Fishing Forum

Watched a pair of otters in the river just above Olmstead Diversion Dam.

After a couple of minutes a guy about 40 yards down stream threw a stick in the river for his dog to retrieve. When the otters saw the dog they turned on the speed and went right after the dog.

It looked liked they attacked the dog and soon drove it out of the water. However, the dog didn't appear to have any injuries (white coat) so perhaps they were just playing aggressively.

I was on the opposite bank and far enough away that I really couldn't tell.

The dog's owner kept a steady rain of rocks coming down whenever the otters broke the surface which soon drove them to more peaceful waters.

I did manage one picture just before they disappeared but all you can see is a spot in the river that I could point to and say "that's an otter" although you can't actually tell.

When I got home I discovered that several otters were released in 2010 above Deer Creek which would explain this adventuresome couple. You an see a release in this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=end...7Pfko6yyMM

Looked like they were having a lot of fun playing together.
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Hopefully thell thin out the Provo and will get some size to those Browns in there.
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[#0000ff]Last Feb, we were fishing just below Vivian. I cast out, a brown comes up, takes the fly and next thing I know one of the rat otters is in the water taking my fish. Crawled back up the bank and ate it. Next time I'm bringing my .45/70. Won't get away from me then.[cool][/#0000ff]
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I do believe the Provo is a little over crowded. However the bad part about otters is they target the bigger fish. They are slower and easier to catch. Just pay attention to what you see them eating. It won't be the small fish.
I think otters are cool as long as they are not in a river that I really like to fish.
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Lighten up on the otters dudes !!! The number of fish that they take is minimal compared to what the illegal bait fisherman take !! The fact that we have them back and thriving is very cool !! Throwing rocks and shooting them is not cool !! They are territorial, so the dog was being chased off due to encroachment !! When you see em, sit down and enjoy em, they really can put on a show !!!

Crazy, I have yet to run into a otter. I fish that section in Charleston & River Run Rd all the time, from the video it looks like that's were they released the some of the otters.

None the less since the a DWR is sponsoring the releasing of the Otters probably best to give them some room. [angelic]

But I hear ya I had a ferret hissing and try to take my fishing the Weber[pirate]
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Cool! Was it otter #25? I helped put the transponder into #25. Amazing animals. I ran into a mom otter and two youngsters at Jordanelle last year. Watching them was definitely a nice distraction while fishing. It is good to have them established here now.

As for them eating too many fish, give me a break. For how many years has the DWR begged fly anglers to start harvesting browns from the Provo because there are too many and they're stunted? And the actual harvest has continued to be squat. Maybe the otters will do what anglers refuse to do and 'thin the herd" some. Fewer browns=bigger browns=more fun fishing plus cool wildlife. Win-win.
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This idea makes damn good sense to me. If the purists won't harvest them let the otters do it. Like you said, win-win.
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Until they take the Big Ol' Brown that you have put time and effort into trying to entise to grab that fly. In which he finally does, to have a drive by (or swim by) steal it...[cool]
It's all good, and too early to tell what the out come will be, but hopes are high.
Now, why do you say purist? Some really don't like fish, or the toxins in the water but love fishing.
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