C&R vs. River otter of doom!

[kevinb]

I'll attach a link to my report to bring you up to speed.

So my boy and I were bass'n at Kapowsin when he hooks a dink bass(approx 7 inches)
As he is bringing it to the side of the boat,the water explodes...and I mean explodes(KABOOM) insert
Billy Mays' voice. The water goes from calm to frothy(almost a boiling effect) My first thought after peeing my
pants is,.."De Kapowsin has dem derr freshwater sharks?" So I'm still attemping to get the bass in the boat and
whatever is causing the wild water effect is still around but at this time I still don't have an clue as to what
creature of the night is doing this. My son(3 years old) is nervous but probably more level headed then myself.
I attempt to swing the dinker bass over into the boat,then I find a large and very aggressive river otter in hot pursuit.
Now it hits me,...he wants the fish,..duh? I now have the fish in the boat and hoping to unhook and let it go quickly.
Then the otter attempts to climb in the boat,he probably would have made too but I kicked towards him.I'm determined at this point,if he gets in...he might want us to get out.I'm certain his teeth will do some damage to my son and I.

At this point,the otter is back in the water and I've just unhooked the fish.The otter is eyeing the fish and making a
cackling sound or it might even be evil laughter. The otter makes another charge into the boat and this time
I was able to get a rod and keep him from getting inside. I end up distracting the otter for a few seconds
by slapping the rod in the water and using my other hand to release the bass on the other side of the boat.

Woo-Hoo,I win!!!

The otter stuck around for a minute there after and slowly made his way down the lake.
Thats my cool story(lol) Its more like a ...you should of been there moments.
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportCo ... lid=54&t=1

Anyone else have any fun run ins with wildlife?

[BentRod]

Wow, that is a crazy story! My dad once had a tug-o-war with a racoon for the bait in our crab trap at our campsite.....those nutty critters! My dad won by the way.

[Marc Martyn]

That would have made a top viewing video on Youtube!

[jens]

I think that same otter lives in Offut too.

[mav186]

HOLY CRI-KEY...sounds like a Steve Irwin encounter...great story K, thanks for sharing!

[fishaholictaz]

I think that same otter lives in Offut too.

I have many stories of lost fish from otter there..... (both personally and watching others)

1 story that comes to mind is this time I was walking down to get in a boat to go out fishing and one of the regulars had just caught a nice rainbow. He put it on the stringer and I thought to myself that he shouldn't do that.... Well I was pulling away from the dock and I saw that fish thrashing around and jumping out of the water. I yelled to him to check his fish and as soon as he pulled it out of the water the otter came out of the water after it. It was crazy it looked like the otter was going to land on the dock!

But seriously be ware if fishing the docks at offut the otters will steel your fish from stringers as well as off lines.. They sell fish baskets at the resort store to keep this from happening...

[Amx]

I've worried about what would happen if an otter took my crankbait or other lure. Ya know, fishing in the dark and all. Last year they were VERY active all summer, splashing and all in the pads, and swimming across the lake and along the shoreline under the docks and all. This year they have been pretty scarce on Sawyer.

[tagwatson360]

I caught an otter on a frog this summer. It waked the frog just like a huge bass but pulled it under with a very subtle take. I waited to watch my line swimming off and then poured the coals to what I thought was a giant largemouth. All hell broke loose after I drilled the frog into its face with 65 lb. braid and a stout frog rod. When I realized it was an otter I got it relatively close and just cut the line. I wanted nothing to do with those teeth. I hate those bass eating varmints.....

[Mike Carey]

That would have made a top viewing video on Youtube!

Hey kevinb, let's go back out and try to reinact it and I'll shot the video. HD of course. :thumright SMILE!

Scary though, with your little guy in the boat. I'd be kicking the otter's teeth out.

[tnj8222]

That is crazy, I had snakes try to get in the boat but a smack with the pole and there gone. Scary with your son there.

[Rich McVey]

Was a fun story to read first thing in the morning. Wish I woulda been there.

Good job chasing off the Otter Brett :thumleft:

[Amx]

.

[kevinb]

That would have made a top viewing video on Youtube!

Hey kevinb, let's go back out and try to reinact it and I'll shot the video. HD of course. :thumright SMILE!

Scary though, with your little guy in the boat. I'd be kicking the otter's teeth out.

Haha,put it on youtube and looped it over and over.

Sounds good to me Mike. I'm sure I will see the "Otter of doom" again soon.

[Dustin07]

I"m sorry, I'm all about C&R, especially in a fishing hole that is super popular for bass fishing (like sammamish)



but........


in this case I would have gladly tossed the fish to the otter and watched the carnage!

[kevinb]

I suppose I would have to if the otter had become more aggressive,no sense in ending up
with nasty wounds secondary to releasing a 7 inch bass. I'll head back up there and try Amx's
animated aproach. I was talking to a buddy of mine that runs the boat rental outfit on the lake,he
says he has heard of a few similar encounters from clients and at times,they even get them around the docks.
I guess they are not that fearful of humans. Anyone want to go hunting and/or make river otter hats?:-"

[SammGuy]

Awesome!

Anyone else have any fun run ins with wildlife?

I was fishing on my dock on Lake Sammamish at about 5am one morning and an otter jumped up on the dock about a foot from my leg. I stared straight at him and he was looking straight at me. I didn't move and neither did he. After about 10 seconds I couldn't resist the temptation, so I said HI!!! in a really loud voice. He completely freaked and jumped back in the water. He then proceeded to circle me making loud dunking sounds.

We have a family of otters that regularly visit our dock. They fight like wildcats sometimes and regularly crap all over the dock. They drive my dog nuts. But I think they're good for fishing because their crap is crushed crab shells and when I sweep it into the lake the fish go nuts for it. Good little echo-system I guess.

[midnghtshdow]

Lol no they just use there crap to attract fish then eat em. Otters can really destroy fisheries! They eat so much that it makes a amazing dent on the ecosystem. ya they are cool and all but i would rather have a beaver around that does not eat as much fish.

[bob johansen]

Great story Kevin! I enjoyed reading it. I have seen otters in many lakes over the years -- The latest at Lake Sylvia. I was shooting photos for the lake index from the bridge when a family of otters swam by. I did get a shot of them too but it wasn't very good. Keep those stories coming. BJ

[Rich McVey]

Im gonna make sure we stay close to you while fishing Mayfield this weekend Kev. If you have another Otter encounter... we'll make sure to get pic's of the tustle.

[tagwatson360]

Midnight Shadow is right. Otters can be devastating for some fisheries.

Adult otters average around 15 pounds and can comsume up to 2-1/2 lbs. of fish per day. This equates to about 450 lbs. of fish over a 6 month period. With the bigger bass, otters will often eat just the innards (perhaps because they provide the most nutrients) and leave the carcass on the shore or dock. I have seen this at a few lakes, including a couple HUGE bass at Lake St. Clair in Thurston County.

I am going to take up a new hobby....