larger trout? Quite a disappointment.
Otters do just fine in larger rivers, but they do massive fish kills in headwater streams where most the fish have nowhere to hide. Fish and game here attribute the low fish counts in at least three small streams in this area to otters. I've seen a family of three up in the headwaters of one tiny creek Couldn't find a brookie to save your life after. They've been around forever, but trust me, it's not crap what they do to the little streams.
Otters do just fine in larger rivers, but they do massive fish kills in headwater streams where most the fish have nowhere to hide. Fish and game here attribute the low fish counts in at least three small streams in this area to otters. I've seen a family of three up in the headwaters of one tiny creek Couldn't find a brookie to save your life after. They've been around forever, but trust me, it's not crap what they do to the little streams.
Otters do just fine in larger rivers, but they do massive fish kills in headwater streams where most the fish have nowhere to hide. Fish and game here attribute the low fish counts in at least three small streams in this area to otters. I've seen a family of three up in the headwaters of one tiny creek Couldn't find a brookie to save your life after. They've been around forever, but trust me, it's not crap what they do to the little streams.
Yeah, the state probably ought to place a bounty on otters - just like we used to have on Dolly Varden and Bull Trout.
You know, before us humans arrived to control all of this there weren't any trout around here at all....
I was hoping to clear out the brookies myself. I wasn't requesting the otter's assistance in the matter.
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