Made a floats,what do ya think? and do you think a rat can get on there with out setting off the traps?

huh? you want the rat to set off the trap when he climbs up there.

and i would add some foam under the board or an old pool floatie where the sticks are. wood and sticks barely break the surface when floating without chicken wire and traps tied to them to weigh it down

The effectiveness of any muskrat float depends on its proper floatation and balance. You may want to consider looking at the design and material options in these examples of floats that other trappers use.

This is a condensed version of a post that I made on Trapperman a couple of years ago for your reference:

Muskrat Floats: An Overview

There should be a style among them that would be suitable for your needs in terms of expense, availability of materials and ease of construction. Keep in mind that the multiple-catch, floating "colony" traps shown are not legal in New York State.

Good luck with your new adventure.

Jonathan

no I don't, I mean do you think he will set them off when he is climbing on the board befor he is standing on it. Also thanks Jonathan!

One Muskrat and two scoops of ice-cream

Yes he will knock off the traps and turn the float over.
It will be top heavy.
Its also too narrow which will make it unstable.
Do a search for floats. There was a real good thread on here last winter iirc showing many types of floats.
Have a good 1
just

Ya I think i'm going to put two boards under the edges to let it float better.

Made my first float!! only took 1 hour

I make my floats 18 inches by 18 inches. I use 1" lumber for the bottom and 2X6's for the sides. I use chicken wire for the top. Many of the floats I have had for 20 years or more. If you store them inside in the off season the wood stays dry and they float very well and are stable. I attach the traps to a fence staple on the bottom and another fence staple in one corner anchors it to the stake.

i make my muskrat floats out of 10ft boards with 4 ft pieces on each end and bout 6-12 160's or 120's on each board depending on the size of that particular board with carrots on the triggers stapeled to the bottom of the board ill put the board out in the water bout a month early prebaited and i try to get them before the water freezes

Top View...

No that will not work at all, the weight of traps and that mesh combined with water logging and it sinks,if it didnt sink the rat would tip it,if he ever wanted to go in there at all,and without bait or traps i highly doubt youll do much good.
Widen the board and add an inch of styrofoam under it or better yet go to the archives and look at some real floats

Do you think mine will be stable? I might have to fill the bath tub up tonight and try it out.

Nick, There are no photos to view in your last post.

Jonathan

[quote=Jonathan]Nick, There are no photos to view in your last post.

Jonathan,
Look up a couple posts and there are pictures there.

How do you guys anchor your float to the ground? Do you stake to shore or do you anchor them to the river bottom some how?

cinder block nick cinder block! o by the way i got some lure today for coon from F&T, you will have to smell that stuff, and i got a bag of sheeps wool, thought it was in a little bag (from the picture on the website) and the bag is HUGE! thinkin about makin a sweater instead.

nick_pick-
I can't see your photos either!! The only photos that I can see are from coonsnightmare10

Looks too tippy to me, check the archives for some good floats.

This needs to be in the archives.