Re: Under Ice Baited Muskrat Sets
[Re: rick54]
#7095262
12/18/20 10:46 AM
12/18/20 10:46 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,876 Wisconsin
The Beav
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trapper
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Wisconsin
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I would set just a few inches below the ice. The deeper you go your bait becomes less visible.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Under Ice Baited Muskrat Sets
[Re: rick54]
#7095445
12/18/20 12:40 PM
12/18/20 12:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,514 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,514
Kanabec Cty, MN
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For me setting baited BG's within 4-5' of winter house have proven to be the least produce location and if I catch any it is mid to lower depths(or as Beav points out depth of visibility. I believe this is because M'rats traveling in/out of house thru deeper entrances(shooting out to avoid predator ambush fast till away from house, or returning probably with food already from garage trip. With ice ending the surface patrolling of house perimeter checking for needed repairs of making use of close house feeding beds. I have much higher catch rate away from houses in most. best in path between houses(this does not include smaller feed huts or pop-ups). Close to them is good setting. M'rat housing behavior can be very different from water body to water body in my area.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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Re: Under Ice Baited Muskrat Sets
[Re: rick54]
#7095504
12/18/20 01:24 PM
12/18/20 01:24 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,876 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Wisconsin
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It's my assumption that rats bubble breath as they come and go from the hut out to feed under the ice. So It stands to reason they would be just under the ice. Now when there Isn't any ice I believe the rats spend more time on the surface then they do In the deeper depths. Unless of coarse they are diving down to get something to eat.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Under Ice Baited Muskrat Sets
[Re: rick54]
#7095601
12/18/20 03:24 PM
12/18/20 03:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794 100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat
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100 Mile House, BC Can
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But so far what I understand from you experienced folks is that a baited set should be made just below the ice 4-5 inches which also brings in the visibility factor. The question for me that still remains is how far from the hut should the set be made? IMO 5-10 feet out in front of the hut in clear water area
The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.
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Re: Under Ice Baited Muskrat Sets
[Re: rick54]
#7095631
12/18/20 04:09 PM
12/18/20 04:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,876 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Wisconsin
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When the rat leaves the hut after freeze up It's out looking for food. That food for the most part Is some type of root stock and It's at the bottom. So I believe the rat swims along under the ice until It gets to that food soure then dives to the bottom to get It. So I would set somewhat between the hut and that food source and stay up under the ice. I have used grapefruit rinds and orange peels with some success.It's about eye appeal when your setting under water.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Under Ice Baited Muskrat Sets
[Re: rick54]
#7098529
12/20/20 08:07 PM
12/20/20 08:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,514 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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Posts: 1,514
Kanabec Cty, MN
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I have actually spent some hours watching rats come and go from their family hoses thru crystal clear ice and never seen one swim around the house just under the surface(within a few feet) not saying it never happens just that traps set there for me have proven far too unproductive to make. So I do not see the need to set one hi and low trap(but give it a try and see YOUR results). Only place I set baited BG near bottom is areas where rats are digging into the bottom for roots(most often found by plant remains just below ice. Feed beds are out of the game once ice forms(my point is that what keeps them close to house in open water and a prime set. Again this does not include "feeder" huts or pop-ups which I do set close(most have entrances that are not that deep and you are in their zone. More than a few ices of snow on the ice really reduces my catch I'm sure because of low visibility), clearly some away can increase penetration(I use lime foam pool float for bait as it is hi vis and doesn't discolor or freeze like carrot forgot in the truck). Lime green #1 choice, white second, orang third). I have tested all three together on stakes under ice and if any is gone it's LG. I have bubble trails go from one side of pond to the other all the time 1/4 mile +.
I now take a day or two(depending on now much I plan to trap) and if/when we get clear walkable ice(never go deep than your waist and know your pond bottoms) and just mark dens with fiberglass stakes and bubble trails with plastic marker flags. It often takes a couple of days fro trails to become well defined. Really active dens, runs often remain ice free and are easily found. Length of time with visible ice is not a given here. If marked, trapping can be done until ice gets too thick or snow covered(also overnight in MN some years, other two to three weeks).
Like bass ringed soft body lures mrats pelts bleed air as they travel under the ice and build up to breathable bubbles until frozen into deepening ice. Hence the more they travel the same shortest path the more reserve they build up. This is very easy to observe as mrats swims around the pond just under the that magnetic bee game- busy, busy bee. The habit of swimming near the bottom is a protection from aerial predators and most done near dens so predators can't easily ambush shallow den entrances. Travel up current in moving water can be easier near bottom and whatever is the driving force behind bottom edges. Once ice forms this habits changes to as you surmised easier travel just below ice, access to reserve air and higher visibility. Colonies I have set on the bottom in a couple feet thru vegetation need to be suspended to just below ice to remain productive(culverts seem to be an exception to this IME).
The test of any of this is for you to try it and see your results(all trapping can be different , different places. I'm still trying to quantify if setting my baited BG's(single spring 6x6's) jaws vertical or jaws horizontal would make a difference in my 15% sprung but empty traps. Which I would have to weight against my most convenient stake system for them.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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