5 minute read
The lake guardians
from The Angler 2024
Carp legend Ian Chillcott discovers how the Angling Improvement Fund is helping to keep otters at bay
Ian Chillcott readily admits he probably spends a lot more time on lakes than most people do.
“Lakes have become very special to me, and so have the carp that swim in them,” says Ian, an ambassador for the Angling Trust and tackle manufacturers Fox, and renowned across the country for his carp fishing.
But like many carp anglers, he is concerned at the rise in the number of otters that are inhabiting our waters and surrounding countryside.
“Beautiful creatures they are,” continues Ian, “but they can be a problem taking and eating our heritage fish.”
Ian, known as ‘Chilly’ by friends and the angling community, visited The Elms Lake in Hertfordshire to see first-hand how predation by otters is being resolved with help from funding generated by Environment Agency rod licence sales.
The lake itself holds many species of freshwater fish – tench, roach, bream, rudd, pike, eels as well as mirror, common and crucian carp – and is situated close to the River Chess in Rickmansworth. A few years ago, otters were seen swimming in the Chess and not long after members of The Elms Angling Society, who lease the lake, discovered carcasses of big carp on the bank.
The club got in touch with Jake Davoile, one of the Angling Trust’s Fishery Management Advisors who can help fisheries impacted by predation, predominantly from otters and cormorants.
“I came down as quickly as possible and walked around the lake with some of the club’s members,” recalls Jake. “We found otter spraints alongside the river, and we found runs coming from the river to the lake. We also found carcasses of carp and it was quite clear that an otter had taken them.
“I went through the various options open to the club, but the only real option to keep the otters out was to erect a fence. I also explained that funding towards the costs might be available through the Angling Improvement Fund, which is administered by the Angling Trust and is funded by rod licence money. It’s a great way of using anglers’ licence money to directly support clubs and fisheries.”
The club applied for a grant and received £6,000 towards their project. A few months later, an otter-proof fence was erected around the lake. However, Jake’s assistance didn’t end there.
“We stress the importance for ongoing checks and maintenance,” says Jake. “I would always recommend a dedicated monthly check around a fence and also following high water and strong winds, particularly around inflows and outflows. There are instances where otters will find weaknesses within that fence, whether it’s not been maintained properly or through a branch falling on top of it.
“We can then offer a service to come down and give the fence an MOT, look at it, highlight the issues and get those repaired. If an otter is trapped within that fishery, we have been trained to trap that otter and remove it from within the fishery fence and put it directly back on the outside, or onto a or stream nearby.
“And that support costs the club absolutely nothing. Our roles and all of our services are fully funded by rod licence money, so if you’re having any issues get in touch and we’ll be right out to help you.”
Taking Ian and Jake on a tour of the lake’s perimeter, Andy Gibson from The Elms Angling Society tells them the club – and its members – are very pleased with the outcome.
“The appearance is amazing, and the club members are really happy because we now have a secure lake,” adds Andy. “The Angling Trust are there to help us. They’re available to any club. Just get in touch with them and they can guide you through what you need to do to protect your fishery, protect your anglers and improve the environment.”
Between 2019 and 2023, the Angling Improvement Fund provided nearly £626,000 funding for 134 projects involving otter fencing. The total value of those projects was £2,172,500.
In the same period, the Angling Improvement Fund gave £148,000 towards 26 projects involved in measures to reduce the threat of predation from cormorants. Those projects had a total value of £427,972.
Andy Petch is the Angling Improvement Fund Manager and says that any fishery in England is eligible to apply, including angling clubs, syndicate venues, commercials and local authorities that are providing angling opportunities.
“The application process is online and opens in April for predation projects,” he adds. “There’s step-by-step guidance on the Angling Trust website and I would highly recommend applicants familiarise themselves with what is required as the more time and effort that is put into the application, the more likely it is to succeed.” and Ian members
In addition to otters, the Angling Trust’s Fishery Management Advisors – Jake in the south of England and Richard Bamforth in the north – give advice on other predation matters, such as fish-eating birds like cormorants and goosanders.
This is likely to include site visits resulting in bespoke advice on:
• Ways to improve refuge for fish from predation.
• Introducing modern, effective nonlethal scaring methods.
• How to apply for Individual and Areabased Cormorant control licence.
• Coordination of action through Areabased licences.
• Monitoring bird numbers and evidencing the impacts of predation.
How to contact our Fishery Management Advisors
Jake Davoile: South West, South East, London, South Midlands, Eastern Region of England 07949 703206 or jake.davoile@anglingtrust.net
Richard Bamforth: North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, West Midlands 07904 041518 or richard.bamforth@anglingtrust.net
