When I used beaver floats, a fresh aspen bait stick was used, and a dry stick dipped in my beaver castor lure. They had a string tied to the trap so when the beaver was caught it pulled the bait and scent into the water. Other beaver would no come there until everything was reset again.

I think what they are referring to is poplar branches:

pop⋅ple
2   /ˈpɒpəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pop-uhl] Show IPA
–noun Northern U.S.
a poplar of the genus Populus.

Popple Branch about 2' high and leafy if you want..., then peel it white around the base near where it goes into the front hole, Popple is in the same species as Aspen...

Thanks for clearing that up, Ron. Your link didn't work by the way.

So 330-T, your saying that popple branch isn't the same as poplar? I'm just getting a little confused. I don't think we have Aspens around here.

Popple, poplar, aspen all names for the same group of trees beaver favor across th US. With the exception of balsam poplar which have a strong unpleasant smelling/tasting oil in its bark. If you don't have a poplar in your area it would be a safe bet to use a branch of whatever the beaver in your area are cutting to eat.

maple sticks work well and stay white a while

Drakej is right, all the same... just a slang way of saying it.

Had to make one of these up to try this spring. Should they be kept to shallower water so beav's don't dive under?

Set them in at least 3 feet of water, any less and the beaver can stand on the bottom and take your bait from the side.

whats everyone bait with?

It's all over at the ^^^top of the thread... Castor lure and Popple branc

Is there an archive on this? If not maybe we should start one.

Make sure the trap is solid. I made one where it was kind of loose and the dern turtles kept getting on it and make the trap fall down in the water.

Madtrapper, After the thread appears to have run its course, I suspect it will be archived here on Trapperman.

I will back it up for insurance and park it on ADC's Trapping Archives Forum in full text, not just the link. I am a moderator on that site.

Jonathan

Jonathan,

While I have been a very vocal advocate of this set, and I appreciate the credit, none of those photos you posted are mine.

My floats look most like the ones on top of the silver 55 gallon drum, but made from cedar split-rail fence boards.

Having the springs in a slot, is what makes or breaks this set, in my opinion.
It's the difference between a trap just snapping shut, and one that fires itself at the animal as it does.
It also helps the trap ride a bit lower in the water.

This photo;



...Best shows proper placement of the trap, in the float.
The springs will fire with the most force possible, resulting in deep suitcase catches.

LOL I love you guys, that want to see pictures of a catch.

They look almost exactly the same, but the trap is missing, and the float is listing or flipped over.

There are threads relating to this subject, already archived (I did participate, in them, so a search of my posts might lead one there).

Krusty

Mine are Archived already also... With the Foam and 2x4 style...

I'm curious about the one with the sideboards, who has tried this, how does it work?

May try and trap some beavers, I like the set.

madtrapper-Sideboard ? The first time that I ever saw a trapper using a float set, I asked him "Why the sideboards?" He said it was to stop beaver from climbing over the side. Since then, I have used 3/4 or 1x4 on the sides. I run them from the top of the "A" all the way to the back of the trap slot. I also add a protruding finishing nail in the top edge, about every 3 inches, to further discourage them from coming over the side. Seems like a bit of extra work, but I can't argue with success. I don't have any pix right now, but will try to put some up after the week-end.

BR

Good stuff, I had a couple of these "on the workbench" and after seeing and reading I will make some modifications. Thanks