otter killing flatheads?
#6898698
06/13/20 06:07 PM
06/13/20 06:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,866 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
OP
"Grumpy Old Man"
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OP
"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,866
williamsburg ks
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Seems like flathead catch is slowing around here. Started about the time otter began showing up. Otter are EVERYWHERE in E. Kansas now. Not an animal I have much experience with. Are they killing flatheads while they are on the nest?
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: otter killing flatheads?
[Re: danny clifton]
#6898699
06/13/20 06:09 PM
06/13/20 06:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716
Sandhills Nebraska
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My guess is otter could kill any fish they want to, any time of year. They are a cool aminal, but a little bit goes a long ways. They are destructive. Creek chubs and bluegill/sunfish here in the crick has dropped bad the last 5 yrs. We have lots of otter.
Last edited by Gary Benson; 06/13/20 06:11 PM.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: otter killing flatheads?
[Re: danny clifton]
#6898771
06/13/20 08:01 PM
06/13/20 08:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5,777 central Illinois
yoteguts
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5,777
central Illinois
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Same thing happened her after otter introduction. Flatheads travel up the river during high water and get stranded in pools when it goes down some. Before the otter no biggy they just head back to the lake when the water comes back up. After the otter came they died in the pools during low water. It is amazing how big a fish otter or group of otters can kill. I was a serious flathead trotliner during this time. The bigger male flatheads took a big hit when the water levels were wrong for them. They haven’t recovered 50lb plus fish are getting harder to come by every year. Smaller fish can navigate shallow water much better. I caught my limit of five otter in a feeder creek that dumps into our river in 6 nights with only three traps. We have otter everywhere. Coyotes of the water.
I'm itchin' to see a coyote twitchin'.
More trappin' and less yappin'.
Member FTA & USSA.
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Re: otter killing flatheads?
[Re: danny clifton]
#6898864
06/13/20 10:08 PM
06/13/20 10:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,946 Aliceville, Kansas 43
Yukon John
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,946
Aliceville, Kansas 43
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I have channel in my pond, and others as well, this winter I had an otter come into my pond, and start killing my channel. It would only eat the fish from the ribs back. I do not like otters at all!
Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
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Re: otter killing flatheads?
[Re: Marty B]
#6898867
06/13/20 10:09 PM
06/13/20 10:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,850 Northern Maine
Bruce T
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,850
Northern Maine
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[quote=Marty BOn a positive note it looks like NE got a new state record for rod n reel, at 89lbs.[/quote] Nice
Nevada bound
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Re: otter killing flatheads?
[Re: danny clifton]
#6899264
06/14/20 11:55 AM
06/14/20 11:55 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,738 Iowa
coydog2
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,738
Iowa
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Years ago when I went to a pond I was ice fishing that the otters had pop a hole on the edge of the ice where there is brush and ate some catfish and all is left is the head.
Life member of DAV,NTA,NRA,ITA.Also member of FTA,CBA
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Re: otter killing flatheads?
[Re: danny clifton]
#6899298
06/14/20 12:35 PM
06/14/20 12:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,830 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,830
Wisconsin
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I know they eat turtles. I watched a family of 6 otters take turns diving off a root ball and catching pond sliders. They would eat off the legs and the heads and go get another one.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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