River Otter

[straw hat]

Just a note on something strange the wife and I saw down at CC today. A river otter came swimming down the lake. When I first saw it I assumed it was a beaver. We certainly have seen a few beaver on Stockton over the years. BUT, when it came to the top up again it came ashore between my wife and I!! I was shocked to see it was an otter!! I have never heard of an otter on Stockton or any rivers in the area. I know the Conservation people have been trying to restock them in Missouri but I thought that was in the north part of the state. Any of you guys ever seen one in this area? Sure would be interested to know.

[laker67]

River otters have been quite a problem, on the niangua arm of LOZ, for several years. A normal fish basket, they will tear apart to get to your crappie. Quite a few years back, we tried trapping them. Using the same fish baskets, we would place a trap in the neck of it with crappie for the attractor. They were too wise. They like to chew holes in jet ski covers and crawl in for shelter. They make a total mess on your dock. Kdan bought a heavy duty live well made from fence wire. It is otter proof. We no longer lose crappie to them dang otters. Otters are everywhere these days. They are very wary and rarely out in the open as you encountered.

[straw hat]

WOW! Thanks for the info laker67. I didn't know.

[Lead Head]

My son and I saw three of them in Miller Branch Cove last fall. I thought the same thing you did when I saw the first one, thought it was a beaver, got closer and then two more joined the first one and they went up on the bank to eat a fish that one of them had. I have not seen them since but they are fish eating machines from what I have been told.

[oneshot]

They clean ponds out around here if people see one in their pond they shoot it on sight.

oneshot

[Trav]

They did so much damage to my dock and boats on Lower Taney I trained a dog to kill them on sight. Between the otters and the two-legged thieves I won't keep a boat in the water anymore. Cost me way too much money.

[lollygagger]

Otters got into 7 ponds a friend built and micromanaged for big fish. Spent big $ building them. I caught 7.5 lb bass in Oct. Otters showed up in Nov and wiped the fish out. 9 miles N of Bolivar. Saw otters 4 years ago in Bull Shoals and last year in Springfield Lake. If you see one, kill it. They don't practice "Catch & Release"

[Cabezon]

I was looking for white bass way up Sons Creek 3 or 4 years ago and came up on a nice looking pool of water. I cast out and hooked a smallmouth. When I got the Bass in right next to me an Otter grabbed it. I yelled at the Otter and it let go then grabbed it again. I yelled at it again and it let go and swam off. The fish was still alive and was released, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Otter was able to get it anyway since it was hurt. I think restocking the Otters into our rivers was a big mistake.

[vonreed]

I think releasing the otters was great. I trap for a living during the winter and it gives an extra animal to catch. Me and my dad caught 42 this past season south of springfield a little ways. They will clean out fish though. They're very efficient at what they do.

[Walcrabass]

I think releasing the otters was great. I trap for a living during the winter and it gives an extra animal to catch. Me and my dad caught 42 this past season south of springfield a little ways. They will clean out fish though. They're very efficient at what they do.