Bridge Wall Mink Sets

[JLDakota]

Beings this was described as a mink set, I will for the most part stay with coni's and set the trails (if there) a few feet back in the grass where A and D meet with the land. If the depth and current is appropriate IMO for the mink to be hunting it, I would have a Bottom Edge on the DC stretch, corner at C or the CEB straight away as I agree many who think many mink hunt up stream for better swimming control and very possibly to enabling a better ambush potential of prey species who may also be facing upstream awaiting their meals. Have caught many on straight stretches with no corners just because they were hugging the edge as they traveled. In fact many of my first BE's were specifically just that. If shallow, I would attempt to landscape any of the straight stretches to subtely force mink into either a coni or a blind coil with free jaw touching the perpendicular edge, with an outside guide by dog and a jumpstick over either lever. Success breeds success and confidence. MN just happens to have lots of mink and I have had a lot of time which has allowed me considerable opportunities to experiment. ;D JL

[psb1011]

E spot
Same mink

[psb1011]

E spot

[BK]

See I was confused,.........I thought we were talking about the bridge? Not that happend up or down stream from it. And you can only kill them once.........YES.
But trust me on this one Steve, you do not want me trapping above or below you, as you will be looking at a lot of enpty traps.
I have infact taken over 100 mink in a season just using foot traps. ( still got the yellow slips from your furbuyer).

Never said I don't understand foot traps for mink.

I yack about the BE set cause I like it and many don't understand it .
But if you want me to "get over it,"..........I won't post about it again.

[psb1011]

All the mink I caught this year--or ever were caught at point E. He He all 7 of them.Had sets at all other points,and have much to learn.I only set at bridges just to save some time while breaking up the fox monotany.

[trappnman]

good pixs phil- they prove the point- there are zillions (well, maybe NOT zillions) of potential set locations- all capable of both TAKING mink and MISSING mink.

In no way am I saying that yo ucannot catch mink under bridges- of course you can and I do to.

BU-T I find that by moving away from such an expansive area- I can narrow those potential locations down quite a bit. Many times to THE definitve set.

When running a mink line- I have plenty of time to walk those extra yards. More mink, less real work and less looky lous....

[psb1011]

And here's the mink im most proud of,E spot in 2 ft of water BE set mink heading for competitors set at spot A

[BK]

? Shhh..........LOL

[trappnman]

Did the opening post ask about FOOTHOLD or CONIBEARS or simply on how to set it up?

I read it as how to simply set it up. Since thats what it asked.

ANY bridge can be set up with footholds or conibears- doesn't matter.

YOU made it a BE controversy-

No one would have even thought you were being singled out until you posted as such.

and nowhere did I see where either YOU or BE sets were badmouthed or singled out.

No one (esp me) is asking you not to talk about the BE set- but I would encourage you to stop seeing controvery about the BE set on every mink thread.

[trappnman]

But trust me on this one Steve, you do not want me trapping above or below you, as you will be looking at a lot of empty traps.

and if I was above or below you same thing- get a grip!

that applies to any GOOD mink trapper.

[BK]

I felt singled out when you said "as a token token to BK".
But the moon is infact about full maybee it's having an effect on you,.......... or heck maybee ME?

[trappnman]

not all- by that I simply meant that, because of yOUR influence, I try to put in some BE sets through out the season.

Timber was there and saw it- was textbook location.

Everytime I make one- I think of you. I literally say "theres one for ya BK"

matter of fact- last mink of the season was taken in a true BE set- in 2 feet of water on a clay point...

we both know if I didn't have open water, I'd be setting more of them...

[CoonDuke]

Point E is your typical Johnny Thorpe suicide set location and most seem to agree it is a good spot for a set.

I am surprised how many trappers would choose to set both the upsrtream points and the downstream points. While it may be a good idea, how would you set it to minimize $$$ loss due to theft? Say with one maybe two traps? Would you choose upsteam or downstream?

Computerhater, Lion, others? Lets hear it!!

Severing....we better get a post out of you!!

[musher]

How about a little funneling with branches and placing a colony trap? If you place your trap at the exit of the current you'd skin everything that tried to swim through.

[jsevering]

think there is alittle more to it,but if conditons were right I would set points b,e and c on both sides, the catch being if conditions were right otherwise I might be above or below those points and only have a token set at one or two of those points on what I figure the hot side or points on each may be.

dont worry about loosing mink traps to thieves, if you do you'll never sleep, use traps you can afford to lose.

I want to hear hern and terry's opinion,you two dont go running away, gotta keep your eye on those PA guys;D....jim

[dj88ryr]

Duke, All of the bridges that I trap, are on private property, if they are public, I wouldn't set them here, in NH, no problem, set em all.

[NittanyLion]

I set up each bridge differently. It depends on the water level, how steep the bank is, how many rocks are along the bridge wall. I doubt I have a single bridge on my trapline where the water level is 2-3 inches the whole way along the wall. If I did, I think I would set the trap at "e". Some of the bridge walls I set look much like PSB's photos. I use a foothold or bodygripper depending on the water depth.

One interesting note on this years line. I have a bridge where there is a ledge that runs along the wall and is about 2-8 inches above the water level. For two years I had success using a bodygripper on a coonduke stablilzer setting it right on the ledge. This year I caught nothing along either wall. I was not open minded enough to set a couple of bodygrippers in the water along the wall. This year the average water depth along that wall was around 6 inches, other years it was less. Next year I will gang set that bridge with grippers on the wall and in the water.

BTW, I cannot recall of ever catching a mink at the point of a wing wall. I may have, but I do not recall it.

[Steve Gappa]

I have one bridge like that on my line- and that will be gone next season. (where I made te previously mentioned set)

all the bridges aorund here are the new type of wide concrete spans- with rip-rap on both sides.

with the width of today's farm equipment, smaller bridges are no more.

[NittanyLion]

Steve, do you ever make any sets in the rip-rap?

[trappnman]

Actually Jim- I do.

One type of set only and thats based a lot on my 3 day checks. I don't wany dryland conis as spoliage, theft and being eaten are real possibilitys for that mink. Shrews are terrible on land caught rats, mink. Had 2 mink eaten this year.

What I do is use natural rock cubbies as blind sets. Most of these are in rip rap that has been there for years- sets that are there year after year. ssame spots ever year.

the set that Lori got 2 mink in that sat over 2 months before action, the toed mink- among others (a quick recall shows maybe 15 mink in these type of sets) of that type of set.

I usually find that these sets give me multiple mink each season. That toed mink set gave us 3 this year, 5 last year, etc.

any mink running the bottom needs a place to take that food- and these rock cubbies appear to be that place. Plus any top running mink investigates them because of the foos that naturaly inhabits them.