In response to several posters: yes, the data show that in a few specific instances (confined areas) otters can cause problems. Eating crawfish, so what? The data on those indicate that if they are plentiful, otters will eat them. If they are that plentiful, then it seems like there would be plenty for the fish too. Also note the sizes of fish that otters target, smaller stuff that fishermen would release. Also that they target species such as suckers, carp, minnows. Few people also target those species.

From what folks have stated on this forum, otters eat their weight in fish every day and will clean out any place. Simply not true. That is my main point: the missinformation. Also bear in mind that otters were here long before europeans ever set foot on US soil. If otters are as bad as some make them out to be, then there would not be any fish left by the time europeans got here.

Andrew