OTTERS????

[BOURBONBALES]

I was just curious if anyone has any information about otters wiping out the fish populations in certain areas and what there is to do about it. One of my favorite areas of a local creek that i have caught smallies in over the years has become basically extinct of fish since i noticed otters in the area a few years ago. Any ideas or thoughts on this matter would be appreciated.

[fishincreek]

Yes they do wipe out local fish populations, esp well stocked ponds. Be sure to thank the KDFWR for that one.

[stoner]

They have done in the entire creek, I havent done as well on the ikes pool for 2-3 years now.

[goosecreekguy]

I've heard of the KDFWR working to help trap otters recently. Maybe contact their Wildlife officials in Frankfort and see what they can do to fix it. I've seen them way up Stoner past the Strodes fork three or four times in the last year.

[BOURBONBALES]

they have done in the entire creek, i havent done as well on the ikes pool for 2-3 years now.

stoner, you are referring to the correct creek but a different area. I have heard reports of otters being in this area as well. We are seriously going to have to take a look at things or i believe there is going to be a serious problem very soon. Let me know if there is something you think we can do to make a difference.

[Deaddrift84]

You can always try to contact local landowners along the stretches where the otters are, convince them they are a "nuisance species" and shoot/trap them. Otters make for good fly tyin'. They have a season for them anyway, this is the trapping season; (4) All other furbearers: noon the third day of the modern gun deer season through the last day of February. (3) A person shall not take more than six (6) river otters per season. Even if you wiped them out tomorrow it would still take time for your waterway to recover. Get a few concerned citizens together and plan to trap them out up and down the waterway during the season. That will teach em'! I have a similar problem with a family of muskrats on my local little trout streams.

[zofishkentucky]

Just take a live trap and catch one or all of them, then take them to the nearest state run fish hatchery and simply give it back to them! See how good of an idea they think it was to release them in the first place!

[fishy1]

I used to see them on the east side of Kentucky lake 3 or 4 years ago but have not seen them lately.

[the_donger]

I saw one last year on the west side of Ky Lake. It was just swimming around, heading north. I did not see it after about 5 minutes. I think my dog chased it away.

[CATCHEMALL]

I have a funny story about an otter. I was F-n-F fishing on Laurel about 3 years ago and I make a cast next to a large rock. I let it sit and all of the sudden this otter comes up beside my bobber and begins to play with my bobber. He is hitting it around like a ball and I am amazed at what I am seeing. I try to get my camera to take some pics but when I move the otter see's me and swims away.

[RoadToad]

Just take a live trap and catch one or all of them, then take them to the nearest state run fish hatchery and simply give it back to them! See how good of an idea they think it was to release them in the first place!

So you're saying KDFWR released them? I didn't know that. When did this happen? Got any links? I just thought they were native to the area.

[Bobby Headrick]

River were at one time native to Ky but their population declined so the KDFWR started a reintroduction program form them. They first released some in Barren River above the lake. Seem like they have taken hold now.