Getting orders for lure and such together and was wondering if otter lure is really worth trying? I've used mink lure in the past for mink and didn't really see noticeable results and I'm kinda thinking that otters would behave in a similar way. Just looking for input and suggestions on lures people use.

Thanks

The only Otter lure that I had success with is actually a Beaver lure. Predator Control Group Enrager.

C.O., I see MTP has a new one on the market...might want to try it out.

MTP's Otter Lure Supreme has caught many otters at dirthole sets. Lure only...no bait.

I wouldn’t bother with it. Blind sets take 99% of my otters

I have an otter on a property I trap that’s is probably a mile from any water. He runs the roads at night hunting like a coyote and goes by several of my sets but don’t care for traditional coyote bait one bit. I’m guessing shell fish or fish would get him ? I’ve never trapped otter.

If he’s running the road, trap him in the road. Blind set a few good strong #2’s/#3’s

I’m trying, problem is he runs right in the tracks so farm equipment takes its toll. I’ll get him I just need something to pull him to the center. I’m thinking. Shell fish oil or fish oil.

An otter is a bigger sucker for a dirthole set than a fox is. Just find the area where the otter is travelling where you can positively anchor away from brush or trees.....or you can use a drowning rig.

But, if you just wanna use just blind sets....get em.

That might work where you’re at, here the otter are not food motivated at all, they have an unlimited supply of shellfish, fish, crabs, whatever they want. They may respond to otter glands from curiosity, but you said you haven’t trapped them before, so I’m assuming you don’t have any (yet)

This. Make a dirt hole set with pleny of disturbance. You don't need bait.
I wouldn't bother with shellfish oil, or fish oil.
Belive it or not try some castor based beaver lure. Even far from water, the otter will check it out.
And use a little fencing at the set, and a big rock behind the dirt hole.

Thanks for all the advise I'm goin to have to try out i little of everything to try and get my first otter this year.

Conibears set at beaver dams and small streams emptying into larger body of water.

Dirt holes work on otter. Lure I made using otter glands, tonquin, mink glands and sweet skunk from Bob Jameson.

Nice otter Rodney! Looks a Hoss!

Crazy to think of trapping a otter in a dirt hole. Can you use alot of guiding at those sets or will it deter them?

You can use a lot of guiding.

A double dirthole set...with opposing holes...trap in center...is killer. Use no bait but a different lure in each hole. Otter will be all over the set, twisting and turning, as he investigates the odors and holes (dig em deep....12" plus.)

Any commercial otter lure will work or use mink gland, ambrette, tonquin, muskrat gland. A mildly skunky lure of any brand works like a champ, too.

Back during the last otter fur boom (2010 & 2011)....caught just under 200 otters....about 1/3 were caught at dirthole sets at dryland otter toilets....most on private road culvert pipe locations, but several at toilets and crawlouts anywhere I found them.

When I trapped Eastern Washington before we lost foot traps I had some ranches that bordered the Snake River. Some had field roads that brought me right down within a few yards of the river. Not only were they good coyote locations but I generally picked up an otter or two in dirt holes there. And could count on a coyote or two in the remake. They seemed to be really attracted to those otter catch circles.

I have a lot of luck with compass sets on dry ground for otter. Usually use jamesons terminator, fox cream and a very small dab of ultra call and trout oil or fresh mice in the 4th hole. Set the trap in the center of the holes. Jamesons fox cream and dobbins Beaver Plus also works good for otter on the tall bank punch hole sets. As Marty said, if you catch one on dry ground coyotes will sure check out the remake. So will lions.

I can see where that compass set would be deadly...the way otter stomp all around.

Bobcats are almost a guarantee at otter toilets down here.

Seems Dobbins Woodchipper works. Caught a few with it.

Sarge

Proof that otters are very curious^^^^^

Woodchipper is a beaver food lure, ie tree oils.

Nah, no tree oils in Woodchipper. The base is 4-herb. It would be a curiosity to otters. I wouldn't consider it a good otter lure though. Beaver Plus has way more otters to its credit than Woodchipper.

I sure thought I could smell some poplar bud/birch and such in Woodchipper. I stand corrected.

Mink gland lure or bobcat gland lure. Both work great for otters. I know Otters hate mink, so that is why mink lure works. Not sure why the bobcat gland lure works, but it sure does. I saw it on you tube from Dale Billings a few years ago. Figured I would try it. Glad I did.

Any bait lure will guarantee a coon in the trap!

Awsome info guys. Thanks alot I'm looking forward to trying that double dirthole. I've never heard of a compass set I'll have to study on that one.

LMAO! I can’t help it, every time someone mentions the double-dirt hole set I can’t help but remember an infamous pair of trappers from Indiana that used the “ Double-Dirt Hole Alien Set” when making a 400 coyote run in 2 weeks. I’m forbidden to mention one fella’s name here but I will say to those who were really here back then, “BAIT’EM-UP!!! You’ll understand why I said that if you were here!

Compass set is 4 holes. Trap set in the middle of them. The double dirt hole I use for the water is one hole about 4-5” above the other. Makes them stand up and check it out. Got the tip from lenons lures online articles.

My years in southeast Alaska, where there are a LOT of otter, when the price tanked, I would make ! otter set every opening day, on a point that was visited by every otter that passed. This was in the ocean, and the otter had a smorgasbord of available food sources. It was a blind trail set that was guarded by a 280, and next check always held an otter. I would then pull the set, and that evening I was reminded of why I hate skinning and fleshing those torpedoes.
However, that usually wasn't my only otter for the season, as they would find my mink boxes and wolverine cubbies, too. And I know that a Belisle 120 will hold a smallish otter, and so will a #1 longspring. I also know bailing wire usually will not!
Mink gland lure hooked a few, as did beaver castor and Gusto.
I really never put much stock in lure for otter, but trap location is the key.

That’s been my experience also, I just blind set where they’re going to be. We have so many of them, they’ll tell you where to set if you’re paying attention. And they have so much food available I haven’t ever spent time trying to appeal to their stomachs. I’ve never tried a curiosity set for them, not that it wouldn’t work, I’ve just never felt like I needed to, any rocky point in the ocean will get otter traffic, log piles along the beach will get otter traffic, any small stream feeding into the ocean, small islands, etc. I have had limited success with submerged buckets, but that’s usually something I set near docks where there’s no good place to set, and the water is 20’+ deep, so it’s the only set I can think of to put in.

2010 - 2011

Swamp is that when they were going around 80 dollars a piece.

Slipknot,
Averages were about that.

All those went to NAFA.

The 70+/- otter in the top pic brought $6000 and change.

Swamp Wolf, those skins look great. Nice handling. I know that Trapped4ever takes a ton of otter, and has expert skinning and handling skill. he traps southeast Alaska, and gets top dollar, even in down markets. As prices have improved, I hope those chasing otter get rewarded for the work required to properly finish those things. They really are a neat animal, and the fur is amazing. I don't understand why they aren't $200.00 average pelts.

Id sure like to see otter increase to those levels again. Have plenty of otter down here with good access.

Had the same experience with Enrager.Had to stop using it on beaver control jobs.Could not keep otter out of it..Talked to Clint in 2018 at Escanaba.He figured the tonquin was the reason