Is a #11 Bridger a good trap for otters?

You better have a heavy weight and get them into the water fast!

I held one just fine by front foot in a ,1.5 Duke . I believe that #11 will hold them as well. Wouldn't be my choice though

A lot of otters were caught here in NC with #11 traps when they were buying them to restock in other states.

ALOT of otters were caught in Mn for transplants to other states with the number 11 dbl spring trap. Traps were set up electronically to transmitt a catch and trappers would go and take otter out of trap.. I have caught numerous otters in the number one northwoods dble coilspring and held. Also one yote which was like a western yote in color and softness. The otters and yote were all taken in mink sets.

I probably held 30 Otter in a 1-1/2 coil. A #11 is more trap then that !

The traps used in the relocation programs usually had additional swivels

Not all #11 are created equal. I have a dozen #11 Northwoods (about 40 years old) and some have never been in the water. Dale Billingsly (via youtube) swears by #11 Sleepy Creeks. Mine are very similar with adjustable pan tension. I use them for blind trail sets. with the pan tension cranked up to 3 lb, I swear anything that tangles with this trap will not get out. I've caught yotes, fox, fishers in #11's. Otters have a small foot and I havee no doubt that they'll hold as long as the chain is at least 3 ft long and ther is no entanglement. Checkout Billingsly on Youtube.

Group that does live market otter trapping uses 1.5 dukes

11 double jaw was used for otter relocation, that said you get alot of toes with them. But yes ive held coyote in them as well, even several large beaver by a back toe! Tough little traps but if i was trying to catch otter for the fur market it wouldn't be my first choice.

Thanks for the reply everyone. I would definitely put them on a drowning wire or rod.

Is there a reason why you're wanting to use the #11s?

My favorites is the Sleepy Creek #11. Caught a lot of otter and beaver in those traps. All mine have additional swivels and chain on them. You always want to stake for beaver as they will find a trap set for anything in the water. I love #11's.

Just thought that they are a beast of a trap and could hold an otter.

Had some dogs kill a coon in a 11 blake and lamb years ago, found the coon 20 yards away
Torn to picses.The thing is his foot and front shoulder was still in the trap.Now that's holding
Power.

I prefered the 11 for coons and mink, caught about everything that could fit their foot/toes in it. Caught muskrats by the shoulder, that got me thinking that there is more to holding an animal than spring strength---that led me to trap design and another story?!

Randall Baker used SC #11's to catch all the Otters released in Mo's botched re stocking where NO FOOT DAMAGE was a prime requirement. He said there were only a few pull out's. I said "Botched" because Otters came back like gang busters and are now a nuisance animal, destroying the small creek fishery and cleaning out fish farm ponds. The State was BEGGING guy's to target Otters.

Catfish head nails to a cypress stump with a #11 under rit has killed many a coon otter and mink in Louisiana

When Nebraska Game and Parks started their Otter studies, I helped line up the trapper. He was issued Sleepy Creek #11's with a long (do not remember how long) chain. It had five swivels in it. Staked solidly. traps were checked several times a day. When a catch was discovered both the state biologist and a wildlife vet. were called. The otter was transported to Lincoln where a transmitter was inserted under its hide. The otter was released within 24 hours where it was caught.
Roy

I used duke 1.5 for a while then switched to the 1.75 these were not drowning rigs.When they were trapping otters in lousiana for relocation they used number elevens. The biggest thing with otters is swivels make sure you have at least three.