Scouting a few places to set for next season and am looking for some help. I have it pretty well figured out how to block otters down and set pinch points in smaller creeks, but the bigger ones I still struggle with. I am trying to stay fairly close to the road so that I can be efficient and cover lots of ground. No sense in walking half a mile from the road to find a good pinch down location. I know there are otters using these creeks, but finding tracks/trails in these rocks is nearly impossible

I think these creeks will have to be set with bottom edge style sets, but I am nowhere near an expert on this.

I will attach a few pics with some places circled that I think would make good bottom edge sets. Also drawn are blue arrows that depict the water flow. I am naturally drawn to root balls and steep banks as this is what I have had some limited success with in the past, but some bridges are just featureless with straight banks. Should I avoid these featureless areas?

I have several low bridges as shown in one of the pics. Will the otters go under/through these bridges or up and over them?

How would you set these locations?

Thanks in advance!

Looks like a road running parallell to the creek.
Set any ditches crossing that road that drain into the creek,especially if they come from ponds or a lake.

Boco you are correct. In the picture of the low bridge there is a road running parallel for a ways. Unfortunately no drains or ponds coming into it

Even the smallest trickle feeding into that creek will get otter visits, particularly in high water events. I think bottom edge sets would work from what I see in your pics.

Was hoping you would weigh in BP. I will absolutely set whatever drainages flow into the larger creeks, but I really can't venture too far from the bridges without losing all of my efficiency.

I am hoping to set 12-15 of these at a time next season and check them all in 2 hours or less including drive time from stop to stop. My time to check traps every day is 4:30-6:30 am as I work full time 7-5.

In your map, is that a dam in the river that causes the widening at the top? If so, there's got to be routes over/around it. I'd also look for any points that stick out from the bank and set a BE there.

No sir it's not, creek just has a funky island/bend type deal in it there and the map doesn't show it very accurately. Not many beaver in these rocky fast flowing creeks we have here. Probably still a good point of interest, but about 500 yards from the bridge. Can get permission on that bridge but not on up the creek where it narrows/widens. I am trying to limit my setting to the immediate area of the bridge anyway, just for efficiency's sake. Those pics are all different bridges too, should have said that earlier. Not just the one

A bit more work, but you could use panels and block the entire stream and place multiple BGs in the gaps. This will take longer to set up but will greatly increase your check time efficiency. Plus EVERY otter (or beaver) coming up/ down will be captured. And the doubles or triples....if you set the traps.

I like that Swamp Wolf. I don't mind extra set time. Only drawback would be possible theft since it would be beside the road. I don't like it when Belisles grow legs

Could you get away with swamps idea directly under the culvert? Could potentially put on on each side and leave enough room for a 330 on the edges. Would be like having 2-4 bottom edge sets per culvert hole. If you get robbed, you’ll lose a lot of equipment at once going that route

Gonna have to be very slick with any set if theft is likely there.

I dont set those type locations here. Just asking for it...and you will be seen stopping there.

If you have permission....move away from view of public roadway.

We have no ROW trapping here, it is all permission only. Still, I would be concerned with people stopping and stealing, even if it was trespassing. Not high traffic areas by any means but you can’t trust people anymore.

Especially at the low water bridges, very easy to get to the water. Another issue would be logs washing down the creek. Every time it rains debris gets washed down. You can see under the bridge where they have cut the trees with a chainsaw to try to help the blockages. Great ideas though guys this is definitely helpful

Is that power line right of way grown up? It may hold a terrestrial snack for Mr. Otter? Footholds a no go?

I spend a lot time trapping otters, where I live we have more otters per square acre than 99% of North America. I have spent a lot of time with biologist and I have areas I use as a lab so to say, where I can try various techniques, traps, baits, etc. One thing I have learned is I stay off of main waterways. The reasons are otters are nomads, and they will go all over a waterway, being hard to channel. Next is theft, even on private property. If I do work a couple of sets on a main waterway, its normally a pocket as otters love to work the banks.

Otters are land mammals that frequent the water. The most successful sets I have had is catching them on their cross country routes. Set both ends of the route, and several along the route. If you are restricted to the main waterway find where they are coming and going. On their routes they are lumbering along following a route. Once they hit the water, no matter what anyone says, they do not have fixed routes or routines in bigger waterways.

Almost all the otter I have caught been in either blind or bottom Edge sets unless caught incidentally trapping for something else. With that being said I would be tempted to try one of the tube sets at one of the bigger pools on the creek where the otter might be more apt to be fishing. With that type of a rocky Creek where you are trapping I would think they would be effective. Google tube traps for otter if you are not acquainted with this type of set. Experimenting and trying new methods is all a part of trapping. Good luck.

This is all great info! The idea of the tube set had me start considering baited sets. I would much rather blind set, but I got to thinking and may be onto something that would be the best of both worlds.

The first pic is supposed to show a bridge such as the low bridge I posted a picture of. These bridges have continuous concrete walls through the center. You could set up against this wall, basically like a bottom edge, but smear bait/squirt fish oil on the concrete wall on either side of the trap to make the otter “work” your set.



This second pic would be the larger bridges that have deeper pilings. This idea is basically the same idea as the beaver snare pole set with castor smeared up the pole. I have done well with beaver in this set and don’t see why it couldn’t work for otter on a bridge piling. Same premise, set trap beside piling and smear bait above it to make the otter circle the piling. The pic shows 2 ideas of stabilizing the trap, tall H stand or sticks.

Try Caven's Otter Lure Supreme on the bridge piling walls. I have caught many otter in dirthole sets at otter toilets on that lure only. That lure is pasty and will smear.

I will give it a shot for sure. Also doing some research I came across the Lenon all call set. I think this could work well beside some of the bridges with steeper banks. Sort of like the old 2-3 hole pocket set but with the pockets much higher

You might try a big hole in the side of the bank(like a beaver bank den, doesn’t have to be that big). Use a foothold on a drowner.

I've noticed otters tend to go over culverts occasionally go around bridges. I think they like the rush of running down the bank and into the water. You can often find the crossovers where the would do this.
I haven't caught many otter due to my state's limit so I haven't used many sets other than just blind sets.
Don't be afraid to put 6-8 traps at a location to help learn good trap locations based off what produces.