Well I have searched the archives with no luck..
Can anyone share a picture or two of the spring hole set for fox.. This is technically one of two legal sets we can use for fox in CT so I would like to give it a shot. In CT the trap must be completly under water...
So give me what you got...please.

I don't have any pics.

The set is basically two humps out in the water, one farther than the other and they have to step on the one to get to the other. You put a thin piece of sod on the pan. You have bait and/or lure on the farthest hump. I believe it's in Russ Carmen's book.

I've tried the set a couple times and can tell you they do work.The worst part is they are time consuming and locations for a productive springhole set are limited.You can also use a small flat rock in place of sod for your trap pan.

I've made them before with good results. Like already mentioned, Finding the right conditions is the hardest part. I have taken a water puddle with a 6-8' diameter. about 9" from the waters edge place your trap. Keep the entire trap just below waters surface. I then cut a couple pieces of moss about the size of the trap pan. Place the moss on top of the pan until it clears the water by about 1/2" (stack several layers if needed). About 9 inches from your trap toward the center of the puddle place a larger rock or fireplace log and put you bait or lure on that. Your Trap actually becomes a stepping stone for the critter to reach the bait.

I have never made this set, but recall reading about it back in the early 1950's, either in Fur, Fish And Game Magazine, or in a book by either E.J Dailey or Stanley Hawbaker.

Versions of this set must be described somewhere by someone who has used and tried it with success - not sure where you might find it unless someone sees and chimes in on your post.

If not, here is an account for making it from a 1909 book by Elmer Kreps that I found in my library.

The Water Set For Fox

There is enough information in this article that you should be able to make one so that the set would be legal in CT.

Jonathan

jonathan i dont have time to read that but man that book looks decent. saved it for further reading one night when i have time for the whole thing

The set is described in Stanley Hawbakers book "Trapping North American Furbearers" haven't tried it but i would think it could connect.

AND Water that doesn't freeze easily. That, I believe was the reason for the original concept at a Spring Seep.

Thanks everyone, that is what I was looking for. Johnathan that book looks great I cant wait to read into it further. I will have to modify it I know but it will be worth a try. I also hear it will work for fisher... we will find out.

Bic good point on the freezing I will have to do it in a small trickle stream and before it really starts freezing.

If any one has any other variations or a picture of one I would love to see it.

spring hole set

a really small spring I use this set on the trap is under the grass the bait lure goes on the other stone

One of Russ Carmens books has a good chapter on it. I don't remember which one.

They don't have to be limited to spring holes.
I have used them sucessfully on sand bars, shallow stream crossings, etc.
If you are in an area where your creeks have rock beds, this is a good place for drags. Simply string one out down stream.
(I have also used plastic high color tape with these drags to speed finding them).
Later,
45/70,
RKBA

I use them in a lot of big ditches small creeks the bank has to be right not steep . Sometimes jus in a big mudhole I know is going to be there a week or two.

Keep in mind that Redbone's restriction and limitation in CT is that no matter how the set is configured, the trap has to be completely underwater. That would be a challenging deviation from how this set is conventionally made. Ingenuity is in demand to be compliant with that regulation.

Jonathan

Here is my set pic from this fall. This ist he remake, but this set caught a fox for me on the first night. My trap was bedded roughly 6-8" out from the land and the island I made was about 30" from land. Not a spring hole just a drainage pond, but it worked. My sod piece was just big enough to cover the trap pan also.


I had a rat buried under the grass on my fake island and dobbins fox gland lure on the grass as well.


Results

I have always had the trap underwater only the grass is above btw the grass wad is about 1/2" thick small enough to fit between the jaws of the trap . I think I learned from one of carmens books I learned it from marsyadas book water trapping and then carmen fine tuned it for me for the greys I trap I put the trap close to the shore 3-5 " and the bait stone maybe a foot or so from the trap

My grandfather used the springhole set to catch foxes and a lot of bobcats. You have probably read enough already to know how it is made but one key thing is hardly ever mentioned.The trap must be set so the animal steps BETWEEN the trap jaws and not over them. This seems to be a minor detail but it is not as many fox will crouch down and step out at such an angle that the rising jaw will push the foot out of the trap.

45/70- thanks for the tips but drags are not legal in CT traps must be anchored to something solid so that may be a challenge for me....I was just thinking a disposable stake in the water bed.

Thanks Ottertrapper those are great photos, I am glad to hear it is producing for you.

This is an ideal spot/set to use those old jump traps.

RBC- if i read the rules right, the securly anchored requirement is only for the coyote season as with the no visible bait and pan tension requirement for the padded traps