Thread: Otters

Hi everyone, I have a housboat on Green River lake. I have several hanging structures that hold Crappie. Normally this time I year I can catch a good mess off my slip. This year, I may catch one or two keepers a day. I keep my fish in a fish basket until I get a mess, then they go on ice. Twice in the last week when I go to put them on ice or throw them back, my basket is empty. it has no holes in it and the top is 4" above the water and it has the floating spring trap door. The other day I hooked a crappie and when reeling it in, it felt like a big cat swallowed it and it stripped my line off my reel in seconds. (the reel didnt have a ton on it since it got into the trolling motor weeks before) five mintutes later I saw an otter swimming under my pontoon. I know they are legal to shoot but not on the water and in a marina. My only thoughts is building a trap and exterminating them. Has anyone dealt with them before?

Contact the local game warden and tell him about the problem. Most counties have a "nuisance" trapper available for such at no charge to you. They are professionals. You would do best to let them handle the situation. Just shooting one could cause problems even though there is a furbearer hunting season.