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Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: nimzy] #6189720
03/16/18 07:08 PM
03/16/18 07:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,495
Nebraska
silkyplainscoyot Offline
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silkyplainscoyot  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,495
Nebraska
[/quote] How often one rat in two traps? Thanks![/quote]

It did happen a few times but I think I remedied that. Don't let the chain hang down the side. Pull it out to the front of the board to keep them from extending chain and going over the top to the other side. I did catch doubles on this type of float.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190046
03/17/18 02:14 AM
03/17/18 02:14 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
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Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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South metro, MN
silky...the problem you will have with that design is one rat in two traps. Floats need to be longer (and narrow) and traps attached at far opposite ends to minimize this issue.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190279
03/17/18 10:40 AM
03/17/18 10:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
The divider between the 2 traps just has to be a bit higher then what Is shown. That should solve the problem


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190305
03/17/18 11:07 AM
03/17/18 11:07 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
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Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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South metro, MN
True beav but we know from watching rats get caught that initially when the trap fires, the rat usually JUMPS. So If making that design, I'd make the center divider a good bit higher, personally. Then maybe add a nail for bait (if you're using bait). Stacking could be an issue then, I suppose.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190326
03/17/18 11:36 AM
03/17/18 11:36 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,424
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
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trapper les  Offline
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Posts: 25,424
williams,mn
I have never had a rat get caught in two traps, and I have even less of a divider, just a pole barn spike for bait. I would try Silkys design the way it is, maybe.


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190332
03/17/18 11:47 AM
03/17/18 11:47 AM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,069
WI
N
nimzy Offline
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nimzy  Offline
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WI
I only had a problem when I attached both traps to the center stake. One in two traps is counterproductive for sure.

IMO the less bulk with effective results the better. Thanks silky

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190414
03/17/18 01:54 PM
03/17/18 01:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
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Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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South metro, MN
I've had a good many 2 rats in one trap happen on floats, but I suppose the overall percentage was pretty minimal really. That was on a longer float attached at the ends. I've seen it happen far more when the attachment points got closer (other guys sets). Overall is it a HUGE deal? well at $3 a rat, probably not as we're all just kind of out playing around in todays fur market anyhow.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: silkyplainscoyot] #6190436
03/17/18 02:31 PM
03/17/18 02:31 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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Rich Kaspar Offline
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Rich Kaspar  Offline
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Nebr
Originally Posted By: silkyplainscoyot
Here's my float design and it works quite well. Small and light. Not much room for the rats. Almost over the trap once they climb up.






I made a 1/2 doz similar to that the last spring i trapped ND, made last week of season....these were covered with 1x1 wire to be legal and had 8x8 opening counting the wire roof...taller center board, and screw to firmly attach carrot each side since my opening was a little wide and wanted them tugging on carrot for more chances to catch, worked very well what little i used

i heard about a guy in SD using a 2x6 up on end with a stake hole thru it to keep propped up, and just used 2 nails w/ heads cut off to fit coils of a 1.5........guy was in the 1000s and been float trqpping 30 plus years...told to me by a SD state trapper...never saw it my own eyes but from what i hear was the zenith of float trap design and 10s of 1000s of rats


If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190439
03/17/18 02:35 PM
03/17/18 02:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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Rich Kaspar Offline
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Rich Kaspar  Offline
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Posts: 1,777
Nebr
Nebr you can still set right on the hut in spring, so i pretty much just set huts with leghlolds, and baited conis when not on hut, and leave ALL the scrap wood piled up where it aint been moved for 4 years.

i should be spring trapping right now, but after a 3.33 rat ave at nafa, for a buck fiddy spring rat ill let them swim

Last edited by Rich Kaspar; 03/17/18 02:39 PM.

If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: Rich Kaspar] #6190452
03/17/18 03:00 PM
03/17/18 03:00 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
The North Offline
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The North  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
Originally Posted By: Rich Kaspar
Nebr you can still set right on the hut in spring, so i pretty much just set huts with leghlolds, and baited conis when not on hut, and leave ALL the scrap wood piled up where it aint been moved for 4 years.

i should be spring trapping right now, but after a 3.33 rat ave at nafa, for a buck fiddy spring rat ill let them swim


Problem is when the price up, its too late to volume trap, cause everyone focuses on rats and floods the market. I go hard every year.
I seems like rat prices never stay high for more then one auction. in my opinion!

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6190988
03/18/18 05:55 AM
03/18/18 05:55 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
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Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
Well it's always a gamble....but you cant sell what you don't have...so trap away and hope for the best. But I'm not betting on much happening this year anymore.....and I still rats to sell, too.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6191082
03/18/18 08:45 AM
03/18/18 08:45 AM
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Posts: 4,901
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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Frazee, MN
The last time I tried my floats which were to big I ended up catching a couple of small beaver in them plus a couple of rats. I found though when 1 trap was gone with the rat the float would be to unstable leaving one trap under the water to deep. They have since been retired.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6191906
03/18/18 10:29 PM
03/18/18 10:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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Rich Kaspar Offline
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Rich Kaspar  Offline
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Nebr
Id like to get to point id just go trap a 1000/year bout 10 days, then maybe sell 500 and hold 500 if price was low-ish, then some year cash in a few 2-4 thou when it goes up......5 bucks finished aint asking much what id like to ave to get excited, when it gets cheaper than that there is other stuff to do that looks a little more appealing....like nightvision and coyotes


If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: silkyplainscoyot] #6192768
03/19/18 07:58 PM
03/19/18 07:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,294
Manitoba Canada
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MB Coonguy Offline
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MB Coonguy  Offline
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Manitoba Canada
Originally Posted By: silkyplainscoyot
Here's my float design and it works quite well. Small and light. Not much room for the rats. Almost over the trap once they climb up.





I an truly a float trapper through and through.

I tried this design last spring-it worked alright but too many times I had 1 rat caught in 2 traps and they didn't stack well.I am going to try some mods to it.First off the hole needs to be bigger for sure.Any sort of ice and it doesn't slide down your stake.Going to keep at it and we'll see what I can come up with.Just my opinion of course.



Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: nimzy] #6193248
03/20/18 08:31 AM
03/20/18 08:31 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
The North Offline
trapper
The North  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2018
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Ontario,Canada
Originally Posted By: nimzy
I only had a problem when I attached both traps to the center stake. One in two traps is counterproductive for sure.

IMO the less bulk with effective results the better. Thanks silky


I anchored mine on each side of the trap, haven't caught a double yet. but i can't see one getting cought in both traps. I guess its possible if they would use the chain to climb back up!

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6193250
03/20/18 08:37 AM
03/20/18 08:37 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
The North Offline
trapper
The North  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
I put my first 30 trap string using that design. had to work yesterday. going to check this afternoon. Ill let u guys know how I make out with the new floats! grin

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: The North] #6193489
03/20/18 11:59 AM
03/20/18 11:59 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,495
Nebraska
silkyplainscoyot Offline
trapper
silkyplainscoyot  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,495
Nebraska
Originally Posted By: The North
Originally Posted By: nimzy
I only had a problem when I attached both traps to the center stake. One in two traps is counterproductive for sure.

IMO the less bulk with effective results the better. Thanks silky


I anchored mine on each side of the trap, haven't caught a double yet. but i can't see one getting cought in both traps. I guess its possible if they would use the chain to climb back up!


What length of chain you running? I have 14" and with my traps attached to the side they did sometimes jump the center divider and get caught in both traps. I think I remedied that by pulling the chain to the front of the float so that it pulls them towards the water first. If not, I will just attach the screw eye underneath in the center and pull chain up front so that they won't have enough length to get to other side.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: MB Coonguy] #6193499
03/20/18 12:04 PM
03/20/18 12:04 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,495
Nebraska
silkyplainscoyot Offline
trapper
silkyplainscoyot  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,495
Nebraska
Originally Posted By: MB Coonguy
Originally Posted By: silkyplainscoyot
Here's my float design and it works quite well. Small and light. Not much room for the rats. Almost over the trap once they climb up.





I an truly a float trapper through and through.

I tried this design last spring-it worked alright but too many times I had 1 rat caught in 2 traps and they didn't stack well.I am going to try some mods to it.First off the hole needs to be bigger for sure.Any sort of ice and it doesn't slide down your stake.Going to keep at it and we'll see what I can come up with.Just my opinion of course.




They don't stack well with traps pre set on them. But you can interlock them(one right side up the other upside down)without and trap and bungy cord a group together a carry a stack quite easily.

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: gwade] #6193681
03/20/18 02:35 PM
03/20/18 02:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
The North Offline
trapper
The North  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
true but it works out for me. I just throw 30 in the canoe set and next day throw another 30 and check the first 30

Re: Making Muskrat Floats [Re: Rich Kaspar] #6193970
03/20/18 07:12 PM
03/20/18 07:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,069
WI
N
nimzy Offline
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nimzy  Offline
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Posts: 4,069
WI
Originally Posted By: Rich Kaspar
Id like to get to point id just go trap a 1000/year bout 10 days, then maybe sell 500 and hold 500 if price was low-ish, then some year cash in a few 2-4 thou when it goes up......5 bucks finished aint asking much what id like to ave to get excited, when it gets cheaper than that there is other stuff to do that looks a little more appealing....like nightvision and coyotes


It’s ten days...go for it. The consolation of cheaper rats is elbow room and full populations. That equates to more fun. Pay me now or pay me later.

I’m working on your zenith design, y’all makin a float trapper outta me. Lol. Never say never in trapping.

Last edited by nimzy; 03/20/18 07:14 PM.
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