Catfish Culprit

[studabaka]

Caught this little female in a catfish pond located just off a river. They seem to stick to the river during the summer, but come winter, they come looking for an easy fish dinner......not this time.

[FinsnFur]

That is a beaut! 

That'll bring some good coin tanned. I've seen em hanging in a fur dealers shop up here, tanned and tagged for over $150

[studabaka]

Yeah...... they are curently getting a good price tanned or raw. I'm stretching and air drying all of them and will see come the end of the season if I decide to tan them or just sell them raw through the auction. Everything else I'm planning on selling tanned.

[Bopeye]

I'm just guessing, but that looks like a river otter......is it?

They just recently re-introduced the river otter here in Tennessee........boy are they playing havoc on some of the local fish ponds.
Just how much fish can those bad boys eat in a day?

[studabaka]

Good guess. That's exactly what it is and they are thick around here. This is a 'medium' size one. Most of the ones I have gotten have been 1.5 ro 2x this size. They can eat a lot of fish quick. This farmer sought me out cause one day he had a pond full of catfish and [what seemed like] the next he had none. He restocked the pond this summer and I have a contract with him to monitor his ponds year round.

It seems like they frequent the ponds in the winter, which works well for me cause I get to trap them hard in the ponds and river when they are prime and pocket the fur value on top of the contract..... plus he lets me deer hunt, yote hunt, and trap other stuff...... not a bad gig when you can find it. 

[Bopeye]

That's what I call a sweet set-up right there Stu. I gotta find me a place like that. 

[Brad H]

We sure don't have too many of them. For SE Montana the region #7 quota for otter is 2. lol

Brad

[nailbender]

  They reintroduced them around here. The fishermen are already seeing the impact. Limited trapping is being allowed only 3 yrs. after they stocked them.

[studabaka]

And the mate.... a bit larger and nice and dark. Same pond, different set.

[FinsnFur]

3 of a kind beats a pair.....you in?

[studabaka]

I'm in!

[Bopeye]

  Joker's wild? 

[Hawks Feather]

Just don't get one of those "Royal Flushes".  I hear they wipe out everything.

Jerry

[Bopeye]

He's a big'un aint' he?

[studabaka]

I'll see your three and raise ya.....

[FinsnFur]

DOH!  :shck:    I'm out, I fold 

Nice job. Are you tanning then Otters? Those things should bring some good coin.

[studabaka]

I was going to sell the otters raw as they were bringing a good price last year, but I was chatting with OK and he said the price fell cause China implemented a tariff.

so yes, I think I will be tanning them.

Funny..... back in the summer I was making preparations to put a boat on the river and seriously go for them..... but the rain has had the river going up, down, and several times out of it's banks. Funny how stuff works out.

Heck, If prices are what OK says, I have half a mind to buy a bunch raw.

[bushmaster]

gee stu, i had no idea that we've got otters round here.  ever trapped in uwharrie?

[studabaka]

I haven't trapped Uwharrie, though I have heard it holds a good number of cats.... and probably a lot of other fur.

[awh]

Stu....Your my hero.
We can't touch them here. But if they come out of the river into our ponds I hope the DNR thinks of them as a nuisance as I do.

Very nice catches and pics.