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Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros #1782253
01/31/10 08:56 PM
01/31/10 08:56 PM

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BuckNE OP
Unregistered
BuckNE OP
Unregistered
B



Situation. Missouri River where it comes through here is channeled and moves at a pretty good clip. BUT, it doesn't move so fast that the beaver can't use it. Lots of beaver crawlouts.

Question: can muskrats live in water that moves fairly fast? If lots of beaver can live in it, does that mean muskrats can live in it?

Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: ] #1782289
01/31/10 09:05 PM
01/31/10 09:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,471
Sandhills Nebraska
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Gary Benson Offline
trapper
Gary Benson  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,471
Sandhills Nebraska
I'd bet so Buck. They'd probly just stay close to the bank out of the fast current. Rats do well in the Niobrara and that's pretty good current.


Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: Gary Benson] #1782291
01/31/10 09:06 PM
01/31/10 09:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
If beaver can live there so can muskrats so long as they are around.


Nevada bound
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: Bruce T] #1782362
01/31/10 09:25 PM
01/31/10 09:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,484
Eastern Shore of Maryland
bad karma Offline
trapper
bad karma  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,484
Eastern Shore of Maryland
sure Buck. Never seen water that had beaver that did not have rats, at least around here. Not the rats prefered habitat here but they manage. Potomac River has rats and it moves pretty good.


Never argue with a fool - they will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: Bruce T] #1782377
01/31/10 09:27 PM
01/31/10 09:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,776
carter county tenn
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trapper al Offline
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trapper al  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,776
carter county tenn
theres rats on our mountain cricks,not a real lot but they are there on the sides in the tree roots


1776 ONE MORE TIME,FREEDOM NEVER COMES FREE
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: trapper al] #1782470
01/31/10 09:55 PM
01/31/10 09:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,798
ohio
Ohio Wolverine Offline
trapper
Ohio Wolverine  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,798
ohio
Years ago my fur dealer told me he liked river rats because they were bigger and heaver hides.
LOL I didn't believe him til I trapped a river and they are different. Not all of them but you know when you catch a real river rat.


We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: Ohio Wolverine] #1782568
01/31/10 10:28 PM
01/31/10 10:28 PM

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BuckNE OP
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BuckNE OP
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Thanks. Opens up more possibilities.

Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: upstateNY] #1783834
02/01/10 11:39 AM
02/01/10 11:39 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,548
Cleveland IL
muddyriverdogz Offline
trapper
muddyriverdogz  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,548
Cleveland IL
Try to find natural obtsacles like brush piles,downed trees that break the current down.Put floats behind them in the slower current.


You only live once, so get over it!

Tactics may change but the goal remains the same.
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: muddyriverdogz] #1783877
02/01/10 12:14 PM
02/01/10 12:14 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,798
ohio
Ohio Wolverine Offline
trapper
Ohio Wolverine  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,798
ohio
Along rivers you will find feed beds under tree roots,overhangs and anywhere theres overhead cover.
You will find where they dig roots or feed on certain plants on the bank, set these with footholds on a drownder either slide or 2nd stake in deeper water drownder.
You will find very few bank dens in most cases.
There very few places for bodygrips except the edge set.
I love to set snares for rats on their trails up the bank.
Sometimes you will notice that they have two trails one they use to go away from the river and one to go back into the river.
I have an idea of a gang set on trails like this going away from the river that I haven't tryed yet.


We have met the enemy and the enemy is us!
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: Ohio Wolverine] #1784187
02/01/10 02:02 PM
02/01/10 02:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,441
Tennessee
hunterchub Offline
trapper
hunterchub  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,441
Tennessee
I would consider using muskrat floats in deadwater areas. Tied off to a tree so it adjusts to changing water levels.


[Linked Image]
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: hunterchub] #1784346
02/01/10 03:08 PM
02/01/10 03:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,288
venango county,pennslyvania
minklessinpa Offline
trapper
minklessinpa  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,288
venango county,pennslyvania
used to hit the mighty mo at plattsmouth,neb.hit the wing walls with floating rat sets.worked for me!!


life member Pennsylvania trappers
life member vfw
member fta
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: minklessinpa] #1784362
02/01/10 03:14 PM
02/01/10 03:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 341
kent county, MI
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bluebill Offline
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bluebill  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 341
kent county, MI
I see them in a large river near me. I have watched them swim along the bank and into the gaps of exposed tree roots. I have caught them there by setting a 160 in the root gaps.

Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: bluebill] #1784394
02/01/10 03:28 PM
02/01/10 03:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 125
West Central Iowa
4
4 Fur Offline
trapper
4 Fur  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 125
West Central Iowa
Seems like current and diet dictates 'rat size over here, Buck. River rats > stream rats > pond rats > marsh rats. I use a big ear of corn, shell about a third of it on the bank and stick the cob end into the bank at waters edge. Most 'rats over here know what corn is here in Iowa but so do coon so stake well. This set will tolerate fluxuating water levels to an extent. Set the trap up tight against the bank/ear of corn to avoid water fowl but I imagine they're all South by now.

BTW, Harry and Bob Smeal of Scribner used to love our Iowa river rats! They still in business?

Here is a catch that illustrates the set...






If you set the trap shallow, it's amazing how many mink you'll catch. Don't think they're attracted to the corn but rather see the corn as an obstruction to their bank travel and enter the water to go around it...





Last edited by 4 Fur; 02/01/10 03:37 PM.

Life Member NTA, FHA and Iowa Trappers Association
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: minklessinpa] #1784443
02/01/10 03:56 PM
02/01/10 03:56 PM

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BuckNE OP
Unregistered
BuckNE OP
Unregistered
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Originally Posted By: minklessinpa
used to hit the mighty mo at plattsmouth,neb.hit the wing walls with floating rat sets.worked for me!!


Then you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I was wondering about setting floats behind the wingwalls. Thanks.

Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the pros [Re: ] #1785184
02/01/10 08:32 PM
02/01/10 08:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 900
south jersey
ub1243 Offline
trapper
ub1243  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 900
south jersey
plenty of rats in tidal water. full moon winter tides rip, add in a wind, can't see how they don't get washed out.
but they live there, in huge numbers.


united bowhunters of n.j.
n.j. fur harvesters
new jersey trappers association
NTA rep for NJ
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the p [Re: ub1243] #1785201
02/01/10 08:37 PM
02/01/10 08:37 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 240
sd
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skipper Offline
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skipper  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 240
sd
Only problem is that fast water usually goes not have much vegetation (food) for rats to eat. Without food, no rats.

Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the p [Re: skipper] #1785725
02/01/10 10:59 PM
02/01/10 10:59 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,288
venango county,pennslyvania
minklessinpa Offline
trapper
minklessinpa  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,288
venango county,pennslyvania
we made our floats "V" shaped,one trap.anchored in the narrow of the V.apple for bait with grass over it to hide it.


life member Pennsylvania trappers
life member vfw
member fta
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the p [Re: minklessinpa] #1785830
02/01/10 11:33 PM
02/01/10 11:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,471
Sandhills Nebraska
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Gary Benson Offline
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Gary Benson  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,471
Sandhills Nebraska
Your going to be busy Buck.


Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Muskrats and fast water. Need info from the p [Re: Gary Benson] #1788128
02/02/10 08:47 PM
02/02/10 08:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 788
Northwest PA
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Bismuth Boy Offline
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Bismuth Boy  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 788
Northwest PA


They don't mind faster water. Any little eddy will either hold rats or they will use it as a resting area.


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