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Otter - otter? #1392322
06/24/09 12:27 PM
06/24/09 12:27 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Connecticut
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bowhunterjeff Offline OP
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i would really appreciate it if people would be kind enough to share how they set for otter, trap placement, size lure ect. thanks again
jeff

Re: otter? [Re: bowhunterjeff] #1392423
06/24/09 02:42 PM
06/24/09 02:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 217
minnesota
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Crutch Offline
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I only use conibears or snares for otter. I use 330, 220, 160's.
If I am setting in the water I like a 330, on land I like a 220 and sometimes a 160, depending on the situation.
Most of my otter come from dam cross overs or small channels the beaver have cut from one pond to another, and small streams where I look for pinch points. In the streams and channels I find a pinch point and place my trap several different ways depending on water depth, if there is ice or not. If no ice and shallow enough I find a pinch point and place a H type stand or a KB stabilizer, placing the trap half under water per our laws here, make sure the sides are blocked off and your good to go.
If there is ice this is my favorite set. I find a narrow channel and chop through the ice and check the waters depth, if deep enough I set a 330 and here is how. I set the trap and bend the springs up as far as they will go then I take a 3-4ft long pole and slide it through the holes in the end of the spring. So the trap hangs down below the pole, triggers can be either facing up or down. Then I cut a hole accross the channel about 4 inches wide and 2ft long, then I set the trap in the hole and it hangs down in the water about 3 inches below the ice. The pole keeps the trap from falling into the hole. I will set 2-3 of these sets in one channel hoping for more then one critter. I have caught mink and rats like this also, another reason for more then one trap. And you might just catch more then one otter as they travel in family units. Good luck. Crutch


You don't always have to believe what you think.
Re: otter? [Re: Crutch] #1392466
06/24/09 03:48 PM
06/24/09 03:48 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,011
South Ga - Almost Florida
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Swamp Wolf Online happy
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BowhunterJeff,
If you have dry crossovers/toilets that will allow you to stake solid you might want to try a double dirthole set. I have had my best luck making this set at toilets and crossovers then also blocking the trail with conibears. Mutiple catches common. Tried side-by-side holes, but opposing holes seem to work better for me. Otter steps all over the trap as he is turning around investigating hole to hole.


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Re: otter? [Re: Swamp Wolf] #1392666
06/24/09 07:16 PM
06/24/09 07:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,772
Arkansas
Jim Spencer Offline
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Arkansas
My partner and I have also had pretty good luck taking the double dirt hole set a step farther and making a triple hole set, with the holes spaced about 15-18 inches apart in pretty much of a wide triangle, with the trap bedded amongst 'em and slightly downhill, sort of like this:

Hole



hole hole
trap


The set is made on a toilet or rolling station, with the trap on the downhill or water side. Often we'll make two triple-hole sets on the same toilet, if it's big enough. We usually punch the holes with the trap stake, they don't have to be very big, and we use a different smell in each hole. Doesn't seem to matter what smells they are - we've used mink gland lure, fish oil, various predator lures, otter lure, otter glands removed from other otters we've caught, otter turds found at the toilet or brought there from a toilet elsewhere, mink glands, fox urine, and sweet coon lure.

Doesn't work every time, but we catch a lot of otters this way.


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Re: otter? [Re: Jim Spencer] #1392669
06/24/09 07:19 PM
06/24/09 07:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,772
Arkansas
Jim Spencer Offline
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Arkansas
Phooey, the formatting gets messed up on the diagram I tried to make up there, and I'm not smart enough to fix it. Anyway, the top hole is about a foot from the trap, and the side holes are about a foot from the trap as well and maybe 24 to 28 inches apart, with 12 to 15 inches betwwen the top hole and each side hole.


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Re: otter? [Re: Jim Spencer] #1392680
06/24/09 07:38 PM
06/24/09 07:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,066
Eastern NC
DanielE Offline
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Eastern NC
Crutch - how do the 160s work out for you? I always felt a 220 was pushing the limits.

Re: otter? [Re: Jim Spencer] #1392686
06/24/09 07:48 PM
06/24/09 07:48 PM

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here are a few pics of vertical and horizontal double hole sets that I use and have success with ... these set are targeting otters ... when you can punch these in on a sheer bank it will help if not eliminate pesky coons from working them before mr. otter can show up and have a chance at getting pinched ... I've found this type set prooves to be a lil more effective if setting on settling pools at culverts or at crossovers where otters will already be slowing down a bit ... they can be fickle ... these sets if built as I prefer can take a good rise in water level ... that being one of the best times for otter movement smile







the biggest percentage of my otters come from blind sets ... you can't go wrong with blind sets and otters ... just read the sign and set it ... set it all












Re: otter? [Re: ] #1392795
06/24/09 09:35 PM
06/24/09 09:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,772
Arkansas
Jim Spencer Offline
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Arkansas
Nobody's addressed the trap size for otter with legholds. What do you folks like? I use my beefed-up 1.75 coils (with #3 springs). My partner Bill likes number 2 Montgomerys. Very seldom do we have a pull-out or single toe catch. We always cross-stake with 30-inch or 36-inch rebar, because we're usually setting on sand bars. No drowning rigs, our water fluctuates too much (5 to 8 feet on a daily basis.)


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Re: otter? [Re: Jim Spencer] #1392888
06/24/09 10:45 PM
06/24/09 10:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Connecticut
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bowhunterjeff Offline OP
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Connecticut
sorry im having computer troubles so i will be doing very little typing and lots of reading thanks for the input everyone and please keep the help coming

Re: otter? [Re: bowhunterjeff] #1392963
06/24/09 11:31 PM
06/24/09 11:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
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Bruce T  Offline
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Northern Maine
My favorite otter foothold is the #14 jump.


Nevada bound
Re: otter? [Re: bowhunterjeff] #1392973
06/24/09 11:36 PM
06/24/09 11:36 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,011
South Ga - Almost Florida
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Swamp Wolf Online happy
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Have caught many in Victor and SC 1.5 coils that are modified (music wire #2 springs, baseplated, laminated) Caught several by two toes that did not have a chance of escape. Most are across-the pad catches. These footholds (along with 1.75's rigged the same way) are used on my southern live market coyotes here. I have no special otter footholds. All are rigged with SuperStakes attached with 12 to 15 inches of 1/8" cable. I rarely set sandbars here. Most sets are on vehicle-drivable pond dams (man-made) at otter crossovers or along private road crossovers at drain pipes. Good solid packed sandy soils that anchors the cable stake well.

Conibears used are 280's and a few 330's. Don't like to totally box or frame them in with guide sticks as it seems every time I've done this they crawl over the top. Find a narrow place in stream or trail and use minimal blocking. Otter will stick his head right in that 280 set up like that. Keep in mind that I'm talking about conibears set out of the water or mostly out of the water here. Conibears set totally underwater I usually block a little more and use a dive stick/log over the trap.


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Re: otter? [Re: Swamp Wolf] #1392985
06/24/09 11:45 PM
06/24/09 11:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,011
South Ga - Almost Florida
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PossumSkinner,

Your blind set conibears are set up exactly as I do it with minimal/or no blocking (except the bottom/last picture.) When I set 'em that framed, it has cost me. But, I have caught 'em blocked that tight also on a few occasions years ago. I try not to do that now. Great photos. I got a few good set photos (otter-related)...just got to find 'em. Two 'puters in the house and some pictures on disks around here 'somers.


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Never Half-Arse Anything!

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Re: otter? [Re: Swamp Wolf] #1393006
06/24/09 11:56 PM
06/24/09 11:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Connecticut
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bowhunterjeff Offline OP
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do to the regs around here most all our conibears have to be completley submerged, do you think if i put 330s laying flat in channels they would still make a lethal catch?
thanks again,

jeff

Re: otter? [Re: bowhunterjeff] #1393021
06/25/09 12:03 AM
06/25/09 12:03 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,011
South Ga - Almost Florida
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Swamp Wolf Online happy
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If I had otter traffic in these channels I would just look for a narrow place and set submerged. If the channels are too wide or deep you are going to have to find bottlenecks that funnel the otter: cross-overs or crawl-outs, maybe with toilets or narrow places in the channel, etc. If you can use the conibear laying flat it must not be too deep. If you do this, use Belisle's or a modified conibear that closes completely and it will work as good as a large foothold.


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Re: otter? [Re: Swamp Wolf] #1393022
06/25/09 12:04 AM
06/25/09 12:04 AM

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Originally Posted By: Swamp Wolf
PossumSkinner,

Your blind set conibears are set up exactly as I do it with minimal/or no blocking (except the bottom/last picture.) When I set 'em that framed, it has cost me. But, I have caught 'em blocked that tight also on a few occasions years ago. I try not to do that now. Great photos. I got a few good set photos (otter-related)...just got to find 'em. Two 'puters in the house and some pictures on disks around here 'somers.


swamp - that last pic with all of the extra blocking ... that is tidal and is under water for a good part of each cycle ... in that situation all that extra works real good or I wouldn't go through the hassle of it ... that is one hot location ... you couldn't count the number of otters taken in that one spot on all of your fingers and toes and a dozen of your friends fingers and toes ... she's been good to me ... even been a couple good years when over $2000.00 worth of fur was funneled through that slough alone grin

Re: otter? [Re: ] #1393030
06/25/09 12:12 AM
06/25/09 12:12 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,011
South Ga - Almost Florida
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Swamp Wolf Online happy
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Man, I love to find them kind of places. I found a small stream that connects a swamp with a larger river here. There is a large tree root (bigger around than my leg) that bows up like a hump and all the water in the two-foot wide stream pours thru that 12 inch "hole." I have lost count of the number of otters (and beaver) taken in a 280 there over the years. I know I caught 9 otters there in about 2 weeks a few years back. Also had 11 beaver laying in the woods road at the pipe about 15 yards from the "set" one year. No beaver market for me to skin 'em. I don't have to deal with fluctuating water levels here thank goodness, unless it rains a lot. Your pictures look like mine...de ja vu!!LOL


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Re: otter? [Re: Swamp Wolf] #1393046
06/25/09 12:24 AM
06/25/09 12:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Connecticut
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bowhunterjeff Offline OP
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Connecticut
i had an older fellow show me a modified number 11s he got from mtp that hes held otter in

Re: otter? [Re: bowhunterjeff] #1393059
06/25/09 12:31 AM
06/25/09 12:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12,011
South Ga - Almost Florida
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Modified (or factory) 11's have caught and held a bunch of otters for folks.....fur trapping and research. They lock up nicely and hold diligently. I personally would go for a little more jaw spread to increase my catch to visit ratio and not be as concerned about foot guidance at the set. Just my opinion.


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Re: otter? [Re: Swamp Wolf] #1393292
06/25/09 09:20 AM
06/25/09 09:20 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Connecticut
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bowhunterjeff Offline OP
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Connecticut
the biggest i can use around here is a no. 3 coil or long spring, im leaning more towards long spring becuase it looks better built. any pros and cons of either for otter trapping?

thanks swamp wolf and others

Re: otter? [Re: bowhunterjeff] #1393423
06/25/09 11:29 AM
06/25/09 11:29 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,772
Arkansas
Jim Spencer Offline
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Arkansas
Coilsprings bed easier with less digging, so if you're in heavy soils I'd recommend the coilsprings. As far as holding power is concerned, flip a coin. My opinion, anyhow.


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Re: otter? [Re: Jim Spencer] #1393484
06/25/09 12:45 PM
06/25/09 12:45 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,163
Gulliver, Michigan
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Asa Lenon Offline
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Gulliver, Michigan
Here is one of Dad's old time free trapping tips;

OTTER “ALL CALL’ SET
A big problem in otter trapping is to make one’s sets so that they overcome the otter’s swimming with its front feet folded and rear feet extended back and out.
Here is a set that overcomes this. After locating where otter frequent an area, locate a place where the water is 10” deep and the bank is at least 2’ high. Dig a hole 6” in diameter, 15” deep into the bank and 18” above the water line. Set a very well covered trap directly below the hole and one foot out from the bank. Use a quantity of Lenon’s Otter Super All Call lure the size of a large bean on a twig or chip and place it a foot back into the hole. Place the same quantity on another twig or chip and pin it to the bank six inches above the hole. If bait is desired, fresh fish or a fresh shrimp is the best bait. Place bait in the very back of the hole.
When otter investigate the hole and lure, the water is deep enough so that the trap is not sprung by the otter’s body. As the otter places its front feet on the bank to peek into the hole, it will drop its rear feet to the bottom and into the trap.
Herb Lenon - 1950

Last edited by Asa Lenon; 06/25/09 12:47 PM.
Re: otter? [Re: DanielE] #1393584
06/25/09 02:33 PM
06/25/09 02:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 217
minnesota
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Crutch Offline
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minnesota
Originally Posted By: DanielE
Crutch - how do the 160s work out for you? I always felt a 220 was pushing the limits.


I always thought they were on the small side also till I caught one in a set I had made for mink, it was stone dead and the area was not all tore up. This set was a hole in the bank, there were two of them, I set a trap in each one. Came back three days later and had an otter in one and a red fox in the other. I use this spot every year and have caught several otters in these same holes. Since doing that I have now used 160's on purpose for otters in other situations such as dam cross overs, trials coming or going from water and found they work well. I only have Belisle 160's, I have never tried any other brand. Now that being said, if a 220 or 330 will work at a set that is what I use. But in certain spots to small for a 220 or 330 don't be a fraid to use a 160 it should do the job, Belisle's do. 220's work very well for otters, I don't feel they are to small for otter at all. Crutch


You don't always have to believe what you think.
Re: otter? [Re: Crutch] #1398941
06/29/09 10:35 PM
06/29/09 10:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Connecticut
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bowhunterjeff Offline OP
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Thanks for everyones help! now mabey ill be putting an otter on the board next season wink

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