What are your go to traps/ sets, both leghold and BG for otter? When you are trapping an area for otter, where there's beaver present, what do/can you do to try to make sets to avoid beaver? Is that possible? Thanks!

I trap both but I can't really tell you how to trap your area for them as it is likely different than mine and would need to be done differently. For otter I cruise big water (lakes and rivers) and look for toilets. I set toilets and rarely if ever catch beaver. Go to trap at sets will be either MB750's or Belisle 330's or 280's.

Thia^^^

I also set Swamp Trails between waterways with 220 Belisles using Long twisted galvanized spikes. No beaver that way

Love beaver dam slides with a 220 trigger on the bottom in the snow.

I've drowned otter caught in Victor 1 1/2 coils on a drowning cable that were caught by the front foot on a pocket set. Blind sets with a 330 Belisle is the only way I've caught any.

For beaver I like the 330s and CDR7.5s. Poplar bait sets work well with a CDR on a drowning rod. I liked to use a fenced in dive set whenever possible with a 330 if it's a scent set.

I'm assuming uh-oh lol, when you set a leghold for otter it's kind of the same as for beaver ( I've not trapped either yet), either for a front or rear foot placement?

For beaver I like to set for back foot. For otter always try for front.

otters work the corners of the dams moreso than the middle. so setting those crossovers might avoid some of the beaver. big thing is to just set a lot of traps and hope you have enough open traps when the otter come through if you havent whacked enough beaver yet.

I use Bridger #5 coil for foothold and have caught both beaver and otter. I have mix of 330,s I use but for otter on trails I use 220's.

If using conibears for otter ....make sure you tune them traps

Nothing worse than a hip caught torpedo

They'll be tuned for sure. I'm tryin to come up with a plan and so far I'm thinking a 80/20 split. Mostly legholds and I do like the 220 idea at trails and cross overs, especially with OH BG laws.

There is a small path with crossovers on it and if I did want to set a leghold, how crucial is trap placement? Also, does anyone make pocket sets for otter like ya would for coon or mink?

Never caught an otter, so can't give advice on an otter only set.
Any beaver set will catch an otter form what I've seen.
Any slide the beaver use, is open game for an otter.
Just my limited experience.
We didn't have an open season until I had to give up trapping.

Set that 280 /330 on the down side of the dam slide / crossover.

About 3 feet from the bottom edge of the dam. ( The side with less water )

Then set another 330 .

8 feet behind that one...they travel by 2-3-4

Find some small steam you can wade in with hip boots ....and set in the ripple of water.

Pick up some boulders / rocks / logs ..and make your own

Pinch points...set a 330 in the rippling water...that you choked down

Swamps and lakes, look for otter toilets. Dry land cross over from one body of water to another and cross overs on windy rivers/streams(short cuts).

Good point. Otters can be squeezed and fenced a little easier than other critters. If I am setting shallow streams that is what I do. The water doesn't freeze as fast there in this country. I have had great luck with 220's in trails. Lucky enough most are caught right behind the head.

Nice. The place I'll be trapping is swamp/marsh and they're coming out of the marsh on a high spot and then going into a crick about 6ft wide. Going to and fro.

Catch 22,

Set the trails, crossovers etc. Also make baited pockets sets with any type of fish for bait. Set it just like you would for mink and you will catch otter. If strictly targeting the otter and you don't want the mink, keep the trap back about 3 or 4 inches from the hole and put it 2 or 3 inches under the water. Set these pocket sets near where they are traveling through.

Some on here will tell you that you can't catch otter in baited pockets. But, our Ohio otter don't know that yet, (they probably haven't read the book yet) and unfortunately, they often get caught in my baited pocket sets before otter season comes in. I'm sick of having to release them.

Good luck!!

Thanks CH. When you set the pocket sets do you run'em on drowners?

I learned to trap, from books by Stanley Hawbaker , and any other book on the subject I could find .
We're talking the 1950's .
And there was a lot of sets no one would use today.
But the point of his book was to improvise, use what's in front of you.
Analize what you see, and figure the what and the where is the best place to try setting a trap.
Use what's there, you will learn to adapt , your sets.
Pay attention to what happened at your set.
Pay attention to the little signs of where the prey, puts it's feet.
Little details , if you pay attention , will show you more than any video or book.
Those can only give you a very good idea, but lack the knowledge of the sweet spot!
Only trial and misses will teach you.
So just do it!
That's the best way to learn.
Not one successful trapper does everything by " the book " .
But that's where they got their start.