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Bait and lure for otter #8084507
02/23/24 03:11 PM
02/23/24 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 293
North East Utah
That.darn.coon Offline OP
trapper
That.darn.coon  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 293
North East Utah
What are you guys using for bait and lure for otter?


******* I save my sick days, because come winter, I'm gonna have a bad case of trappin fever *******
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8084519
02/23/24 03:35 PM
02/23/24 03:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,475
South Ga - Almost Florida
S
Swamp Wolf Offline
trapper
Swamp Wolf  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,475
South Ga - Almost Florida
Don't need any unless you're setting pocket or dirthole sets for otter. Even then...no bait needed...just a curiosity-type lure (skunky, tonquin, mink musk). All bait will do is catch coons.

Set blind sets at crossovers and crawlouts.


Thank God For Your Blessings!
Never Half-Arse Anything!

Resource Protection Service

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8084562
02/23/24 05:13 PM
02/23/24 05:13 PM
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 42
AK
B
BillNye Offline
trapper
BillNye  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 42
AK
I have caught them using shiny salmon skin wrapped around the trigger of a 330 suspended under ice. I hear a realistic fish lure with no hooks can work as well

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8084582
02/23/24 05:28 PM
02/23/24 05:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 242
South Louisiana
T
Trappeur Gunny Offline
trapper
Trappeur Gunny  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 242
South Louisiana
Down here if you use bait the weather has to be cold as if it gets a little rancid the otters will turn their nose up at it. There is just too much fresh food to compete with. Normally if you are going to bait them a dirt hole or pocket set with beaver castor or bobcat gland lure will attract them. I like to make a mulitple pocket set with two to three holes with a trap in the middle. I put castor in one, bobcat in one, and maybe muskrat or mink in the other. They will go from hole to hole with thier head.

Like Swamp Wolf said, bait will catch coons. Focus on crossovers, toilets, runs, etc.

I carpet bomb the area they are working with bodygrips, snares and footholds. Sooner or later they will come flying into a trap.

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: BillNye] #8084685
02/23/24 07:33 PM
02/23/24 07:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,570
Aliceville, Kansas 44
Yukon John Offline
trapper
Yukon John  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,570
Aliceville, Kansas 44
Originally Posted by BillNye
I have caught them using shiny salmon skin wrapped around the trigger of a 330 suspended under ice. I hear a realistic fish lure with no hooks can work as well

Just had a thought...anyone ever just use foil on the trigger?


Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8084985
02/24/24 07:21 AM
02/24/24 07:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,907
Manitoba
Shakeyjake Offline
trapper
Shakeyjake  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,907
Manitoba
I’ve gotten a few otter under the ice this year in my beaver sets. Wanted to try baiting the trigger with a smelt or a Zman scented bait used for fishing. I would think it’d have to be scented because how well can they see in the dark, under snow covered ice? I’ve got some glow paint I haven’t tried yet either, say it glows for about a day…might bring it along this weekend lol.

Last edited by Shakeyjake; 02/24/24 07:22 AM.

Wind Blew, crap flew, out came the line crew
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8085086
02/24/24 09:23 AM
02/24/24 09:23 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,846
S.E. Ohio
M
M.Magis Offline
trapper
M.Magis  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,846
S.E. Ohio
How would scent be beneficial under water?

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8085107
02/24/24 09:53 AM
02/24/24 09:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 859
Washington
J
Jingles Offline
trapper
Jingles  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 859
Washington
Being as can only use cage/swim through traps I have had success hanging fish carcass down stream flow of the trigger with trap completely submerged.


The job of a Patriot is not to protect his country but to protect the people from the tryannical government
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8085143
02/24/24 10:44 AM
02/24/24 10:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,114
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,114
Oregon
To the novice otter trapper my advice is always the same: leave the scent and bait notions for catching coons and muskrats. Think blind sets and look for where they travel, pinch points toilets etc. When you do that you can start to catch otter on a regular basis.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8085169
02/24/24 11:27 AM
02/24/24 11:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4,136
Hi-Line Montana
Wild_Idaho Offline
trapper
Wild_Idaho  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4,136
Hi-Line Montana
Muskrat carcass in a milk crate with a 330 in the opening has worked several times for me. I used that for Marina trapping. Make sure it's on a drowner as they tend to want to reach inside. [Linked Image]


Real name Eric
The sharpest hammer in the box of crayons.

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8087378
02/27/24 11:06 AM
02/27/24 11:06 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,795
100 Mile House, BC Can
Bait and lure is for other critters. For productive otter sets do as "beaverpeeler" suggest.

Last edited by bctomcat; 02/27/24 09:37 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: Shakeyjake] #8087447
02/27/24 12:28 PM
02/27/24 12:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 47,433
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 47,433
james bay frontierOnt.
Originally Posted by Shakeyjake
I’ve gotten a few otter under the ice this year in my beaver sets. Wanted to try baiting the trigger with a smelt or a Zman scented bait used for fishing. I would think it’d have to be scented because how well can they see in the dark, under snow covered ice? I’ve got some glow paint I haven’t tried yet either, say it glows for about a day…might bring it along this weekend lol.

Dont waste your time using all that gimmicky stuff. Make blind sets where they travel,at pinch points,or make pinch points like the Millette set,if you have the right locations to construct. That will catch every otter travelling a drainage.Gang set for otter and dont expect action right away as otter have fairly large home ranges,but always use the same routes when they come thru.Some places they only visit a few times in a season,other places as much as weekly.Pay attention to where and when you see otter sign in winter and you can often time them pretty close.
Late winter they really move on top.Dead beaver ponds are good spots for otter sets at this time of year.

Last edited by Boco; 02/27/24 12:37 PM.

Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8087701
02/27/24 07:32 PM
02/27/24 07:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 92
Monticello, Ga
Rick Johnson Offline
trapper
Rick Johnson  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 92
Monticello, Ga
I caught some with a fish wired in the back of a bucket set. I catch more setting crossovers, slides and channels though

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8087735
02/27/24 08:13 PM
02/27/24 08:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 17,631
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
~ADC~  Offline
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 17,631
Iowa
Before they were legal to keep here, most incidentals were caught in baited pocket sets, baited with fish or fish based baits. To say bait won't catch them is just plain wrong, at least in this area. Now some people are targeting them in cross overs and such with body grippers since we can keep them now. That works well too. I had to add otters to the labels on my Shellfish Payback bait after multiple buyers commented they can't keep otters away from it. Now folks buy it to target otters in PVC pipe & elbows, smear sets and pockets.

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8087839
02/27/24 10:27 PM
02/27/24 10:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,114
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,114
Oregon
I'm not saying that a bait can't catch an otter, but in my experience where I tried for years to catch otter (mostly unsuccessfully) baits were an extremely low percentage set more apt to catch other unwanteds rather than otter. Mostly otters ignored baits and other gizmos in my early experimentation.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8087892
02/28/24 12:13 AM
02/28/24 12:13 AM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,189
sseMinnesota
blackhammer Offline
trapper
blackhammer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,189
sseMinnesota
Bait equals coon plain and simple. I target them In pinch points with conibears and have little problem getting my limit of four. [Linked Image] A decent multi species day.

Last edited by blackhammer; 02/28/24 12:14 AM.

Ah,for the life of a millionaire,say some,but just let me stay a trapper. Bill Nelson
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8087901
02/28/24 04:30 AM
02/28/24 04:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,080
SE Kentucky
K
kytrapper Offline
trapper
kytrapper  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,080
SE Kentucky
Hal Sullivan sums it up in his otter book to me. “ I don’t make otter sets, I find otter sets. “

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: kytrapper] #8088103
02/28/24 10:44 AM
02/28/24 10:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,114
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
trapper
beaverpeeler  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,114
Oregon
Originally Posted by kytrapper
Hal Sullivan sums it up in his otter book to me. “ I don’t make otter sets, I find otter sets. “


Perfect!


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: That.darn.coon] #8088378
02/28/24 05:29 PM
02/28/24 05:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,846
S.E. Ohio
M
M.Magis Offline
trapper
M.Magis  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,846
S.E. Ohio
I think everyone knows blinds sets are the best option for otter, but it seems like a lot of folks forget that not everyone traps with the same rules or habitat as others. Not everyone has beaver ponds and swamps to work with, many of us can’t use bodygrips unless they’re submerged. It can make finding good sets difficult. Theres always a spot or two that stand out, but throwing in a handful of “baited” sets doesn’t hurt either. The best set I’ve had was a pocket set dug right where they couldn’t possibly miss it. No bait or lure, it just was the perfect set up that they couldn’t help but check it out as they traveled a small creek. That one set caught four otter in 7or 8 days on a small creek thats barely ankle deep in places. Never stop looking for good blind sets, but some places just aren’t set up well.

Re: Bait and lure for otter [Re: M.Magis] #8088645
02/28/24 09:59 PM
02/28/24 09:59 PM
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 242
South Louisiana
T
Trappeur Gunny Offline
trapper
Trappeur Gunny  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 242
South Louisiana
Originally Posted by M.Magis
I think everyone knows blinds sets are the best option for otter, but it seems like a lot of folks forget that not everyone traps with the same rules or habitat as others. Not everyone has beaver ponds and swamps to work with, many of us can’t use bodygrips unless they’re submerged. It can make finding good sets difficult. Theres always a spot or two that stand out, but throwing in a handful of “baited” sets doesn’t hurt either. The best set I’ve had was a pocket set dug right where they couldn’t possibly miss it. No bait or lure, it just was the perfect set up that they couldn’t help but check it out as they traveled a small creek. That one set caught four otter in 7or 8 days on a small creek thats barely ankle deep in places. Never stop looking for good blind sets, but some places just aren’t set up well.


This right here is spot on. Where I live we have a lot of otters. The area I live is where they were live trapped and shipped all over the U.S. I trap crawfish ponds and rice fields, marshes, swamps, rivers, bayous and ....I can't say you should only trap otters this way or that, as I use several different methods and it is all dependent on the otters. Blind sets are good for certain conditions, but there are times that a pocket set or dirt hole hammers them. Down here they love bobcat gland lure. I set 220's and 280's in the dry woods, catching them moving from one area to the other. I set snares, foot holds, and body grips. LIke I said before it all comes down to the otters. You might be in the area they are just passing through or you might be in the area where they actually set up shop. I'm very blessed as I live where we have a lot of otters, various terrain and hardly any trapping laws. When I set for otters its gloves off and I don't follow what the book says, I throw it out.

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