Why I Otter...

[jude]

Topwater fishing sucked today, but I saw my first Kishwaukee otter today. Actually there were three of them really checking me out.

 

[Terry Dodge]

Topwater fishing sucked today

Glad to hear.

I did my guide trip today and found the bite not to be all that great.

We had a good time of course, but the bite was tough.

[Kev-mo]

Do you guys think the otters would ever try to go after a lure? Have you ever heard or read about it?

[John Gillio]

Very cool Jude. I haven't seen an otter in years.

[Mark K]

awesome shot.

[jude]

Do you guys think the otters would ever try to go after a lure? Have you ever heard or read about it?

 

 

I'll bet they would. When I first saw them I had quite a bit of line out in the hole where they were. I just froze up at first, then figured I better get my Jude Bug reeled in before they got to it. They were pretty fearless. I wish I had a better camera at times like this. I watched them, and they watched me for a good ten minutes.

[Norm M]

 

 

I'll bet they would. When I first saw them I had quite a bit of line out in the hole where they were. I just froze up at first, then figured I better get my Jude Bug reeled in before they got to it. They were pretty fearless. I wish I had a better camera at times like this. I watched them, and they watched me for a good ten minutes.

most likely admiring that awesome beard

[Rob G]

They reintroduced river otters down this way 20 years ago and they have done quite well, many fishermen and pond owners would claim they have done too well. They can take a toll on the river's fish population for sure. I've seen them work an edge and these guys are skilled. Unfortunately I have friends and acquaintances that own ponds near our rivers and they freely venture into those ponds and have actually cleaned out entire catfish ponds within days, leaving only the heads on the bank. Some very accomplished smallmouth fishermen across the way in Indiana have been cursing the things since they have gone from here to there and they swear they have had a detrimental effect on their fishing.

 

But they are cute !

[Kev-mo]

They reintroduced river otters down this way 20 years ago and they have done quite well, many fishermen and pond owners would claim they have done too well. They can take a toll on the river's fish population for sure. I've seen them work an edge and these guys are skilled. Unfortunately I have friends and acquaintances that own ponds near our rivers and they freely venture into those ponds and have actually cleaned out entire catfish ponds within days, leaving only the heads on the bank. Some very accomplished smallmouth fishermen across the way in Indiana have been cursing the things since they have gone from here to there and they swear they have had a detrimental effect on their fishing.

 

But they are cute !

 

 

From a search on "what eats otters".

 

"On land, however, they must be wary of predators such as bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, wolves, black bears and foxes." I also saw a reference to eagles taking small ones. Seems like Illinois has all those but some are more abundant than others.

[Rob G]

Definitely the "yotees" are the primary predator down this way but I've yet to see one master a snorkel : )

[jude]

I can't imagine too big of a negative affect on a river the size of the Kish. But I can imagine a family of otters could clean out a small farm pond pretty efficiently. Yes, they're cute, and yes Norm…they seemed to be concentrating on my chin. I think they were actually disappointed in my beard, comparing it to the guy they heard about on the Kank.

[Paul Trybul]

That's pretty cool that you got that close for a picture. Normally they are very shy around people.

[Guest Paul J Trybul]

I am glad Terry admitted to his idiocy.

[ronk]

I think I saw one porposing on the Fox yesterday(5 topwater smallies biggest 16")