I was just thinking same as David. Also, could you block the opening on the side opposite the trigger by shoving a stick down between the too and bottom jaws? Not a lot, just am inch or two less opening the animal has to squeeze through. Those suggestions combined with a well tuned trigger may help a lot.
Worth noting that it does not bother me a bit to catch otter. We are overrun with them around here, so while I would want to stay within the letter of the law, I would not be terribly upset if an occasional otter ended up on losing end of my setup.
We don't have an overabundance of otter yet. Some but not many where I am. That's why they supposedly have the restrictions. When you catch one there a whole lot of bs protocol your supposed to follow.
Another thing his diagram doesn't show are that there's no four way triggers allowed
Suit casing small beavers are inevitable with these regs
I've tried the twig technique but it only works where there is zero current. Otherwise it gathers leaves and branches and sets the trap off.
I asked the game warden about using the twig one time and he said if it's attached to the triggers with anything (wire,glue,rubberband etc...) he would issue a ticket otherwise he said it good to go. The twig sounds easier than it is to do also. I gave up on it and went with hip caught small ones. Usually there hit in the back well and expire fast anyways