I enjoyed that too Rob, an easy enjoyable read where the way of natural things was the tune rather than a "how to" blog
For me the way of things natural is more important than the fishing, always has been always will be and so to read that was quite thought provoking and it was nice to see your take on things.
Just to throw a couple of your thoughts back at ya
The "reintroduction" of otters has in my opinion been a huge mistake, I highlight the word reintroduction because its been exactly that and so the spread is not what I would call unnatural as you put it rather I would say that its was fully expected and predictable.
Put enough animals of breading age into an environment where all the likely and suitable territories are vacant and the population will grow fast.
I would have thought that by now most of these suitable territories are now showing the engaged sign and so the population has levelled out in most areas.
The reason why I say that the reintroduction of otters was a mistake is because just because these people could reintroduce them doesn't mean they should.
I'm sure these people from the otter trust and the like took one look at the angling press and thought it ok to let them go because there is loads of fish for them to eat, Self-serving ar5holes imo and I would love to know who gave them and how did they get the permission to change the environment in a detrimental way for many aquatic species and a huge group of people who pay to use it.
I must say though that I do not agree with you when you say that any sign of an otter is reason to pack up and move, although the otter has had a significant effect on angling in the country the sign of one otter does not mean the pike are gone as I think the majority of bank in this county is covered by one otters or another's territory and so if you were right golf may be the better option.
I do however believe that the British countryside is in theory better off with this animal in it, being beautiful and indigenous (had to get that word in there sometime face) it should have a place but, and this is a perfect time to move onto the next species you highlighted, the eel.
The eel is in my opinion the single most important species in these and many other aquatic environments.
The demise of the eel over the years has created one and exacerbated the other of the problems created by the other two species you highlight, the otter and the cormorant. The otter reintroduced when its most important food source had all but gone and the cormorant basically had to move home for the same reason as its a little known fact that the majority of eels never enter fresh water and stay in the estuaries, the favoured feeding habitat of the bird.
I like the way you picked out how species are so inter linked as you then talk about sliver fish numbers being effected by all this and then the huge numbers of elvers last year and the 2lb fish that are bothering your baits this year, this can only be good news in my books even if it doesn't suit the silvers.
The 2lb fish will be best part 20 years old and so the thing may have been on the up for some time, these fish will form a staple of the two previously named villains and so the needle may start to nudge back towards where it should be.
I have often said that I am a naturalist 1st and angler 2nd and so for me the more natural the environment I am blessed to be part of the better even if that means these years of big fish bonanza may be changing or coming to an end on some rivers and the specimen fish anglers may have to look more to different species or still waters.
There is however one very important species we have failed to mention yet, all the species deserve mention in their own right as individuals and the way they interact with each other but one in particular has been dumped in these waters by mistake and will go on to rival any other species including the eel as the most important even though they have already become the most dominant in some places.
I feel the battle against their invasion is lost and all waters will ultimately get their share as long term eradication is impossible even if control to some level isnt on some waters and if the eel does make the comeback I truly hope for, their may be a war coming, a war of fin against claw.
Thanks again Rob for making me think again, it has been known ya knows
Cheers Alan
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