Winter Muskrat Set

While revising my muskrat trapping files, I came across a graphic for this winter set option and was curious if anyone uses either of these under ice "board" sets, or possibly any variations of it using footholds and/or bodygrips?

Jonathan

Not yet, but thanks for the pic!

Judging the thickness of the ice with regard to the thickness of the boards, I would guess the trapper might be found under the ice. Looks like a set that might work, but it would be long day of popping holes, unless one used a power auger.

Might work better in clear water.

ya looks like it would work

I will try this set this winter. I'll have to use a conibear. NO leg holds allowed in Jersey. Jonathan, what do you suggest I use for the bait.

I trap quite a few under ice rats every year. Last year I tried the viertical pole set to the right with very little success.

Visitation was spotty with alot of misses. Used this when pushups were covered with 2 feet of snow and set around huts. I will be giving these types of sets another try.

Teal

Teal what other under water sets do you use. Do you have any pics?

No pics but I use a lot of #110's and #160's in runs and hut entrances. Have used baited bodygrips with marginal success.

I trap a lot of runs through the ice with longsprings and conibears i made a pictorial this past winter of it ill see if i can find it.

That would be great kid.

Jonathan,

If you happen to have a March or April (or one of those months) 1986 (or was it 1988) Fur-Fish-Game laying around . . . . . . you'll see an article I wrote, maybe on page 12?, that described this very set using dead poles instead of a board.

Very effective after iceup. Percentage wise isn't real high, but when you're running quite a few of these it adds up after awhile.

These sets and conibears is how I grew up trapping 'rats in the 60s on the Mississippi backwaters.

I too have used 110's on poles baited with apple slices on the trigger wires caught a ouple rats but they didn't seem all that productive i think location probably has a lot to do with it

Johnathan,
I have used the very same set last year and baited the set with a carrot. Seemed to work fine except for the fact that the hole froze shut over night. The pic on the left is basically what I used but the board was at a 45 degree angle (on the flat side) so the rat could swim it's way up to the bait which was attached about three inches above the trap. I also used the 110 which was secured with a wood cleat to the board. I baited the trigger with a new carrot and also had success. The only drawback I found was that the board had to be stuck into the mud quite a ways so it wouldn't float! The rat would see the light from the opening knowing it was a way out and thus found the trap.

Thanks for the pics kid.

Jonathan,

My favorite under ice set is one that I describe in my book that can be used either under ice of above or above the water line, in non-freezing conditions. When used under the ice the stake is pushed down in the mud so that the entire spring is under the ice, but part of the chain and ring is above. When using it when not frozen push stake in until the about half of the trap is submerged with the bait right at the water line. For bait I have used potatos, apple, sweet potatos, a piece of cooked corn on the cob and turnip. You can just push the bait on the wire or fasten it to the wire with a wire or twist tie. .... Garry-

it works pretty well in not so clear water along runways also.

http://www.michiganbear.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203662
Found this in my search last season and will be trying it this year.

I caught over 200 rats last year with the leaning board set like the one pictured on the left. It works! Chopping the holes everyday sucks!

Gander did you use foot holds or conibears?

Just for reference, jer z, Muskrat and Garry, I trapped muskrats under the ice in Wisconsin marshes for 40 years using an unbaited #110 in active runs staked and stabilized with a 4' piece of plaster lath. My #110's shape in this photo ages me somewhat (as do Garry's old Victor Conibears), but illustrates the idea.



Depending upon the lath width, the trap is stabilized at the desired level with different kinds of "wedging" at the spring's eye ring. The trap is positioned just off the bottom in the middle of the run. In predetermined longer runs found with bubbles in the ice to warrant it, I'd set two #110's in that run 4'-5' apart for doubles.

Muskrat, I recall reading about the set types in that graphic in the 1950's - either in FF&G, or in one of E.J. Dailey's or Stanley Hawbaker's booklets, but never tried it. I have no intentions of using them. Interesting that you and Gander Club have found them as a winter trapping tool.

Jer z, Though I have never baited for muskrats in the methods described, I have used bait for them on occasions at the water's edge of ditch banks with half an apple on a stick above the trap. Those who bait #110 triggers use parsnip, carrot, potato or a small piece/slice of cobbed corn with success. Even heard of one trapper who used only orange peels.

Anyway, I was just curious if anybody used this older under ice technique, and you folks answered that question. Thank you.

Jonathan

Jonathan,

Here in Michigan you can't trap in the huts, so under the ice sets are all we can use. I use the board set on the left, but with dead sticks, and a conibear baited with a piece of potatoe. I set these in line from the hut to the feed beds. Works pretty good.

Also here in Michigan the ice goes on and shortly after you get snow and the location of runs are tough. Plus the ice isn't thick enough till later on. At times using the board(30-45degree angle) on a stick is placed around the hut. Often 2-3 on a large hut. If the trail isn't apparent, I will wrap a piece of tin foil(3-4 inches wide)around the stick going down, just under the trap on the board and near the bottom. You can either staple or roll up the foil and crimp it. The light from the open hole makes the foil shiney and attracts rats over to the setup. I've even had the foil torn off by rats. I saw this trick about 20 years ago. Don't remember where though.

My $.02

I forgot to mention that I use the mini-carrots stuck on a #4 finish nail above the trap. Often a #1-ls trap or some #1 northwood coils.

I have used the coni under ice baited with orange flagging tape and it worked as well.

#1 LS Victors and a carrot.

Gander Club is right on. Most of the guys in the big marshes wait until freezeup to start. Leaning pole set, a variety of bait can be used, catch thousands of rats. Alot of guys like those small short spring, old style No.1 Oneida Victor. All had a hole in the back to put on the nail, and under ice as long as the jaws close tight.........

Before I believed in conibears i used the 1 1/2 LS with a piece of corn wired above it. I used the hole already found on the victor frame and hooked the trap to it by pounding a nail in the tree branch(about 6 inches thick) I was using. Worked great. To be honest, I have turned into such a conibear man that if we have clear ice before snow comes I just look for the bubble trails and make run sets. I try to mark runs before freezup just in case the snow hits first like last year.