I have watched several videos of some sort of a set with a 330 and a fishing lure. Has anyone had much luck with these? Good or bad?
My daughter has a couple weeks of Christmas vacation soon and we are determined to fill a couple otter tags, I can see were these sets would fit in during the winter.
I usually fill the otter tag I get in the spring, which is easy when things don't freeze every night.
Will go and buy some musky baits if anyone has had any success with these.
thanks

I'm no otter expert but I catch several every season. The best way to catch otter IMHO is to get them as the travel between water bodies. Find the ditch or trickle that connects a pond to another pond, a pond to a creek or river, or a small ditch connecting two sides of an oxbow. Set those small travel waterways with 280s or 330s, whichever fits best (even a 220 if the waterway is really small) and be sure to gang set it. Doubles and triples are very possible. Where I live the bigger bodygrips have to be in water so this is how I do things. It may take days before the otters come through, but they will. Sets near active toilets are also a good bet.

I think the foam/plastic type trout are the best. Try this.

that is a interesting concept i will agree!

maybe lightly wire it to the outside of 330 top end opposite the trigger 6 " if you have enough current and let us know?

I toyed with soft baits on coni wires for mink. I caught some, but i'm not sure if it would be something to produce where other sets wouldn't.

I see lures like you share the picture of for sale on ebay cheap. Thought it might be something to try. There are other ways to catch them. And in the spring it is almost too easy. This time of the year it seems they move around here less. And the river freezes out a foot or two from the bank almost every night. I have a few deeper pools were they seem to fish. A lot of times they will drag the fish up onto the ices shelf and eat. Checking to see if anyone has set near ice shelfs like this. They come in and out of the water very randomly.

I think you have to do a figure 8 with your 330 for best results.
All kidding aside- I'm interested to hear if anyone has tried it with a high degree of success, I have the same plan for Christmas vacation.

Those ice shelves are super highways for mink. Find a pinch-point on them and your golden.

I have heard of smelt being used. But the otters only some through every week or so in a lot of places. By that time the smelt be might not look to good to an otter. I would guess this would be a low percentage set, but could be used anyplace and with the clear stable water levels during the winter would remain set for a long time with no matienance.

You can get them with beaver castor.

I suppose you could always use the vertical white bucket with the fake trout pinned to the bottom with a 220 attached to the bucket opening set NEasterners and Canadians use off their piers. Sink the bucket where there is a 3-4 ft deep spot and tie off to an overhanging branch or log

Keep your baits and lures for coon and such. At best a lure for otter will only move them a few feet out of their way. Of course there are always exceptions, but in my experience lures and baits are an utter waste of time when pursuing otters. Toilets and blind sets in their travel ways are the way to go.

Totally gimmicky. Like Anthony said, look for channels, etc. Otter are easy to catch if you put your bodygrip in the right place. There are no shortcuts to consistent success.

That would be my 4th choice set out of 4. I prefer 660's , 330, and 280's under ice. 220's in their tracks going through weeds connecting waterways.

Never tried it for otter, but they work with a 110 or a 150 for mink.

I use these with good success. But I only trap my pond. Just stick them on the trigger wire. Even good for 2 lb bass. Heat up the peanut oil.

Occasionally, I've caught an otter on a bucket set, pocket set, or some of these mentioned. But, most of them I've caught has been on blind sets with a 330.

Just a old idea of mine for the high creek banks in my area. Basically a roll cage effecr. The minnow has a swivel on it so it will move freely in the current like a real fished the trap will function I basically any manner it settles on. Never tried it but dontsee why it wouldn't work

Our large coastal land ,river otter have been duped by some tinsel and a small plastic crab in the back of a square bucket with a 220 wired in.

I could see that working for mink. Interesting thought for a changeup type set if a person has the time and eagerness to try something different.