Minking and Ice

[lobo]

steve,that is one set that i never heard of,but it could sure keep you productive during freeze ups.
could you please elaberate some more on this set on shallow riffles as to the reasoning of why this set works,i am goeing to put in a couple tomarrow.
thanks

[primetime]

I was froze in hard this morning, and if it's not the ice, it's the water raising a foot.

Would have had a Mink this morning, but my set was in an undercut. Along the bank was open, and the middle of the stream was open, but there was an area of ice between the trap and the stream (deeper water). The mink couldn't get to deep water to drown, so it pulled or twisted out. Just had a Mink Toe in my trap. This was a set that I've had out for almost 2 months with nothing. Last check I added a Mink gland to the set and this check I HAD the first Mink at this set.

Freezing weather is no fun, but when you get those nights that are warmer, it makes for some good trapping.

[trappnman]

A stake pushed all the way into the bottom- so that the wire is right at the bottom of the creek-will help eliminate those type of twistouts.

I am guessing that the mink is drawn to the rocks for several reasons- the tunnel effect itself, the fact that its the only structure there, and the fact that on most of the little streams I trap, food would be present with shallow water, rocks.

Now don't get me wrong- its not a super set- but no mink set is- its just another tool for rats and mink.

[primetime]

Just a note. Do not try and use a 110 in this rock tunnel set. I had an extra 110 in my hands one morning while setting traps and could figure out were to set it. I seen an area like mentioned above, so gathered rocks and made a tunnel and used a 110 instead of a foothold, because it was what I had left. The next check it was a frozen fortress.

I think it would be a good set otherwise and will be trying it with a foothold if I ever find a good area to use it again.

Steve - You mentioned digging a pocket and keeping it open. You want the opening of the pocket pointing upstream? I think I can picture it. Then the water will rush into the hole to keep it open....

I'm playing around with digging a pocket about 1-2 inches above the water line. (BOTTOM of pocket is 1-2" above water.) Then baiting this pocket and placing the trap in the water below the pocket. No indentation along the bank to freeze in. It's like a blind set / pocket set. Stays open longer like a blind set, but also has the added eye appeal and or sent of a pocket. I've taken one Mink with this so far. The pocket was nothing more then like a Crayfish Hole. No bait or Lure. Did the little hole/pocket help??? Or was it a good blind set? One will never know, but I'm guessing the hole didn't hurt.

[trappnman]

those type of sets work good if the bank is vertical and offers no way for the mink to work it from the side. A popular version is to make 3 of these crayfish holes a foot or so apart- and put a trap in the middle or one at each end.

put fish oil in one hole, lure in the other, bait in another. Good coon set as you can imagine.

[primetime]

EXACT trap placement was my only concern with these sets. I was trying to imagine how a Mink would work it, and could see them hitting the hole from the side and was thinking about placing my trap offset to one side or the other from the hole. I like it for the simple fact that it doesn't give the water a place to freeze, but with weather like this morning. 13 below - it's hard to keep much of anything working. The streams seemed to freeze faster this second cold snap.

[trappnman]

less water, colder water, colder ground

[primetime]

EXACTLY!!!

Really makes a guy love those warmer temps. 20's and 30's. The worst part is places that stayed open last time, were froze this time. I figured it would be a little more consistant.

[trappnman]

Hmmmn- guess its not...LOL

or rather, it IS consistent for the time of year and the temps. Winter water trapping in MN is not an easy game- it takes years to fully understand the streams. And many years of getting caught unawares. It seldom happens now. I got te truck warming up and 1/2 of thel ine to check today...I should have....2.....4, 4....... 10 or so traps froze in, a few with light ice OVER the set (some creeks always have high ice) the rest should be doing their job.

But this warmup will BACK things up a little, and the next cold snap won't freeze as severe- assuming we get the week of 30s they are talking about.

Glad my coon sets are lured and ready to go!

[primetime]

Ya whatever! ;D

My plan for this weekend is to put out a bunch of coon traps on a creek I seen coon sign on the last warm up. Since I don't have deep water on this creek I'll run it like a land line and check it everyday for like 3 days and pull. Hopefully I can take a few coon in those 3 days.

Either pull everything for snap all my traps after Christmas since I'm heading to South Dakota for a week. Then reset them all when I get back. It sucks, but It needs to be done.

[primetime]

Oh ya Steve I was going to ask you, what's this Half a Line stuff you keep talking about checking. I thought your PLAN was to get them all checked in "1" day and then have "2" days off. What Happened??

[primetime]

So how many of your traps were in working condition today? Inquiring minds want to know.

Or maybe I should ask, "How many were not in working condition?"

[trappnman]

8 were not in working order. total today- 6 rats, 1 F Mink.

Once we get snow, its possible to run it in a day- but improbable let alone maintain. Each loop takes about 4-5 hours. I only trap 3 bridges- 1 on todays loop. We do a lot of walking.. and in this weather, 1/2 a day is about right.