Otter Question

Got a text yesterday from my son. Friend of his has couple otter eating all trout in his little pond. Son and I have couple tags so he wants us come clear them out.
Thing is I've not caught only couple otters in all my years. Really have only caught on on purpose and that was years ago in a pocket set. I've caught a couple in 160 set for coon along creek.
This place is where spring comes out of hill side makes a small shallow pond then pretty much a trickle down the valley. Not really enough water for foot holds and downers? might be close.. and is really rocky so any staking maybe a pain i'm sure.
I don't have any 220s got lot 160 and plenty 330s and all kinds different foot hold. Kinda wondering though just how to set this up? Could I simply throw some fish in back of a bucket with 160 in front and smack them? Might be enough water in the pond for a bottom edge set with 160 or 330??? if I can pin it in rocks..
Anyone want to throw me out some ideas? I pretty sure them otters will camp out there until they clean out them trout. This pond is small maybe 30X50ft. won't take them long.
I'm wide open to suggestion on this one. Need them buggers gone ASAP.

Mac

I've only caught 2, both were in 330s set as bottom edge sets in knee deep water in a creek.

Id try to get 330s in where the trickle becomes a pond and where the outlet from the pond is.

I am looking forward to hearing suggestions from those more experienced.

Any restrictions on the size of your colony traps?I'd also block off the outlet with a 330 if you can.

6x6

Nope that idea is gone.You can also make a pocket set and use mink musk as lure.Where it is shallow water have your traps with plenty swivels in the chain and check early in the day and often.

If there is ice, I would set the open water at the inlet and outlet right under where the ice starts. Use whichever body grip trap fits best and block it down. The otter might leave and come back a week or so later. I don't think they would stay at a pond that size very long. They will probably keep visiting it until the fish are gone.

The pond must be somewhat deep in spots for the water to be cold enough for Trout
Set up any tight locations with the 330s. Blocking works well with otters.
Ive caught several otters in pocket sets baited along banks...they are curious animals.
But my best sets are blind underwater sets with dive pole over the trap.

Just talked to land owner and the otter are indeed going in an out on the inlet and outlet. I didn't ask about total depth but he did say staking may not be as hard at I thought is sandy and rock not all rock.. i was close on my guess maybe just little bigger than the 30 X 50 I thought.. It hasn't been cold enough to freeze totally over. I have plenty of 330s I can set this up with or the 160s. maybe just take dozen of each see what fit where.. Whats the best trigger position on a 330. I think all mine now are bent one wire across lower jaw one up the side. Will Otter blow threw that on 330 I've never caught one set that way for few beavers I've trapped.

Mac

If the trigger is on top use a V to ensure they hit it. If the water isn't deep enough to cover the entire 330 I set them with the trigger on the bottom in a T about an inch under water. If you do it that way I think it helps to hide the trap by placing a stick on top of the trap to help hide it.

^^^
Trigger on bottom. T under water is good.

V or both trigger wires together and dead center.

Is it even worth messing around with a baited 160 bucket? I'm pretty sure would just plug up with coon, not that that is bad land owner wants them gone too. He has already put a hurt on them during summer. but there is always a few drifting around. Is for sure mink in the area too. Of course he wants everything dead might eat his fish.

Mac

Skip the bucket 160 ....a natural pocket would be more probable

Concentrate on the 330 travel blind set spots

Land owner say there is a slide or what he believes is slide. So if I can get a 330 in that is it best full submerged dive stick, or leave little of top out?


Mac

You can trail set them in winter with those 160s if they are running any distance above the ice.

I prefer my 330s fully submerged.

Both dive stick and a little of top 330 out so long as the top is not freezing over.

Well I got to get moving start doing something. If I get at it today maybe I can take some pictures. For sure going in garage sort out my weapons.. get after it tomorrow for sure. There are fish diein need help.. LOL!
I'll keep an eye on this. don't do T-man on my phone so probably won't be back until way later in day.

Thanks guys..

Mac

For the narrow spots of the inlet and outlet of the pond set the 330 there.with a dive stick and is solid. You do not need really close to the pond if not sure set further down the streams of both ends also. If the water is not deep enough dig it that when the trap is set it is complete under water with the dive stick out of the water.As for the trigger wires set them on top like stated on center or close to center as a V You do not want the V too spread out then you will have a chance of a hip catch. also set the trigger side of the trap for the way that the animal will be coming from.If not sure set 2 traps apart. Also is it just one otter or more then one. If not sure gang set them. This is how I had trap them back in MA when you can only set that conibears are complete under water. I had use 220 on them then .and had set the trap in spots that just fit a 220 and had to dig for the trap be under water complete.

set up bucket sets at ends or where the place that drains extra water. very curious . use fresh fish in bucket . 160 double spring . no problem will go in if u move trigger to side .catch lots of them that way

Good luck.Post some pictures.

Set all the pinch points on the waterways going into and out of the pond with the 330's.Submerge the traps if possible,and fence a bit if necessary,Some pics will be helpful.

I wouldn't use the 160s. The 330s with the trigger wires set on the bottom forming a V spread apart looking like this=V. I feel trigger wires set on the bottom making it harder for an animal to pass through then if they are set on top. At least that's been my experience.

I don't know of any lure that positively targets and is successful on otter. I've caught some in pocket sets in 1 1/2 coils and a drowning cable.

The advice given from the trappers for this post is good. If you follow it, you should be successful. Let us know how you do.

All good suggestions ^^^ Another would be a herring or smelt on the trigger wires on a submerged 330.

wire a fish to trigger of the 330's if not a fresh fish use a fishing lure of the trout works in the rivers up here in edd's and pools

Forget bucket sets and pocket sets imho. The otters are going into that pond with a purpose and they're going to get right to it. Like Boco says get body grippers in every possible pinch point. Underwater wherever possible. I have successfully made pinch points for myself in small creeks inlets and outlets by rustling up brush and logs etc to block off.

How'd it go Mac?

Im partial to pinch points with 330s . Footholds work well set on their landings almost every hole they hunt will have a spot in the shallows where they mill around some . They dont have to go to land between dives or after a catch but there is almost always a spot they will go to rest and mill around every so often if you can find that spot they are deadly . If there is a dock look under it they like the overhead cover a dock offers

Cage trap with a couple cans of sardines, lol.

I would make a land set like a dirt hole.

Or Vinke's Rubber Duck

Hey if it works

Think bigger picture. The otter/otters are coming from a long way off on a big circuit over and over again. Follow the inlet and the outlet as far as you are able until you find the perfect spots to set you 330s. The otters are going to follow the water rather than travel over land in most cases.

Well?

You gonna set them otter traps or just whistle dixie? haha

Check your geography jtrapper, that boy's whistling yankee-doodle dandy.

I prefer blind sets for most critters. There are a few exceptions, otter isn't one of them. Most of us have preferred sets. You've received good advice. You re the man on the ground, your choice.

If use something like lure on the otters, beaver castor work on them and everything else. I rather go blind sets on them like in my post.Also like others stated pinch points 330 underwater.

Maybe. I prefer 280s.

You could try a small looped snare if the h20 is deep enough for such a set.

Or bait a 330 like this...careful w/ birds tho.

Wow as many different thought on this as hand guns for carry.
I didn't get out yesterday but land owner is actually picking me up in a bit today. So I'll let everyone know what happens.
The adventure begins. LOL
Thanks every one I got more hardware in my totes than need. Will see what I use once get there see what is what?


Mac

Go get them.Good luck

Well ?

Cheese head must of fell in the lake.

otter et him

What sets were put in? Any luck yet?

I didn't read this thread but I would find where the otter or otters are going back and forth to the pond. Since I doubt that they are living In that pond.

Didn't meet no gory death at the mashing teeth of an otter,,,did fall in creek and drown. Sorry!
In fact hard to find deep enough water to hide a 330.. But I got some sets in on Friday..Was out of town camp firing and playing at the lake Saturday. No otters in any of the traps as of yet. I don't think they hung around there as long as land owner thought. Think he got excited because when they came threw some years back they wiped out every trout in the pond. When I set things up Friday there was still lots trout there.. So I think the otters will come back but who knows when? I set up the in and out flow and several other pinch points. Guess we'll see..

This is the pond can't see the in or out but I set both up. Was one slide by the pine in pic and I set that.


Blocked off where could see one had gone under little foot bridge


Blocked off where main creek goes under driveway pipe.


Flash flooding last summer blew the banks out and the creek looks way different than it did a year ago. I set up some pinch points along the creek where water goes from waist deep to mere inches.. I wish I had a pic of how this looked before the flood was actually grass where most rock is showing


Just going to leave the traps soak now see if otters come back.. May add some more traps just because we can and to make sure we do pinch them if they come threw..

Mac

what i dont know about otter would fill a large book. can't help but think that property owner needs to do whatever wi requires to make leaving traps in place year round legal.

Beautiful Open water!

Danny
Not much chance that happening here they treat otters like an endanger species..The boy and I have 3 tags we can use if we can snap one or more them otters for land owner.. But DNR don't make it easy even for tag holders..Kind of a pain really..Land owners best bet is the old SSS which as we all know just waste things.

Mac

Dumb question. What’s SSS.

Shoot Shovel Shutup

3S Rule

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