Unique fishing day

[Crop9]

I am new to fishing, period, so most days I fish something new happens. But today was really odd and I am hoping someone might be able to provide some sort of insight.

 

The lake I frequent is a large reservoir, Center Hill Lake, in TN to be precise. As I'm getting to my favorite spot, checking out the conditions, I notice something out of the corner of my eye. As I turn to look all I see is a large-ish dark animal dive under water. I finally hike my way to where I always start fishing, working my down the bank. And as I make my first cast, I see what looks like an otter. It moved gracifully like a seal, and I never once heard the typical slap of a beaver tail. Throughout my time fishing, this guy maintained a close distance to me, never crossing my line, but as I would walk down the bank, he would keep roughly the same distance. And I could see him chasing small fish, and at times see his head out of the water, chomping on his catch...needless to say he caught many more than I did.

 

My question is two-fold: 

1. Primarily, was this likely an otter, or could it have been a beaver? 

 

2. Would it have a negative influence on fishing? I am not confident enough to say it had a negative impact today, or if it was my poor skills. 

[NorthwestBasser]

Probably an otter since a beaver wouldn't be eating fish. And if he was able to catch fish over a period of time, then I dont think it would be much of a negative impact, if he's still able to catch em then so should you since he didn't seem to scare them all off. But I'm no biologist...

[HeavyDluxe]

If it was seal-like in the way it moved, it was an otter.  Beaver dive and surface, but not that gleefully.  

 

Of course an otter's going to eat fish, but I'd prefer to look at what you're seeing as the sign of a healthy ecosystem/fishery.  If there's a variety of fish-eating wildlife (and other, non-fish-consuming species) around the body of water, it means there's enough fish to keep them there.  

 

I'm sure an otter's not apt to have any more impact on the fishery in a year than a few anglers do.  I'm no biologist either, but I get a chance to interact with some of the fisheries biologists from our state every month... And they are always quick to remind me that culling some bass is actually good for a fishery.  So, the otter's take could even be a help to keep the population balanced and healthy.  

[Crop9]

@HeavyDluxe and @NorthwestBasser, I appreciate the input. 

 

I didn't mean to imply that the otters presence would have a detremental impact on the body of water, as a whole, as the lake is approximately 18,000 acres. I was just curious if it would cause me to find an alternative location. Being a bank beater, options can get to be a challenge. But with the weather shifting to spring, the wildlife is increasingly becoming more active. 

Edited March 5, 2017 by Crop9
Stupid phone and fat fingers can't spell.

[jr231]

Hopefully, right.? I don't think fishing near them is the best idea , for two reasons. 

 

The first, simply being that it will probably have your target fish on edge.. wary of the otter and either going to leave or not move much. 

 

The second, If you do manage to hook a nice fish, there is more than a slight chance the otter can meet your catch before you do. 

[HeavyDluxe]

That's a horse of a different color...  My answer would be maybe.  I've fished near otters and caught 'em, and other times not.  Hard to tell whether that's the conditions in that spot or the otter.  

 

If you're not getting enough joy out of watching the otter to make up for the lack of 'catching', I'd try and move.  I like watching them - and other wildlife I run into - almost as much as I like a tight line.

 

 

OK, I like it quite a bit... but I prefer tight lines.  Sorry for telling fibs.

[Crop9]

I am the same way. I got into fishing to get a "hobby to release stress from work" at my wifes request. The peacefulness of watching him was very enjoyable. I am just trying to understand the big picture. 

[fishnkamp]

Crop9  Hi. Where were you fishing on Center Hill. My wife and I fished a few years back. We had paid Craig Powers ( a TN pro on the FLW series to guide us or two days. Man that lake can be amazing!!  I caught my pb 7 pound Kentucky spot there along with some big smallies.  There are some great places to fish on that lake, but it is a bit tougher without a boat.  Give me a pm and we can go over some locations. I also recommend fishing with a guide for an incredible experience.  We stayed at the Lakeside Resort (which has changed names and I think it is closed now. ) but it is located just south of the 56 bridge.

[Crop9]

I primarily park near lakeside  (actually Pucketts Point, just down highway 56) or at Johnsons Chapel. The lake is amazing, but definitely challenging at times. With the water level at its current level, I can definitely get to many spots, last summer when the water was really low it was a challenge to fish from the bank. 

[Bluebasser86]

I agree that it sounds like an otter to me. I've never had any luck fishing around them, and I've seen them wipe out one of the best ponds I've ever fished. 6 adult otters showed up at a 5 acre pond one spring. Pond was full of big bass and huge crappie. By the end of the summer, it was a chore to catch much of anything. Obviously not going to have that impact on a reservoir, but they're bad news for a small body of water. Very entertaining animals to watch though. 

[TOXIC]

Better an otter than a dang Cormorant.  

[A-Jay]

16 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Better an otter than a dang Cormorant.  

Yup ~

Or an obsessed & fairly psychotic LOON.

A-Jay

[TOXIC]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Yup ~

Or an obsessed & fairly psychotic LOON.

A-Jay

OR an oversexed male Swan protecting it's territory!!  

[A-Jay]

On ‎3‎/‎6‎/‎2017 at 9:50 AM, TOXIC said:

OR an oversexed male Swan protecting it's territory!!  

LOL ~

Swans always look a little bigger close up and they can definitely get pretty intense.

But once you wade past the mostly useless beak, that long neck does make a fairly decent handle.

A-Jay

[WRB]

Sometimes it's good to sit back and smell the roses or in this case watch the otters. Soon you will looking for those otters and only seeing wake boats, jets ski and hearing boom boxes.

Enjoy your limited time on the water and you will catch more bass.

Tom

 

[gim]

I hear a nice otter pelt is worth some decent coin on the fur market.

[Ktho]

If the otter is eating the bass it might turn them off, but at least you know where some bass are. If it's eating bait I doubt it'd effect the bass at all. If it's just playing around I don't think the bass would mind either. 

[Catch 22]

18 hours ago, A-Jay said:

LOL ~

Swans always look a little bigger close up and they can definitely get pretty intense.

But once you wade past the mostly useless beak, that long neck does make a fairly decent handle.

A-Jay

My laugh of the day,thanks

[frosty]

On 3/6/2017 at 9:55 AM, A-Jay said:

LOL ~

Swans always look a little bigger close up and they can definitely get pretty intense.

But once you wade past the mostly useless beak, that long neck does make a fairly decent handle.

A-Jay

I'd take the loon and swan over a Canada goose any day! I stumbled out of some brush I was less than gracefully crashing through coming about 6 inches from mama goose on her nest  she was not a happy mama, I'm sure to her I looked like a drunk bear coming out of that brush! 

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, frosty said:

I'd take the loon and swan over a Canada goose any day! I stumbled out of some brush I was less than gracefully crashing through coming about 6 inches from mama goose on her nest  she was not a happy mama, I'm sure to her I looked like a drunk bear coming out of that brush! 

 

I hear ya -

 But still, just a lot noise & a bad attitude.

No Teeth.

I bet she could have inflicted one heck of good pinch though  ..  ..  ..  ..

A-Jay

[frosty]

Just now, A-Jay said:

 

I hear ya -

 But still, just a lot noise & a bad attitude.

No Teeth.

I guess she could have inflicted one heck of  good pinch though  ..  ..  ..  ..

A-Jay

Have you seen the claws on those feet? No thank you. They grab you with the beak, stick the claws in and beat the crap out of you with those wings! 

[A-Jay]

Just now, frosty said:

Have you seen the claws on those feet? No thank you. They grab you with the beak, stick the claws in and beat the crap out of you with those wings! 

 

I know - just having a little fun ~

I always give all those Crazy honkers a Wide Berth !

A-Jay

[frosty]

11 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

I know - just having a little fun ~

I always give all those Crazy honkers a Wide Berth !

A-Jay

 Was just watching YouTube videos of geese attacks  last year there was a flock that took up residence on a small public pond I fish, it doesn't get very many people cause it's a solid mile walk. Those geese were very polite and well behaved, they had babies with them and they didn't seem overly concerned about my presence. Seems the less exposed to people they are the less aggressive they are. 

[IndianaFinesse]

1 hour ago, frosty said:

I'd take the loon and swan over a Canada goose any day! I stumbled out of some brush I was less than gracefully crashing through coming about 6 inches from mama goose on her nest  she was not a happy mama, I'm sure to her I looked like a drunk bear coming out of that brush! 

Those things aren't very friendly, and a mama goose is a fight waiting to happen.  I have a small (15 pound) dog, who was unfortunate enough to decide she wanted to chase a mama goose who had half a dozen goslings.  She ran up to the geese at full speed while barking and growling like she was going to tear there heads off, until the mama goose spread her wings and hissed at her.  My dog immediately stopped in her tracks and dropped to the ground whimpering, before turning around and running away.  On a side note, she has never chased or harassed another goose after that incident.

[PECo]

If the animal you saw was smaller than you think an otter would be, it's possible that you saw an American mink. They often have white fur on their chins. They're fairly common up here in Connecticut and are much better fishers than men.