water sets for K-9's

[T-Bar]

I'm interested in water sets or near water sets for k-9's. This fall will be my first year where I can really get out and do some heavy trapping....most of it will be water trapping, and I figured I could always set for k-9 along the river as well.

The only one I've tried was called a spring set or something where you put a bait sod on a rock a foot or so from shore and have a trap in the water with grass/sod over it to look like a stepping stone to the bait sod....never did connect, but had a few yotes investigate it from shore.

I guess just let me know what sets you guys use that could be in or on the edge of a river. I guess the ideal would be anything that would take coon with a good chance of k-9's too.

[coyotewhisperer]

Just cause your water trapping setting five foot out from the water aint gonna slow you down. A simple dirthole or flat set and if your trapping beaver add a second trap on the bank side of the castor mound.

Jeff

[dj88ryr]

Exactly Jeff, I have taken many fox that way, seems they always run that high bank along streams, and as a bonus, those dirtholes will take mink too.

[Heavymetal]

I have caught grey fox on sandy creek banks. If im water trapping I always look for bobcat sign on the banks and in the sandy areas I will look for caches made by a fox in the sand.

[mustelameister]

Dryland drowners: Where you have a gradual rise to the bank is a good spot for dirt hole sets that terminate at the bottom of the drink. Though my focus is on 'coon, I've also drowned fox and coyote with these sets.

Drowner cable of 3/32" cable with the drowning lock S-linked to the chain of your choice of traps. I bed a #1 3/4 beefed up with #2 music wire coils up tight to the hole, and in prefreezing weather lightly bury the cable under dirt/sand.

Got to make sure there's no entanglement between the bottom of the river and the hole. Works for me.

[thebeav2]

A friend of mine uses the same system . Due to his work load he couldn't check traps when they needed to be checked. He drowned 10 coyotes and 7 reds last year. So It does work.

The edges of most any ditch, swamp, lake or stream will act as a travel way so these locations can be worth setting up.

Gary

[robertw]

Most of my wet work for bobcats and coyotes takes place on beaver dams. Pretty easy to trail those dams as well.

I've probably drowned close to 30 bobcats in the last 6-7 years in coons sets on beaver dams.

[thebeav2]

You got It Robert.Those beaver dam locations are some real hot spots. I have even caught a few coyotes on these dams. But a real hot location for cats.

[dj88ryr]

Fisher too, I have never seen a beaver bog that didn't have Fisher hanging around, if Fisher are in the area.

[thebeav2]

River trapping for fox.

Back many years ago when we had fox I use to trap fox on as many Islands and sand bars that I could.

I stumbled onto this by accident one summer when the kids and i were canoing and camping On the WI river.
I noticed that just about every Island and sand bar where other campers stopped for over nighters or just lunch stops there were always fox tracks, and coon tracks. The coon and fox also worked these bars digging up turtle nests.
So since my In laws lived on the river I decided to run a fox line by boat that fall. They dropped me off up river and then drove back to the house and I just ran down stream and took out at the house.
I did extremely well on coon and fox that year.The boaters and campers were gone and there were a few fisherman but I never had any problems.

Lower water conditions make this a better situation but fox will swim a bit to get out to these bars and Islands. If you have heavy current don't bother.
You could use drowner's In these situations but I just hate dealing with water logged fox. But It would work.
Standard sets, flat sets dirt holes all worked.But a chunk burnt wood with bit of bait placed under It was the hot set up.

For anchoring my traps I used the same system I used to peg the tent down. I just dug a hole and attached a gallon paint can lid to my trap chain and buried It. They were Impossible to pull.

If you have these situations take a look you might be surprised.

Gary

[musher]

Frozen rivers can be a real highways for canids.

I suppose that doesn't help you much ...

A dirthole at the ends of a beaver dam are good for mink also.

[BigIron 1974]

I never had any confidence in those types of sets until last year when my brother in law caught 2 bobcats in pocket sets for coon. I had always seen alot of bobcat & canine tracks along the banks but always hesitant to try it. This year I will have more sets for canines along the streams. If there is sign there you may as well set it even if you are water trapping.