Otter Tips?

[cwbobcathunter]

So for two weeks now, the otters in my area have been getting the best of me. Has anyone out there trapped them using cage traps on land in toilet area's/travel routes? I've got two "otter traps" and haven't had any luck with them. At this point I'm getting frustrated, last time I went and checked my traps the dang things were out in the water playing so I left without being seen. I've decided it's time to turn to the forums for some help from guys that have actually caught these dang things .

My limitations are no traps in deep water, and I've got two otter traps, and a couple cage traps for land. Any help would be appreciated.

[fatslinger]

I'm in the same boat you are. I have one floating, double door trap in the lake and another one on land near their trail. They have ignored the floating trap. Yesterday there was a message on the machine saying that an otter walked into the land trap, sniffed the bait (salmon scraps in a mesh bag) and backed out of the trap without setting it off. The only thing I can think of is the pan or trigger froze with the cold weather and failed. I am open to any ideas.

[bob maier]

karen, you can run clear mono fishing line from the top back of pan down to wire in cage then up to top inside of cage and tie off, that way if they hit the line it also trips pan by pulling down on the string, which in turn trips the trap. Wish i had a pic but i hope you get the idea. What did you use to float your cage trap? 4" 6" plastic pipe w end caps or something else.

[fatslinger]

Thanks Bob, I will try the fishing line trick. Sounds slick!  For the floating trap I used 4" PVC pipe and capped both ends and wired it to the trap.

[bob maier]

Karen , what you using for attractant in floating set,assume it's for otter.

[Jonathan_S]

Where's Vinke?

[fatslinger]

I tried different things. Started with salmon skin threaded on the trigger, then added a rubber frog that used to be a fishing lure. Now there is just a silver flasher hanging there. I have tried covering the trap with long grass so it looks like a tunnel, but they just aren't interested. The guy who owns the place looks out the window and keeps tract of the otter activities. 

[lokidog]

Take a nice leather chair, put it on the dock, set the trap on it and the otters will be all over it....     I'm going to just set a trap in my boat since they seem to love to climb all over it.

[Humptulips]

I tried different things. Started with salmon skin threaded on the trigger, then added a rubber frog that used to be a fishing lure. Now there is just a silver flasher hanging there. I have tried covering the trap with long grass so it looks like a tunnel, but they just aren't interested. The guy who owns the place looks out the window and keeps tract of the otter activities.

Karen,
I will bring you a jar of smoked salmon on the 7th. I found otter to be interested in it with a little fish oil on it. You can give that a try.

[fatslinger]

Thanks Bruce, I will give it a try. Do you think I should camo paint the white pipes?

[Humptulips]

I don't think that is the problem. I would cover the trap but you said you tried that. I still would but that's your decision. I kind of think the whole set is problematic. For one thing it's floating but what happens if you catch something in it. It will still be out of the water and I think an otter is likely to chew out with that 1x2 mesh. I also think an otter would be more apt to  climb in if it had a solid floor. Might as well have it on a dock if you do that. It looks like there is not much water in it so I think an otter has to climb in as opposed to swimming in. I know you are casting about in a difficult situation but I don't like the looks of it. I wish I had a good solution to offer.

[onetrapper]

Caught one last year in a cage set with muskrat bait. Think it was a young one didn't fight...let it go don't ask why...lol  Caught one once in a white pipe set without lure...forgot lure so just left trap..bingo otter on next check.  Go figure

[kirkdekalb]

Bend your trigger wires so they don,t touch the water and put "live"fish on a wire stringer wired under the trigger. Use catfish or trout for bait. The fish works best if it is an oily fish. Bluegil or small bass don,t work as well as catfish or trout.

He will wreck 1x2 wire.

[UrbanTrapper]

Didn't see anybody mention using otter gland lure yet.  I've caught otters on docks in cages on their toilets with a little grass or cardboard in the bottom and back and a little twig with a small dab of otter gland lure hanging in the back. I have also resorted to using otter scat from one location in a cage on a toilet at another location to further convince them that a strange otter is horning in on their territory and they need to investigate and mark over it.

[dbfalls]

Pay attention what Kirk DeKalb said about the 1x2 wire mesh. It's not strong enough to hold them. Otter or Beaver. Needs to be 1x1 14ga. Because you don't want to catch him and have get out. You never catch him again.

[Humptulips]

Bend your trigger wires so they don,t touch the water and put "live"fish on a wire stringer wired under the trigger. Use catfish or trout for bait. The fish works best if it is an oily fish. Bluegil or small bass don,t work as well as catfish or trout.

He will wreck 1x2 wire.

That would be illegal in WA. You can use legaly obtained food fish for bait or some kind of scrap fish like a carp but catfish, trout or any kind of game fish is a no no.

Link to game fish of WA,  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.08.020

[Jonathan_S]

Pay attention what Kirk DeKalb said about the 1x2 wire mesh. It's not strong enough to hold them. Otter or Beaver. Needs to be 1x1 14ga. Because you don't want to catch him and have get out. You never catch him again.

I assume you guys mean for a land set because all my swimthtrough traps are built with 1x2" wire and they've caught dozens of beaver and a few otter without any problems