Caught my first otter in a pocket set and have caught a few since in pockets. Pockets I caught them in were made for coon though.

Thanks for the picture, I’ll be sure to try that! One issue I might have is having deep enough water. Would a 280 still be effective if I don’t have enough water for a 330 to be fully submerged?

Good to know, I will have to try one to see if I can get one before a coon plugs it up

Just go out a little deeper to get the 330 under and add more fence. I am sure a 280 will work fine it's just not quite as big and inviting. I caught otter easily last year later in the season than this, but this year they have avoided sets that caught more than one last year. They get smart and avoid them, caught one right away with the shoreline set where the trap was hidden with sticks underwater.

Get that set on a inside corner of a stream and is very deadly on otter.

Roger that, I’ll be sure to try it out and let you know if I’m successful, thank you!

An option for a bucket set is to sink one in a pool above a culvert, out from a beaver house or another spot otter are working. In the bucket place a brick with a fish wired to it and then place a 220 in the bucket opening. Works best under the ice with an anchor wire or cable coming up to the surface attached to the trap and the bucket. A white bucket is a must for this to work to catch the otters attention along with a light colored fish to contrast with the brick. A double pocket is another option, however you will more likely catch coon. The blind sets others have mentioned are always a good bet.

Is it beneficial to use a lure in the area in hopes of getting an otter to work the set? Are they very responsive to lure?

You mentioned no trails on either side of culvert, try looking farther out on each side.

Yes they will....if you can set overland trails leaving beaver ponds ...trails otter use on land pond to pond. I use 220's set with 2 12" galvanized twisted nails between the spring loops.

All 4 of mine this year were taken in creeks leading to Beaver ponds
All 330 or 660 blind sets

YES.
IMO a 330-size trap is a poor choice for otter unless it is fully submerged.
For fast moving otter’s a 330-size trap quite often closes on them to far back resulting in poor hip catches that don’t dispatch them quickly. My experience with the smaller 280 is that it closes faster and results in fewer, if any, poor catches. The 280 will also capture more of the incidental mink and muskrats that often trigger 330 beaver and otter sets without getting caught. Thus, it is the ultimate otter trap IMO.

Thank you, do you think setting them on the bottom edge of said culvert would be effective for me?