So I saw a couple videos on you tube where a guy puts large fishing lures on his 330 triggers for otter. Couldn't really see how he affixed the lures. May just wire it on. But my other question is anyone try this with 220s or are they to small for this method? Thanks in advance for your help.

I've only trapped 2 otter, so my advice is worth exactly what you pay for it. The 1st otter I caught was in a 330 with a small spinner spoon thingy attached to a trigger wire. I just bent a tiny loop in the very end of the trigger wire and attached the spinner with a snap swivel. I tried a larger fish type lure, but the current and debris would trip the trap every other day or so. It might work better in calmer water.

Forget the gimics KISS

Catch 'm where, they show you, where they want Kilt

That's the conclusion I came to. Just more junk for debris to build up on.

Well that is all good advice but I have very little sign so I want to get some sets that can wait out. I walked as much of the river that I have permission and found 2 spots it came up the bank to eat saw a claim shell at one spot. Other than these couple spots nothing else. In my walking I found one spot a tree fell and narrowed the 20ft wide river so I'll place a 330 and fence it. Any other sugestions?

If otter are using the creek/river ya just got to find the pinch points for those conis & there's got to be crossover somewhere? Small tribs entering river? where a coni would be perfect. Large trunk/root at shore where some water filters around? As far as bait on trigger ya can drill hole thru lure to put trigger wire into. I've experimented with mice on trigger wires for mink by piercing mice with a trigger. Must be in protected water though because of leaves/debris

For foot hold sets, An old friend of my father used take chunked up fish and pack them in salt. I think that he caught more Otter than law allows.

Here's what I came up with. I put a soft plastic minnow on the trigger attached the 220 to a branch then wired off to dead fall tree. The paddle tail wiggles like its supposed to lolOnly time will tell. Most of the other sets have been a mess for me with freeze thaw conditions.

morefuninajeep do ya put trigger/dog on top, bottom, or side?

Trigger is on side facing stick so the trap is down stream from the vertical stick with the trigger protected. I bent the springs in a little to make room for the dog to pop off and wired them to the stick. Hope this deflects any debris.

i think a 280 would be a better tool for the job personally.

Also there’s no floating debris to deal with using Bottom Edge sets.

I recall reading years ago about a set in FFG that used a hookless spoon or spinner as visual attractant for trapping. The set described used two footholds on each side of the fishing lure in fairly shallow water. I can think of easier ways to target otter, however it is always fun to try something new.

They use to sell a double jointed minnow that was about 8" long for otter trapping. It had a hole through the top of the head and you stuck a rod through It and anchored the minnow up stream from your trap. I use to have some but don't know what became of them. Never tried It.

Otters get out and up on the bank to poop and they often use the same trails. Find the trails and the poop. Their scat typically has tons of fish scales and/or crawfish groundings in it. Once you find that, they’re goners.

Bottom edge sets are usually pretty good for catching otter also.

Where to find otter sign?

While facing up stream.
Look on the right side,under the most outstanding evergreen
Look close and you will also find mink sign.

I saw a guy wires a chub to the trigger

Several years ago, there was a writer/trapper from Canada. Nova Scotia I think. He said otters were on all the docks crapping up a storm and making the owners both mad and frustrated. Don’t know who came up with the set but they put a 1-2 pound fish across the inside bottom of a square plastic pail. They put a decent sized rock under the fish. Holes may have been drilled in the bucket to sink it. And a 220 across the open face of the bucket.

These buckets were hung in the water at the end of the docks. Most as I recall were in clear water and the bucket was on the bottom. As I recall, this set up took care of the otter problems.

If you’ve got otter traffic, find a deep hole or at least water deep enough to sink an upright bucket. Set up the bucket as written above. Wire it to a stake or pole near by.

I tried the lures on 330 triggers with no luck. The otter was getting on boat docks making messes. So it was a nuisance control job. I took shad wire to triggers . I took 6 otters off that one dock. I had to take a limb hang off the side of dock below it. The dock was setting in 40 ft of water. I did use otter lure right above the set. 3 other trappers had been in there trying to catch them with no luck. I picked up a dz Beisle 220 bt. The dock owner give me.

I was going to make a mink set like this. I was going to put the minnow on differently though. Making the minnow look like it was swimming. So down through the back and out the bottom. Pinch a small split shot underneath it on the trigger to keep it on. This way with current, the fish minnow would look like it's swimming.