snowman....most are taking this post for granted.....trust me.


Good luck suredve

that's probably a good thing

cj how do you use this set in the marsh?

Done that a few times but I really do not like setting slides if there are other good set locations nearby.

I agree if there are runs and good feed beds, but typically, the bulk will be made of sign trapping....especially if you are unleashed on a 300 acre marsh littered with cabins.

Wish I had some marshes to trap rats, nothing but river rats and pond rats down here.

Thanks for the tip! CJ any tip from you is definately worth taking advantage of from what I see and hear.I'll definatly be tryin that out! Thanks again!

The problem I have with using footholds is wring outs so I quit using them. Even with deep water, they are not drowning. I totally agree with your technique and I end up passing on a lot of sign just like you have pictured due to the rats escaping I have already lost half a dozen with footholds this week alone.

The weight alone of a 1 or 1 1/2 will drown a rat if you have deep enough water....WITH NO abstructions...ie...cattail, weeds, etc.
This is a sure fire set. If you have rats getting away, there is something other than deep water allowing it.

Foot note:

If you happen to have a subscription to T&PC, I wrote an article on this very topic. You may have to dig, but it's in the 2002, Aug issue, entilted, "Mudslide Muskrats"

CJ's thread describing his intent and description has worked for my muskrat trapping efforts, long before his ink, for well over 50 years of trapping for them. The advice is simple and deliberate. No need for a #110 in this situation; however, they do have their place in the muskrat drama, but not here.

My "willow" stakes punched securely into the muck through the trap's ring in Wisconsin marshes for forty years of muskrat trapping, with a 1-1/2 long spring Victor nailed through it, has been sufficient to capture my target muskrats. And, without fault, to catch and drown incidental raccoon, mink and otter that happened by. Never lost one of either in that incarnation of the set.

Jonathan

Frozentoes, how long are the chains on your traps? I add 18"-24" of chain to all my rat traps, and stake the trap so the rat can't get out of the water. I very seldom have a wring-off, and very seldom have a rat that isn't drowned.

What kind of setup are you using on your traps frozen? I use a lot of 1.5's for rats and most of them are drowned in less than a foot of water even on sliders.

Good post CJ!!!! Appreciate the pics!

CJ, have you trapped that pond where we caught the Snapper this summer? There was all sorts of sign in that one.

I have some old #1 longsprings with the factory chain. I then added about 2 feet of wire to the end of the chain. I then wire the trap to a stake and set on the runs much like was described above. But, I will admit that I did place them in places where there were reeds and stuff. From reading some of the replies, I can see I need to be in "cleaner" areas so the rat will head to the water ASAP. I still have a few in the boat and I think I will give this another try and do it the way it is described here

i know i sure am trying it this afternoon when i get out of school!! Great post CJ!

put 15 or 20 sets out today and stepped down there runs so theres about a foot or so of water. they could get on the side of the run in shallower water, but i tried staking as far out as could. i used lots of #2s and 110s. are these heavy enough to keep them inside the runs?

also i actually put my wet suite on instead of working from the shore line, and mudded up the runs like you said.

i even kicked some mud up on the road trail between two ponds in hopes of a mink smelling the mud also.

do you think i did the right thing?
will it work?

suredve, it might work. Just remember it's a simple set, so just like all trapping sets, none of it is rocket science. Just keep it simple and it will work.

put 16 sets out, half were #1 long springs in the method as described above, except i set quite a few existing mud slides and made a few of my own, i staked the traps as deep as i possibly could to keep the trap where i wanted, will my Long springs weigh enough to drown the rats alone or not?? I also made a few floats today i will set out after work tomarrow afternoon, thanks again for the GREAT post CJ and the helpful info from everyone else!!