I've used Backbreaker with success for otter but was wondering if a lure for a different animal would work as a curiosity attractant. Does anyone on here use anything other than a castor lure or a specific otter lure with any success ? Thanks in advance

Have caught a lot of dry land otter. Almost all in blind sets, in places where this just wasn't convenient or otter got wary of bodygrips have successfully used various lured foothold sets. Have also caught quite a few as incidentals in castor mounds open water beaver trapping. imo castor is about as good as anything, but have used commercial otter or mink gland lures as well. This is at a toilet and not pulling them far, just putting their foot in the trap.

I used to catch about one per year in coon buckets baited with fish, when I lived at the coast.

If at all possible focus on blind sets for otter. Trying to lure them is not a winning strategy for the most part. You're much more likely to have those lured sets worked by coon or other furbearers.

HAVING SAID THAT....if you can get some toilet materials from another toilet (scat and peed on leaves and grass) then you have a potential winner.

I one time caught a female with a swelled vagina and still some urine in the bladder and that urine (on q tips) helped me catch a potful of nice big males off of some toilets.

The strippings out of the intestines on those hot females works to mix it with the urine and chopped up female parts

Caught big male in coyote scent post with canine call on a pond dam.

I have only caught 5 otter so my experience is extremely limited. 2 were blind sets and 3 were baited and lured. Plastic fishing lure on coni triggers with some sort of lure attractant in the immediate area to get their attention. This last time it was otter gland lure. Time before that it was a commercial coon lure. But I don't truly know if the lure helped draw them to the sets, because they were already using the area.

Ive caught a few along rivers in pocket sets...but most of mine are caught in Blind trail sets or necked down locations under ice.

Dig a big old gawdy dirt hole in a toilet area and bed a foothold there. Killer set, and no lure needed, just a big gawdy hole.

I don't know anything about trapping under ice or in snow, but 280's in blind sets crossing pond and lake dams are about all I use, though they may not be legal in some states. Used a lot of snares for otter in the past, but they are sure hard on cable and result in occasional losses, unless they are set up to drown. I've been surprised at how many big beaver have been snagged in the 280's also. I usually put the trigger wires top center, doesn't seem to bother them, but there will still be some hip catches on otter. If the trail doesn't pass thru tall grass/weeds/brush, I usually scrounge up something to camo the set with, just to keep them honest. After the 1st couple of nights, not too many coons because they work around the water's edge. Usually catch 4 or 5 bobcats in the 280's every season, always in real tight places in trails with some weeds or brush bent over top of the trap. I do this because occasionally a big otter will decide to go over the trap, especially if it's headed downhill. Never tried to lure a set for otter, but a few guys that catch more than I
do have told me that they can be pulled from the water while swimming past with mink gland lure. Said they
will kill every mink they can catch. Have snared a few at artificial castor mound beaver sets with a dab of Backbreaker on a twig. Pretty sure Paul's big dirt hole at a toilet would work as well, but I would rather try to
catch them where they are coming out of the water to visit. If the approach is too open, just use brush, dead limbs, etc. to narrow it down to fit whatever you're using. I should add that coyotes, fox, cats and some other of MM's favorite animals find otter scat very attractive. Also, will say that after you learn how to make a good otter set or 2, patience is your best friend. They travel a lot, and it's easier to wait on them than try to get ahead of them. Kinda like a cat, if they've been there before, it may take 3 days or 3 weeks, but they will
very likely pass back through in just about the same spot. After you catch a few and learn what to look for, things begin to get easier, just as it does with any other animal. I hope a few folks find some of this info useful, it has served me well in both fur trapping and ADC work.

I have quite a bit of success with otter and I agree with almost everything said in the previous post. Good job etxwoods.

I quit using snares for otter when the first three otters I caught all got got entangled before they could drown and broke the cables. They were double swiveled too.

Make a pocket set and bait with fish or muskrat. When they come through they will work your sets. Wish they weren't attracted to the sets, but unfortunately I've had to release 25 to 30 over the last 10 years or so that find my pocket sets interesting.

Paul, I know this is a stupid question but do you cover the trap after bedding or just leave it exposed at the dirt hole.

^^^^
This.
About the only place I use "otter" lure (actually anything I have handy) will be at a toilet set, just to get them to slow down and investigate the spot where I have my foothold (#48 Newhouse) set.

Salmon oil

Crawdad oil.

Otter lure is a great change up lure for coyotes and bobcats.