Hi NE Mason. You've got a pretty pond and property there. I agree that trapping the otters seems like the logical decision in your case, especially because your fish (at least the bass) aren't reproducing.

This thread made me wonder if the amount of submerged structure in a pond might influence the success of wild predators. My impression is that most ponds don't have anywhere near the maximum recommended amount of structure. I'm thinking that fish congregate around structure in large part because it makes them somewhat safer from predation.

In a common situation like a pond with overcrowded LMB, an otter or two might actually help the pond owner by thinning out the population. Maybe a pond with heavy structure would work like musical chairs; the fish that hold positions in the structure are safer and the ones left out in the open are more likely to get eaten. In that case when the population is thinned to the point where all of the fish can find cover, the predators wouldn't have the same success rate. Maybe a balance could be reached like what generally happens in nature.

The vast majority of ponds seem to end up with fish populations that become excessive. I want to fish when I feel like it and not turn it into a chore. I would be happy to have the help of some native "fisherman" if their success was proportionate to the fish population.