Water Trapping Archive


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum


~Catalog~

Print Thread
Hop To
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4
Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: ] #1420415
07/19/09 10:52 PM
07/19/09 10:52 PM

B
Banditslayer OP
Unregistered
Banditslayer OP
Unregistered
B



My focus is on coon, so I rarely put in a set specifically for mink. But when I do put in a set for mink it is almost always because I see a perfect spot (in my eye) for a blind set.

Most of the incidental mink I get while coon trapping are caught in trail sets (blind set) for coon with a 160. Don't know how many mink go through uncaught but thats how the numbers add up for me. My pockets and associated traps are also tuned for coon.

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: foxkidd44] #1420418
07/19/09 10:54 PM
07/19/09 10:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
Jim Blakley Offline
trapper
Jim Blakley  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
So here's the deal .... I love trapping ! But I also need to eat . I run my lines so they are as productive as I can make them. Here In MN. we have a small window of opportunity,before freeze up, to make our catch . The baited pocket and all Its variations produce the most mink in the shortest time.
Blind sets work, but they work slow.. I dont have the luxury to wait for a blind set to produce . Ive taken as many as 46 mink in one check . All in baited pockets! I know other longliners who have done even better than that, with pockets! Thats My 2 cents....Jim

Last edited by Jim Blakley; 07/19/09 11:09 PM.

.....Ive been at this Game for over 50 years and have no plans to stop................
Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Paul Dobbins] #1420426
07/19/09 10:58 PM
07/19/09 10:58 PM

2
2poor OP
Unregistered
2poor OP
Unregistered
2



While I have and always will set some blind sets I far prefer a pocket. A Mink runs by a location in his travels when blind setting and misses the pan, he may be gone for a week or more.

A chunk of fresh fish in a well made pocket and he is busy tugging while standing directly on a pan. A well made pocket with the trap set deep in a bank that catches good sun exposure will often stay functional even in our early freezing weather.

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: ] #1420449
07/19/09 11:08 PM
07/19/09 11:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Online content
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Online Content
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
If you have to depend on open water to make mink sets that produce, then yes, I can see where the baited pocket is the way. However, you are letting the environment limit your productiveness. Mink can be caught after freeze-up, but usually they are caught in blind sets. By limiting yourself to pockets, you're not capitalizing on all that is available.

Here's a killer - find a drift pile, poke a hole in it about six inches in diameter, set a foothold or 110 and collect your mink the next time it comes through. Its one of those sets they can't seem to resist - lol.

If you prefer to switch species after freeze-up, you probably don't have the time to run a mink line and the other.

There are so many different variables in different parts of the country. There are also many different variables caused by the amount of time and access different trappers have on their line.



Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: ] #1420459
07/19/09 11:12 PM
07/19/09 11:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,293
minnesota
G
goldy Offline
trapper
goldy  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,293
minnesota
Pockets for me too. Not only because they are extremely effective, but also because the creeks in my area just don't have many blind set locations. I will never pass up an obvious blind set location, but I don't have to search nearly as long to find a place to put in a pocket as I would to find a blind set.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Paul Dobbins] #1420466
07/19/09 11:14 PM
07/19/09 11:14 PM

2
2poor OP
Unregistered
2poor OP
Unregistered
2



Mink can easily be caught in cubbies after freeze up. Of course all a cubby is is a man made pocket. Cross over or through the trap to win the prize.

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Paul Dobbins] #1420467
07/19/09 11:15 PM
07/19/09 11:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
Jim Blakley Offline
trapper
Jim Blakley  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
I could put out a 100 blind set after freeze up. But 3 or 4 mink a check, Doesnt pay the bills. After freeze up Im better off going after muskrats in their houses.


.....Ive been at this Game for over 50 years and have no plans to stop................
Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Jim Blakley] #1420471
07/19/09 11:18 PM
07/19/09 11:18 PM

J
Jim Wallner OP
Unregistered
Jim Wallner OP
Unregistered
J



Well said James

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Jim Blakley] #1420473
07/19/09 11:19 PM
07/19/09 11:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Online content
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Online Content
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Different areas require different efforts.

I used a lot of pockets too and they worked great, but I also put in the blind sets where they belonged.



Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Jim Blakley] #1420474
07/19/09 11:19 PM
07/19/09 11:19 PM

N
Nick C OP
Unregistered
Nick C OP
Unregistered
N



Originally Posted By: Jim Blakley
I could put out a 100 blind set after freeze up. But 3 or 4 mink a check, Doesnt pay the bills. After freeze up Im better off going after muskrats in their houses.



You gotta eat and nobody likes to live in Poverty!!

You should look into trapping monkeys after freeze up! ha grin

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: ] #1420477
07/19/09 11:21 PM
07/19/09 11:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Online content
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Online Content
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
I hear monkeys bring good money - lol.



Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: ] #1420489
07/19/09 11:27 PM
07/19/09 11:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Online content
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Online Content
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
You know what Nick, I believe he's right. I think they would too. A bit of banana in the bottom and whammo, there's a monkey on a chain.



Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Paul Dobbins] #1420498
07/19/09 11:35 PM
07/19/09 11:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
Jim Blakley Offline
trapper
Jim Blakley  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
I think we should start a monkey trapping thread.....LOL...
Paul now I know what the banana smelling lure you were making is for.
Jim


.....Ive been at this Game for over 50 years and have no plans to stop................
Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Paul Dobbins] #1420502
07/19/09 11:40 PM
07/19/09 11:40 PM

P
possum skinner OP
Unregistered
possum skinner OP
Unregistered
P




lol ... I think I recall reading or hearing that somewhere in Iowa they have actually found cave paintings showing monkeys held in a primative device that resemble a lil griz ... the crude markings roughly translated appear to be "Clovis Getrz" ... they say everything repeats itself over time ??? grin

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: ] #1420583
07/20/09 01:33 AM
07/20/09 01:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,545
minn
F
fossil2 Offline
trapper
fossil2  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,545
minn
in minnesota, the water is public, but the bank is not, so a high bank blind set isnt an option. an average sized drainage ditch has 5 travelways, 2 high bank, 2 low bank, and the occasional mink that will swim the center of the waterway. there are very few blind set locations in these ditches, except an occasional cut bank. you can set that cut bank blind, and catch a mink traveling that low bank travelway. or you can use a baited pocket dug into that cut bank, and pull down the mink traveling that high bank, traveling that low bank, swimming the center,and possibly running the other bank as well. with the pocket, youre potentially drawing off of 4 of the 5 travelways at that location. also, as was mentioned earlier, traveling mink are hyper, and theyre looking for a meal or a kill. a baited pocket gives them everything theyre already looking for, while a blind set only attempts to catch them during their search. a mink traveling along the bank is also very easily distracted from his projected route, by anything/anywhere that might hide potential prey. this will account for misses with blind sets, as the mink will change directions unexpectedly, before reaching the set, or just turn and cross the creek for no apparent reason. as far as increased coon catches with baited sets, if the area holds a high coon population, we just set heavier, and take the coon with the mink. like blakley said, we gotta eat. back when i was selling good male mink for 55.00, a coon brought 40.00+. i didnt make any attempt to miss those coon, and at todays lower prices, i need them even more, to make things pencil out in my favor. ive never heard of a strictly blind set man in this state taking numbers that i consider to be large numbers. ive heard of one guy who claims a hundred, but i dont consider that a high number. my son took 80+ before and after school when he was a junior in high school, and he never made a blind set.

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: fossil2] #1420600
07/20/09 03:00 AM
07/20/09 03:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,545
minn
F
fossil2 Offline
trapper
fossil2  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,545
minn
paul mentions high and dry blind sets in freezing weather. heres the problem with that type set in my area. if its that cold already, theres ice everywhere, and the mink are running random over and across that ice, and not following a particular travelway. you can find a few pinch points at some locations, but here again, youll increase the odds by using a high and dry baited set, with a fairly loud lure, to get them to where you can make a fast and effecient set. also, by the time you have freezing weather here, the mink are already thinned out to the point you have to travel too far to find an occasional mink to set for. freezing conditions, greatly reduced mink numbers, more driving, and extremely slow set construction times make it a money losing proposition except at very favorable fur prices. if i trap mink at these times of year, i target the lakes sloughs and ponds that werent trapped effectively during the early season. theyll have the highest mink numbers, usually, and the later in the season, the better they respond to bait and lure.

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: wr otis] #1420644
07/20/09 07:35 AM
07/20/09 07:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Paul Dobbins Online content
"Trapperman custodian"
Paul Dobbins  Online Content
"Trapperman custodian"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 16,468
Goldsboro, North Carolina
It did make for an intersting discussion, and that was the purpose of challenging conventional thinking. Sometimes I enjoy stirring the pot also - lol.



Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: wr otis] #1420646
07/20/09 07:41 AM
07/20/09 07:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
Jim Blakley Offline
trapper
Jim Blakley  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,137
se. mn... age..64
I dont use any lure just fish. Im not a fan of trailing scents I want the mink to be focused on my pocket because thats were my trap is.
Jim


.....Ive been at this Game for over 50 years and have no plans to stop................
Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Jim Blakley] #1420729
07/20/09 10:03 AM
07/20/09 10:03 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,940
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,940
South metro, MN
Nice summary of mink trapping here in MN, Fossil (and everyone else). Where are the blind set guys to give their points? (its getting too one sided) Isn't Spencer a blind set guy? Just bought a couple of his tapes but haven't seen them, yet.

Re: Pocket Setter vs. Blind Setter For Mink?? [Re: Calvin] #1420733
07/20/09 10:13 AM
07/20/09 10:13 AM

J
Jim Wallner OP
Unregistered
Jim Wallner OP
Unregistered
J



Lure and trailing scents are the biggest waste of money on a longline.. Why in Gods name would I want to squirt lure up and down the bank in the water over knoll etc.. I want that critter focused on my pocket set PERIOD.. We don't do that with a dirthole or flat set..

I can't afford to use lure an trailing scents on a logline.. Why?? I would go broke.. I've kept records a few times and the catch never changed much, and I'm talking 1-3 animals either side of the coin.. Nothing to fret over when I am saving money..

NOTHING beats fresh FISH..

Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  Wolfdog91 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1