Mink Frustration

[SunnySlopes]

Yea 70sdiver, on that big open water, if theres no rock or tight brush for escapement, the mink don't stand a chance against a pack of otter. If they are there at all they don't have a very long life expectantcy. I should be manageing my trapline better by harvesting more otter.
Carp, after a while you might consider moving down to the Columbia. You'll find mink along those riprap banks.

[blacktailer]

Haven't read all the posts, but I used to trap mink a fair bit  growing up.  1.  Muskrat is the best bait in my opinion.  2.  Culverts and bridges are great places to set and 3.  Mink are very curious and like to poke around in any little feeder ditch that leads into a larger stream/river. 

[Carp Commander]

Thanks again for all the advise and suggestions. I ran the line this morning and nothing. I am pulling it tomorrow and moving it to hopefully a better location. I will take all you suggestions and put them to use. If anyone has photos of their mink sets I would still like to see them.

 

Thanks

[3nails]

 Pics of a couple mink sets. One more mink this morning.

[3nails]

 Under a bridge set in the water.

[Carp Commander]

Thanks 3nails!

Looking at your sets I can't see that mine are much different. What size are those? I have wondered if the 7x7x24's I am using are to small. I wouldn't think so, Mink spend their time running in and out of littler nooks and crannies. Could just be location!

I got all my colony sets out today and after running them tomorrow, I will focus on moving my mink sets. I cut some 2x8's for floaters and I am going to spread my mink line out over a longer distance focusing on bridges and culverts.


Doug

[3nails]

 I believe 2 out of 3 of mine are the 7x7's. They out fish the larger one. Looking forward to seeing how you do this weekend. That pic of the bridge set is under a 5 lane highway!

[onetrapper]

One thing I did last yr was put a floater under a bridge and then set another cage upstream about 30 yds on the bank.  The one upstream caught three mink.  The floater none.  Not to say floaters don't work because they do work well.  Just the way it works with location.  I have found sign and set a trap for weeks and zip....move 50 yds and score a couple times.  Next year may or may not be a hot location again.  I think your sets were great just a matter of them being there or not.

[blacktailer]

Good looking sets 3 nails...

[3nails]

 Placed this trap by a stump with mink tracks all around it. Feeling pretty good about this location which usually means a blank next check!

[Carp Commander]

Good looking set!

I put my mink line out yesterday, covering a bunch of ground and focused on culverts and sign of course. Couldn't sleep last night cause I was just certain my frustration would soon be over. Wow was I wrong! All sets were empty! Maybe tomorrow.

The good news around here is the temps are going to be warmer this week. I made some coon crackle (old time coon bait) a little while ago and will try and get a few on the stretcher this week. 

Doug

[Carp Commander]

And the frustration continues! Zero Mink & only 6 Muskrats in three days of trapping.

0 Mink/6 Muskrats pelts, $60 dollars

Fuel & expenses for three days of trapping, $150 dollars

Being outside playing in the water, trying to out smart furry critters, Priceless!

[Machias]

 

You know as a kid going to High School in Missouri in the late 70s, I can remember getting up at 0445 before school and running my line.  Hearing the chain rattle in the dark is what made it easy getting out of bed and check my sets in the freezing weather, even as a 16 year old kid.

[Carp Commander]

My brother and I ran a line before school every winter from about age 12 through graduation. It was a family tradition, It's amazing it took me so long to get back into it! I to grew up in Missouri and I sure wish I was still there. I wouldn't have to relearn all this cage trapping stuff!

[3nails]

Anything?