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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 10, 2012 19:24:16 GMT -6
I haven't caught many mink but have always wanted to take a pretty good number every season. The farm I live on has many ponds, it also has a few small creeks about 1-5 inches deep and 5-15 feet wide. I occasionally see mink tracks in both streams and ponds but I am not sure how to catch them. My great grandfather trapped mink in the 30's and 40's out of a small creek (where I have saw mink and found many tracks) so there has to be a way, but I cannot think of one. Anything would be helpful.
Thanks in advance, Mike
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Post by 4fur on Mar 10, 2012 20:34:39 GMT -6
Unless pastured, those ponds will have a trail over the dam from the over flow tube to the tube outlet below the dam. Blind set with small bodygrips in this trail (preferably 120s but strong 110s will work). I like to set a couple 220s on each side of the 120s to whack the coon and whatever else is also using the trail. Or gang set for coon early to thin them out and then set up for mink after Thanksgiving.
Fish sticks work well on those shallow streams if exposed bait is legal.
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Post by justwannano on Mar 10, 2012 22:31:30 GMT -6
Do you have problems with raptors Wayne? I haven't trapped mink ,except for this year, in years and I'm wondering if hawks etc are gonna be a problem with exposed small animals in traps. I used mostly BE sets this year.
Just
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Post by 4fur on Mar 11, 2012 12:05:29 GMT -6
More problems with dogs than raptors on dry land mink around here, Bob. 24 hour check law does have it's benefits.
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 11, 2012 12:55:53 GMT -6
Trapping rats this season I noticed a trail going over the dam of the pond that was to small to be a coon trail and it appeared that the rats were using it. Is this the type of trail that 4fur is talking about?
Any ideas on catching mink in the small streams?
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Post by axeman on Mar 12, 2012 19:56:32 GMT -6
a good blind set is hard to beat when it comes to mink !
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 12, 2012 20:15:22 GMT -6
axeman, what type of blind sets do you use?
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Post by axeman on Mar 12, 2012 21:30:46 GMT -6
1 1/2 longspring @ a spot where it looks like or tracks show you where mink will/are entering or leave the water , at bridge or a culvert also, the ole 110 bottom edge set is hard to beat too, the ole boy that taught me, use to snare a few mink never tried that one!
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Post by 4fur on Mar 12, 2012 21:50:14 GMT -6
Trapping rats this season I noticed a trail going over the dam of the pond that was to small to be a coon trail and it appeared that the rats were using it. Is this the type of trail that 4fur is talking about? Any ideas on catching mink in the small streams? Yes, that is what you are looking for. Also look for subtle trails around the pond close to the water. If shallow streams have banks and it is still open water, you can't beat a baited pocket set for mink. Otherwise, some variation of a fish stick will work any where it seems...  |
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 13, 2012 13:43:04 GMT -6
4fur, so I spear a piece of fish on a stick and put my trap around it? Also can I use 160's in the trails because I do not have and super strong 110's.
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Post by 4fur on Mar 14, 2012 8:55:51 GMT -6
I have caught a lot of mink in 220s mike, but I know a lot of mink will pass through a dry land set bodygrip larger than a 110 size. I would suggest adding a few new 110s or 120s to your wish list before next season. And searching the archives for information on fish sticks because I know there is a lot of good info there.
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Post by LLLTrapper on Mar 14, 2012 12:30:39 GMT -6
4fur, so I spear a piece of fish on a stick and put my trap around it? Also can I use 160's in the trails because I do not have and super strong 110's. Buy some dukes. They are cheap and have strong springs. LLL  |
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 15, 2012 15:54:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the info 4fur, and LLL. Do any of you use blind sets?
Also if you catch them in shallow water how would you dispatch them?
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Post by Griz on Mar 18, 2012 9:43:47 GMT -6
4fur, so I spear a piece of fish on a stick and put my trap around it? Also can I use 160's in the trails because I do not have and super strong 110's. Buy some dukes. They are cheap and have strong springs. LLL You could also add a spring to your current #110's and buy some new strong #110's. That would upgrade your #110's and give you some #120's for dry land mink. |
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 18, 2012 21:08:05 GMT -6
Thanks Griz, do you think those #150 or #155 body-grips would be good for the trail sets for mink
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Post by Griz on Mar 20, 2012 17:41:29 GMT -6
I have not used either one, but the slightly larger size should be a benefit.
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Post by riverbandit on Mar 20, 2012 18:01:42 GMT -6
Tough to beat a good Mink pocket baited with fish on those small streams. Blind sets give you one shot, while a pocket holds them longer giving multiple shots at a catch.
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Post by hvtrapper on Mar 21, 2012 4:17:35 GMT -6
Tough to beat a good Mink pocket baited with fish on those small streams. Blind sets give you one shot, while a pocket holds them longer giving multiple shots at a catch. That depends on how you feel about wet/muddy coons in your trap instead of mink. |
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Post by LLLTrapper on Mar 21, 2012 5:48:42 GMT -6
Tough to beat a good Mink pocket baited with fish on those small streams. Blind sets give you one shot, while a pocket holds them longer giving multiple shots at a catch. That depends on how you feel about wet/muddy coons in your trap instead of mink. That is a beautiful sight. One man;s trash is another man's treasure!! I kill mink that steal my bait. LLL |
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Post by hooter on Mar 21, 2012 8:45:45 GMT -6
Hard to argue that the baited pocket set probably has taken more mink thru the years than any other set JMO. With that being said you always run the risk/reward of catching different species with this set. Having your trap on a drowner will help keep your pocket from being tore up if you do catch a coon that you did or didn't want. MOST of the time.
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 22, 2012 8:00:24 GMT -6
hooter, the streams I trap are only about 5 inches deep so a drowning situation is not an option, and there are allot of coons and if I caught a coon I am pretty sure that it would ruin a good set location, I have been wanting to put some conibears in the mink trails but cant seem to find any around streams.
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Post by hooter on Mar 22, 2012 15:55:57 GMT -6
Well Mike that sounds like the pocket set isn't an option then. There are some good sets mentioned above that will work for you in your situation AND you can still utilize a drowner to get the animal away from your set. Even in shallow water a coon can expire cuz they cant get on dry land.
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Post by catting on Mar 22, 2012 17:08:43 GMT -6
try using a drag for your pocket set in those small streams, i use a rail road plate with 24 in of 1/8 cable with 4 swivels,
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 23, 2012 9:04:32 GMT -6
Thanks hooter, and catting how much do your drags weigh?
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Post by catting on Mar 23, 2012 14:36:47 GMT -6
not sure, have never weighed one but they are close to 15-20lbs, i use 11 dj or 1 1/2 dj coils, ttypically they are hung up in the grass or downed brush within sight of the set,
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 23, 2012 16:12:15 GMT -6
Would a cinder block work as a drag?
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Post by catting on Mar 24, 2012 1:43:35 GMT -6
not sure, i bet it would, before i found railroad plated i used window sash weights, but had to use 2 to 3 to slow the coon down, went to cutting tops off of milk jugs/bleach bottles and filling with concrete and putting a fence staple to use a anchor for attaching trap to.
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 24, 2012 9:47:56 GMT -6
What other things would make good drags?  |
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Post by trappermike851 on Mar 26, 2012 21:49:01 GMT -6
Does anyone use blind sets? If you do please tell me some locations for them. Thanks
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Post by 4fur on Mar 27, 2012 11:06:02 GMT -6
I will try to find some pictures of blind sets. It is pretty tough to photograph blind sets and even tougher to explain them. For me any way. But here you go, Mike... Dry land...     Look for openings in log jams or dead falls...   Footholds placed inside or around tile outlets will always produce even in tough weather...    This mink was taken at a pocket but the trap placed in front of the tile dump in the back ground takes mink every year...  Spring seeps are good locations where mink like to hunt. Notice the trap to the left of the FS?...  Rat huts are good locations after freeze up for mink to dig into...  I set most of my mink blind sets at tubes/culverts. This trap was set tight against the tube lip where the mink slips into or out of the water...  I have this tube set up for 'rats in this picture but the spot where the tube intersects bank and water is a good spot for a mink blind set. Personally, I like no more than two inches of water over the pan. Remember, mink have very short legs...  Bridge pilings are good vertical structure to set tight against. Many of my blind sets are actually baited blind sets LOL. The trap set above the carp head is a good blind set...  Under cut banks are awesome locations if you have time to look for them...  Bottom edge sets using bodygrips are good all weather mink sets. Muskrat colony traps will take an occasional mink on my line but are illegal in Iowa so I can't recommend them...  The above locations all take mink for me in blind sets, but about the only blind sets I consistently take time to set are inside tubes,culverts. Many tubes have a berm or sand bar inside and where the berm meets the water is where I place the trap. I often excavate some mud to place the trap if the water is too shallow or build up a trap bed using sod or mud if the water is too deep when trapping tubes...  Concrete box culverts are my favorite locations to blind set mink but we just don't have many in this part of the state. I set traps up tight against the wing wall or underneath the road tight against the vertical wall. Here is a wing wall where a blind set could have been made...  Nice box culvert...  I always set a trap on each side, usually wiring them to a RR plate. Here is trap placement at this culvert...  So there you go Mike. I found the picture I was actually searching for in my photo bucket accounts so that will be all from me of blind mink pictures. I will be the first to admit that I am not much of a minker and I nearly always pursue them with a baited pocket or a fish stick. They are both simple quick, effective sets and I don't need to plaster an area with more than just a couple traps. Good blind setters have an eye for location, and a lot more time to look for those locations than I apparently have. ;D Good luck!  |
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