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Raising Trout

Started by ckjohnson99, April 20, 2015, 01:13:46 PM

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ckjohnson99

I have a spring fed pond about 150 feet by 200 feet; mostly 15+ feet deep except for one side that goes to zero depth with a lot of cat tails. I have a head gate built into the side of the berm and use it to control water levels (and beavers). I've stocked brook trout fingerlings three times and they've done very, very well.

Unfortunately, the first winter was bad and they winter killed. I solved that problem with a wind mill pumping air to the bottom of the pond; works great! The next spring I restocked with 50 brook trout fingerlings again and they thrived, survived the winter and were close to 2 pounds and 16 inches long... until the otters found them. I'm pretty sure it was otters that got them because there were piles of scales on a few of the larger rocks on the shore.

The outflow from my pond travels about 3/4 mile then drops into a medium sized river. I've been told the otter will move up and down the river looking for small streams. They then travel up the small streams to find fish in beaver ponds then back to the river.

I'm looking for suggestions on keeping the otters at bay; or, if needed, terminating them (with or without extreme prejudice).
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beenthere

In MN, otters are protected species. I suspect you already know that, but it may hamper your plans.
south central Wisconsin
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fishpharmer

I have seen some success deterring otters with electric fencing. 
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Ljohnsaw

I'd love to have a trout pond!

Maybe fool them a bit?  How much outflow do you have?  Could you run 100-200' of pipe taking the outflow from the pond farther down-creek?  Trench and bury the pipe, except at each end.  They might think that is it for the stream and go away.  Hopefully they didn't make a map to your place :D  You probably wouldn't need big enough pipe for maximum flow, just the average.  If there is enough drop (head), you could put in a fountain!
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Den Socling

I like that idea. An otter road block.  :D

drobertson

I've heard a few stories like this one, and have heard how the otter's are protected, but still have a hard time dealing with the fact that these critters can devastate a fish population in any given hole pretty quick,  I would guess that live trapping would be an option, I might resort to other means if it were my pond, 
only have a few chain saws I'm not suppose to use, but will at times, one dog Dolly, pretty good dog, just not sure what for yet,  working on getting the gardening back in order, and kinda thinking on maybe a small bbq bizz,  thinking about it,

Den Socling

I've been doing some reading. The pipe won't work. The otters will smell the fish and head overland to get to them.
Also read that they don't normally eat trout. They go after catfish, bass, carp and other slow moving fish.

E fan

three S's come to mind......shoot,shovel,and shutup..... :P

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