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I had an otter give me a savage liner on St Ives, swam through with no fear then just went underwater never to be seen again once it clocked me, I found lots of evidence on there though a dead pike, loads of zebra mussels all over the bank, I seemed to think there didn't seem as many birds on the lake I am fishing now earlier this year, but last time I thought there were more so I will keep an eye on them this winter see if they dwindle again, that could be the duck eating catfish I've heard about though 😬

Many thanks for all your help , everyone . Later this week I hope to visit the lake again , and have a mooch around the far ( out of bounds ) margins to see if there are any more corpses - hopefully not . 😔

Like it - can I borrow your dog mine would run the other way lol It was amazing hearing the Coot alarm calls sounding around the lakes - I will remember that for a long time. I think 99% of the anglers around the lake were completely unaware.

I'd agree with this - sounds like an otter unfortunately. I was on one of the busiest waters in the country a few weeks back on a full lake, had to call the bailiff first night as an otter swim past my rod tips at dusk, spent the next 3 nights on watch. Whilst I didn't see him second night the Coots gave his presence away by calling out to one another in turn around the lake - then the next lake and so on until I had a 360 degree chorus. It was a real Terry Hearn and the Fox and Pheasants moment. These hand reared otters have zero fear of humans, every swim is taken, many anglers have dogs yet here he is bold as brass!

Molasses is a blooming horrible though makes everything stink and go sticky, but it does seem to work, I use it with pigeon conditioner mainly

The particle will be used on my club lake, but mainly will be used on the Canal, also got 25kg of Aller Aqua Pellets to go with it.

Take some maggots next time. A few pints of reds will have them, especially if you're seeing fizzing up. If you see fish showing but no fizzing then chances are they're up in the water column and zigs may well do you a bite.