Getting tired of losing fish out of my basket (otters, turtles, or gar are taking them).

I suspend my basket about 8 or 10 feet under the water because I was losing fish from my floating basket (as I was fishing...not leaving it overnight).

Then I started losing them from the basket underwater...so I put snap-clips (like the snap hooks on dog leashes) on it.

Now whatever it is getting my fish bent the lid to the basket (since I had it clipped shut with the snap clip)...and I mean bent...like pushed in bent.

Lost a ton of crappie over the last month because of this.

Anyone have any neat ideas on building a fishing basket or fish containment system that I could leave at the dock over night?

Thanks in advance,
Shifty

have same problem at Grapevine all last year. i even zip tied lid and bottom shut and they would bend 1/2 of the lid in and take up to 9 crappie ? thought it was racoons trapped 2 of them but they wont go 9' deep to get them.will a Nutria eat fish? i even put game cameras up thinking it was someone stealing them. i did have a racoon pull a 6' rope with basket of crappie tied to my boat up in the boat and eat all but the heads! i caught 2 diff racoons on my game cameras going through my boat every night.i took care of them! live trap and hauled them off.

Leave the lid on the basket ABOVE the water line. Water should be cool enough now to keep the fish fresh. Keep a short oar close for anything that gets close to the basket.

Straight into the cooler.

Eric

Throw them in an ice chest.

Build something like this:

We had same problem. Caused by a fresh water Otter

I have seen otter in creeks feeding Lewisville. That would be my prime suspect. I would just go with ice chest or catch and release. They are very intelligent and persistent when it comes to a free meal. Finding a basket strong enough to keep them out will be a challenge.

Yep, right into an ice chest!

Hey shifty tell TPW and see if they can help you with this problem.

Soft tanned otter pelts are luxurious. They are crazy strong it would take a pretty stout cage to keep them out.

I've seen theses at Big Mineral and Highport. Guessing they work. Haven't seen and common baskets out there.

Get an old washing machine or dryer tub.

Weld a plate on the bottom and hinge some heavy steel on the top

Had this happen to me.

Otters were the Culprit!

build ya a basket outa old milk crates. zip tie them together. make a lid/door. wont rust and very durable