I'm going to making beaver and muskrat floats soon. I've looked at some pics on net and saw alot of people that make there's sandwiche what looks insulation board or Styrofoam? Not sure exactly but I would think Insulation board what be a better idea. And on beaver floats what's a crafty idea to keep lure out of water? Thought maybe plastic hose facing slightly upward

Yes insulation board is better. Styrofoam will soak up water and shed bits of foam all the time. My beaver float is V shaped and has a piece of plywood at the point of the V that I can make a little castor mound on. There is also a small hole in the plywood so a lured stick can be poked in there so it stands up out of the water/waves.

go to page 2 and look at fun with beaver floats. you''ll see my setup. pex pipe for bait holder, eye appeal.

These are some muskrat floats I made, I used rigid insulation.

Those look fantastic. Nice recessed trap holes. Did you silicon/glue them together where the insulation board and wood meet?

I trimmed the plywood with wood all around the edge, inserted the rigid insulation and sandwiched it with another piece of plywood on top. I could have glued it together, but I feel this is more durable. That and I am an older retired gentleman with a lot of time on my hands...

They do ride well in the water.

I would think that is an excellent way to do it. As nice as I have seen on here. Now I need to retire!

The platform on your Beaver float should have two holes drilled for two skint sticks when you choose the bait method, or a gob of mud goes on the platform with some Castor or Sac oil when you go that route
They are great to shove into reeds or cable to an overhanging limb in a creek or river where there is slight current.

Very nice.

But I'm betting that more then a few rats will just sit on those traps and never set them off. I have watched lots of rats straddle or just sit on top of traps that weren't recessed and never get caught. The other thing I have done Is keep my bait about 8" above your trap platform. You want that rat to have to get up on It's hind legs to get the bait. When doing so they move those feet around and your catch rate will go up.

Beav, didn't you set out to make the ultimate float several years ago? I seem to remember a thread about that.

From the beginning I wanted to try one of those spring type clips that can be placed around the dowel, that are easily adjustable up and down to keep the bait above the traps. I just don't do much rat trapping. And I don't trap out of a boat/canoe, so it is easier not to carrying floats. I'm retired, like to build things. I found them interesting and built them. I may get the clips and give them a fair go, maybe? These went the same way of the mink boxes that I had to build and try... but for me, personally there are more practicable and successful way to trap for my situation.
I just finished on a tear on bird houses. Seen a bird house in the yard that needed to be replaced, I had some scrap wood... a bunch of bird houses going out this spring!
Shoe rack may be next...

I hear ya.
What ever you build Is well done. And your shop Is more organized then my house. You don't want to see my shop. LOL

Floats are In my opinion a spring thing. I have very limited results when using them In the fall. The size of your floats Is about perfect. Most floats I see are are to big and give the rat to many places to sit.