I set some 330's in deeper (murky) water and each day I checked them I had to pull them up to see if the trap was fired or if I had a catch. Is there a trick to this or some suggestions that will make this easier? I'm not wanting to become a member of the 330 club and just feel around.

You could get a metal rod(like an old electric fence stake) and feel around with that. If you go down by where the springs are you can tell if they are still compressed or not. About all I can think of. Hope it helps.

How/what are they set on? I would suggest a small diameter stick in the springs so that if it goes of, it would break or move the stick....

I use fender washers to anchor and I use my long metal driver to feel for by bodygrips. I don't how deep your sets are so that may not work but you could always rig up a longer pole with metal on the end. With the metal end you know right when you touch the trap because of the sound. Pretty soon you get good enough that you won't hardly ever trip one off feeling for it.

After you set the trap get yourslef a stick the length you need and put some flagging ribbon on one end and wedge the other end in one of the top corners of the trap. When the trap fires the stick will fall down and you will know your trap is fired. I can not take credit for this tho,i seen it on John Wilkinsons otter video. I went into paint and did a drawing below...

I have a supply of slim river canes I use for markers at various times. Something on this order, set parallel to a jaw, and barely inside the trap would work. If you can't see the cane, or its floating, the traps is fired.
Adios,
45/70,

Personally, I usually start with a deep breath... ^__^

Steve

Another way is to run 2 pieces of wire down to the trap and have each one tied to a jaw wnd looped together the other ends up the trap stake.When the trap is fired the loops pull apart.You can check this set with a continuity light or meter to see if the circut is broken.Also works for under ice sets.

ny, is there a chance of the water giving a false positive on the continuity depending on the local chemistry???

Ill tell you how NOT to do it Theirs a big lump on the middle finger of my left hand thats been there for two years. Everytime I reach into the water after a 330, its says" HEY STUPID, REMEMBER ME "

LMAO!!!!Same here buti almost never got that trap off my arm!USE A STICK!!!!

take ypur spade and run it over top if the trap two clicks and that means it is still set.

I have to give the spot light to Hal on this one. He uses a foam shipping peanut . When the trap goes off the peanut floats free. Maybe he will tell you how it is done. I check traps in the dark with a light. I can see in the water, with the light, when it is dark. Hope this helps. M.

Hal must pinch the peanut when he sets it....

These sets were deep enough that the tips of the deep water stabilizers were well under water I would be guessing at 5 ft. I tried probing with my hook to feel for and animal and couldn't feel one but that doesn't tell me that the trap hasn't been fired with nothing in it. Most of my beaver trapping doesn't deal with this type water. I slow at setting these traps anyway and firing one off would take lots of time for me to get reset and back into position. Thanks to all who responded I think there are a couple of the ideas that might just work for me. Any other suggestions I would appreciate hearing from you.

good advice above. i usually use a long small diameter limb or something. on private properties i mark them with flagging like said above. on other areas where theft might be a problem i just use a small stick.

i also use a tater rake to tap around in there. you can "feel" metal on metal to find out if it's still set. also after a flood or hard rain, a tater rake helps find everything.

if you have seen mink muskrat and raccoon trapping on streams by Charles Dobbins he uses what he called a floater. it is a piece of fish line attactced to the jaw of the trap and at the other end is anything that floats on the surface of the water. When the trap fires the floater goes under the water and that will tell you that your trap is fired. hope that helps you. If you have anymore questions just pm me and ill try and explain more.

Monofilament fishing line tied to the jaw with a fishing bobber on the line. Just like fishing, if the bobber is down, PULL!

Yep just what Bismuth boy said.

Bismuth Boy I think that one will work for me! All I have to do is gather me up a few floats and add them to my old bucket. I also think that the small stick in the jaws would work. I think I'll play with both ideas in some regular sets and hopefully get it down to a working plan then I should be all ready for the deep water when I need it.