trapping otters in open water is tough. i fought then yearly at my old pond. I had good luck catching them on beaver dam crossings in the stream below the pond. I caught near the pond where he was pooping and another where he was sliding beside the pipe leaving the pond. i never had any luck with leg hold traps setting them along the shore. I feel your pain with these things. I would have grown a world record bluegill at the old pond if the otters hadn't wipe them out every year. seriously they made it hard for me to stay with my bg management plan.
