My cousin and I headed to the 7 acre farm pond this morning for some Crappie fishing, something we do every spring.

 

When we arrived the farmer " 2nd cousin " said be on the lookout for otters. He'd already shot 1 and said there were more.

Let me tell you that these critters can clean up a pond of it's resources......the fish.

 

Last year at the same time it was fish after fish on Beatle spins and Crappie jigs.

Today was like fishing the dead sea with only a handful of fish.

These predators must have an appetite.

 

Our game plan is to eliminate the otters and restock but that'll put me close to 70 before I'll enjoy great crappie fishing in this pond. ?

I would help you, but I’ve seen about where you live and I think it’s a full day away

You might consider taking the opposite approach. Let the otters completely deplete the resource. Once the fish are gone, they will leave. Then you can restock it.

 

Attempting to restock it before the problem is fully eliminated seems like a recipe for disaster.

Apparently they'll kill just for sport besides eating them as well.    

Hate to hear that, as somebody who would love to own a pond someday, this is a nightmare.  

16 minutes ago, gimruis said:

You might consider taking the opposite approach. Let the otters completely deplete the resource. Once the fish are gone, they will leave. Then you can restock it.

 

Attempting to restock it before the problem is fully eliminated seems like a recipe for disaster.

Critter problems are never fully eliminated. They are like Arnold in terminator 

33 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I would help you, but I’ve seen about where you live and I think it’s a full day away

For some reason the map on my profile has me located in central VA, not even close. LoL

I'm in the western part of Shenandoah county along the WV line.

I'm betting that's still to far for you to come trap them. ?

58 minutes ago, Bird said:

Last year at the same time it was fish after fish on Beatle spins

Maybe the younger generation of fish aren't into the Beatles......

3 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

Maybe the younger generation of fish aren't into the Beatles......

Are you say'n we should have been " Rolling stones" for live bait ? ?

Here is what an otter looks like.