Otters are fierce. Catching one in a foot hold on a drown cord does happen, but conibears are going to be the most effective by a ways.

Parker

 

Can they be caught in a foot hold on land?

 

[rquote=2696399&tid=187406&author=riverbottomhunter]Can they be caught in a foot hold on land?
[/rquote]

Legally? Yeah. Can it physically be done? Probably not a way you would want to bank on catching one. They are SUPER strong.

Parker

 

I've caught 1 in a coyote trap once, like parker said they fight and fight hard!, I have a buddy who catchs quite a few and he traps alot in footholds and doesn't drown them, but he sets blind sets at pull outs and uses 4 coiled #3s and #4s.
I prefer conibears if possible, but a big foothold (#3 or larger prefered, but last year I caught one in a 1 1/2) in front of a large pocket set works also. you want your pocket set to have a 6 inch or larger entrance and with good eye appeal for a otter to investage and he's hunting along.

 

I have caught and held them in a 1 1/2 coilspring without a drowning wire. They were **** sets and they were incidental catches but they held.
Having said that I would use drowning wires and bigger traps if I was targeting them. Connibears are much more efficient in my opinion.

 

A double dirthole set using mink musk in one hole and a fishy type lure/bait in the other hole,set the trap dead center.Make sure you have at least 3 swivels in your setup.A strong 1 3/4 or 2 will hold them.Make the set on a otter toilet.
Another set is to scoop up the otter toilet into a pile,set a trap on either side about 6 inches from pan to pile,then stick a pencil size stick next to the jaw farest from the pile.This will direct the otter in between the pile and the stick into your trap.Again,make sure your trap setup has plenty of swivels.

 

[rquote=2697310&tid=187406&author=bigjohn]A double dirthole set using mink musk in one hole and a fishy type lure/bait in the other hole,set the trap dead center.Make sure you have at least 3 swivels in your setup.A strong 1 3/4 or 2 will hold them.Make the set on a otter toilet.
Another set is to scoop up the otter toilet into a pile,set a trap on either side about 6 inches from pan to pile,then stick a pencil size stick next to the jaw farest from the pile.This will direct the otter in between the pile and the stick into your trap.Again,make sure your trap setup has plenty of swivels.[/rquote]

I'm still a newbee to trapping. What is a swivel in a trap setup?

 

Ever catch a big ol catfish on a limb line that didn't have a swivel,only to have the line twisted up to the point of holding the fish on the surface?Well,an otter will do the same thing when caught.(the rolling and twisting up chain in it's case).The swivels for trap use are made of a strap of metal bent into sort of a circular shape with a J-hook at each end to attach to your chain.I shortchain almost all my traps.I have a swivel attached from my trap to trap chain,two links of chain,another swivel,three links of chain,and another swivel that attaches to my anchoring,being it a cable stake,drowner cable,on an extension cable.The latter is for use on cats.

 

[rquote=2697401&tid=187406&author=riverbottomhunter][rquote=2697310&tid=187406&author=bigjohn]A double dirthole set using mink musk in one hole and a fishy type lure/bait in the other hole,set the trap dead center.Make sure you have at least 3 swivels in your setup.A strong 1 3/4 or 2 will hold them.Make the set on a otter toilet.
Another set is to scoop up the otter toilet into a pile,set a trap on either side about 6 inches from pan to pile,then stick a pencil size stick next to the jaw farest from the pile.This will direct the otter in between the pile and the stick into your trap.Again,make sure your trap setup has plenty of swivels.[/rquote]

I'm still a newbee to trapping. What is a swivel in a trap setup?[/rquote]

Here are some examples of different swivels: LINK