Otters terrorize trout anglers!!

[jdmidwest]

They sure have done a number on water snakes.  I did an 8 mile float on the Black River below the dam. Did not see a single snake all day.

I have noticed the same on other rivers I have floated lately. I am sure frogs are in decline too.

[trythisonemv]

Havent seen a snake on crane either since I started seeing otters. Saw a mink last time as well

[Flysmallie]

I've always seen otters in Crane. That goes back quite a few years. Never really saw many snakes but it's usually a cold weather destination for me. 

[Johnsfolly]

3 hours ago, trythisonemv said:

Havent seen a snake on crane either since I started seeing otters. Saw a mink last time as well

 

2 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

I've always seen otters in Crane. That goes back quite a few years. Never really saw many snakes but it's usually a cold weather destination for me. 

I haven't seen otters or snakes. Like Flysmallie, it has been more of a Feb destination for me, which explains the lack of snakes. I have seen a few mink on those trips.

[Johnsfolly]

Saw a group of five otters one year in Little Piney above Lane Springs and several slides down below Newberg. I have seen several in the creeks and strip pit lakes around Columbia over the years. I have always worried about wading near them. I didn't like when they would disappear and I no longer could see them. Didn't want any surprises. I was not keeping any fish when I saw otters.

Many years ago I have had lots of problems with turtles eating fish from my stringers. We would fish this one river and tie off the stringers then head further upstream only to come back to a bunch of heads !

[BIG K]

Tore the seats out of my new boat a few years ago on taneycomo left it full of scat and fish carcass also snapped a good tfo fly rod it was a 1400 dollar night out for them. I can think of a lot of words for Otters and cute isn’t one of them

[Phil Lilley]

http://www.ky3.com/video/?vid=490411181

[Old plug]

Be thankful it is only otters. Some places you might fish it could be muskies sharks or gators. Just do not leave the fish laying in the water on a stringer to die. 

[skeeter]

There are ways to stop them.  One is to build and use a "fish box" if you keep what you catch.  Nothing new, guys at our local Marina have had them for decades to keep their caught fish deep in cooler water and keep the turtles away.  

Otter re-introduction by MDC was maybe the biggest screw-up they ever made.  

[Gavin]

There are predators that will eat fish on a stringer. Otters, snakes, turtles, bull sharks. Bull sharks kill several humans every year. Usually those wading waist deep with a bait bucket and a stringer of fish tied to them.