tadpole .... A rock isn't a requirement, but may be beneficial at times. Both mink and muskrats are peculiar, in they most often hug a wall or the bank on a bottom edge situation.



The two photos above are right across from each other under a bridge ... the one with the wood laying next to it caught one mink. The other one caught a mink and a couple days later caught a muskrat. I have found this to be true either with a dirt bank or concrete.

I prefer when using a bodygrip trap that lat least 2/3s of the trap be out of the water. In the case of the two sets shown above; the first trap didn't even have enough water to cover the bottom jaw of the trap.

I suppose there is nothing wrong with using a blocking rock but I personally don't see the need for one. The set is designed to take advantage of the mink's need to hug the edge of things and a protrusion of some sort is all that is needed.
My favorite places to set the Bottom Edge set:
1. Beginning and end of deep pools if the protrusions are there.
2. the beginning and end of curving creek type pools.
3. cement bridge abutments if they make a curve or angle out into an apron....will probably have to use a cement block or brick here cause of the cement bottom.
4. along the edge of bogs where hummocks stick out from the bank....set the outer edge of the hummock if the mud ain't too deep.
5. Wisconsin trappers will know what I mean on this one...where the DNR has attempted to improve trout habitat by wedging and connecting large logs along the banks(under water) of trout streams for trout cover and then secure them with vertical posts pounded into the bottom....Wow! set the outer edges of these both ones next to the bank and out from the bank. sometimes the DNR will pile cut saplings on top of the bank for overhead cover and the pile extends over the water. When the snow flies look for mink tracks up on the shore entering these piles from the upper bank and slide a conibear in there too. OOOps! I guess turning 65 is mellowing me out and I starting to reveal secrets here. DEADLY!
6. Remember that the bottom edge set is a blind set and needs no modification of the environment(don't make it harder than it is).
7. When people ask me about the biggest disadvantage of the bottom edge set I don't have an answer except there isn't one. Oh I guess one thing to consider is that they are great in the late season so make sure you wear warm waders and warm socks and a good pair of shoulder gauntlets.

That is fantastic. I am going to add more this year to my season. Thanks!

tadpole, look at the diagrams and then at the creek or stream you are going to trap. after a bit, the points will jump out at you. i find myself looking at every trickle and trying to figure out where i would place a trap. cannot wait to try it. as my time is limited, i like this simplistic approach.

I know we have beat this subject to death but I do have one more selling point on the bottom edge set. When I used to live and die trapping mink using the bridge abutment with footholds and the pocket set with footholds I had a very limited view and when it rained for three days in a row and the water rose I just "accepted it". It was part of the hardships of trapping. Then I started using the bottom edge set and would be at work looking at the sleet storm outside and realize that if I had 100 bottom edge sets out they were ALL operational except those with a critter in them or a FEW clogged with leaves. a no brainer!