Question on what you fellas and felletes (women) are doing to trap otters around heavily traveled beaver areas. I am actively trapping the beavers, castor mound sets, submerged 330s..ect. that is going well, but I keep seeing a couple otter. I have trapped 2 prior accidentally while trapping beaver. I picked them both up on castor mounds. I have some set in the area I have been seeing the otters but no luck yet. My question is, is there a more efficient way? I have not been able to locate their toilet. I do have their den located, and could set it, but I am more so wanting to outsmart, or learn from it, more than just set near the den and get them without learning much other than you can catch them where they sleep. Any advice is welcome, heck, call me an idiot for not setting no. The den. I don't care, anything and everything welcome. Thank you much

Are you seeing them in a river or stream? Or a lake/pond?
If a stream, you can fence otter pretty hard. If a river, you might try digging a large pocket. Talking 1' across, and 12"-24" deep. Just below waterline at bottom, and a whole rough fish in the back wouldn't hurt. And if there are beaver dams, set both sides. You can place a #280 or #330 on each side, right at water's edge and fence on both sides of the trap.
If you are seeing them in a pond or lake, if it is fed or drained by moving water, go there and look for choke points and toilets.
Also, if you get visual on them, just watch them. Otter are known to frequent the same places each time they travel.

Awesome, this is the type of advice I was looking for. It's a creek, 12 ft across or so. 2 dams on it. I have been seeing them up top of the top dam frequently. The beaver have it deep enough the creek is twice as wide up there so hard to pinch them. Also need all 330s submerged in iowa. How about a bucket set? 220 in a bucket with fish oil and feathers or a fish tied to the back? I really don't know how smart they are or what their habits are. Big time rookie with otter, thanks for any and all advice

You might try a couple footholds on top of those dams then. I would still suggest a bit of fencing. The way otter move on land, it's pretty much dumb luck where they place their feet, but they can be steered with fencing. Make certain you make drowning sets.
As for a bucket, it might work, and bait would be the ticket for a maybe. I have heard some stories about baited underwater buckets working, and even some trappers claim they use giant artificial minnows!

I am almost 100 percent a water trapper consisting in 99% drowning sets and the other 1% are Connis. When you say footholds on top are you talking where they slide or cross to the bottom of the dam, or are you meaning randomly placed on the top side?

I would set one on either side of the dam, where it contacts land. Don't be afraid of doing a little "landscaping".
You could also place a trap or two on the top of the dam, near the middle, and I wouldn't be too concerned about camouflaging the traps, but do be sure to get them as stable as possible.