I'm still trying to learn the application of the bottom edge set. Below is a rough diagram of a bridge I'd like to set. I know beaver are in the area (within a 1/2 mile or so), also otter, mink and muskrat. The arrows show the way the water flows around the bridge basically, the dark gray is the concrete structures that support the bridge itself. The lighter gray at the edges is part of the concrete that's under water like part of a footing, it's flat at that point, about 2 feet deep, then where it's blue is sandy-gravel bottom and is 4 feet deep. The concrete ledge that is under water is about 8 inches wide. How would you set your conis? What size and what would be the target.

Also as a note, the river actually flows straight in this section, the water current moves crossways because the bridge isn't completely perpendicular, it runs at a slight angle. The numbers are points of refrence to make the descriptions easier.



Sorry I don't have the state of the art software to make the diagram look better, but I think it will work.

^

I would love to help, but my BES's aren't doing a dang thing.

Very nice diagram.

What ever is there Denny, mink, otter, beaver. I don't see much beaver sign though, some otter (tracks) and I know there's mink. I've seen the BES talked about, but I thought a diagram would really help me or some others trying to learn also. I was going to try and get some pictures this afternoon, but it started raining pretty good so I never got chance. I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow though. If there is any certain angle anyone would like to see to give the best description, let me know and I'll take whatever angles anyone wants.

5, 12, 20

Actually Denny, your observation is correct! The water does flow slower on the left side, and it's actually more shallow over there too. The water is deeper and moves faster on the right side.... BTW, I do have a pocket set at about #5 where the concrete meets the dirt. But these spots in the water would be ideal for conis too? I'll put some in there soon then.

I wish I could de-mystify the bottom edge set also. I've made a few of them, but only one or two was ever successful. One in particular hammers otter and beaver every year...likely my most productive location / set ever. Not sure why, but that ONE works very well. I wish I could duplicate it all over the eastern half of the state

I do believe so Denny. Are you talking about what I said about my pocket set? I understand my pocket isn't a bottom edge, and it's about where spot 5 is, but not quite.

I too am trying to learn if there are patterns/preferences at Sq culverts. The highway department in my area has been replacing old wood bridges or Rd metal culverts with Sq. Concrete ones. But many are two or three wide(a lot of edges to cover). Those that suggested locations could you elaborate on why you would set there?.

I Not a bottom edge setter , but I think downstream end tight against the walls. I think the mink will come up behind anything laying in there. Most fish face into current and the mink ambushes from behind , I belive. Just an opinion and is what I would try, until I was told by an expert otherwise. So I am gonna be watching this post for answers also. (#6 , 12,13, 20,)
#5,21 if the water allows it.

when I first used it I used footholds I always heard it called a suicide set I have always set on the shallow side if neither side was shallow I built the bottom up to where the trap was only 1/2"-2' below the water surface . when I started using conis I set right on the bottom I have always caught more rats then mink with the conis and more mink with the footholds 2,4,6 , 15, 16 , 18, 20 is where I have always set

i have yet to catch anything in a bottom edge set.
one big problem is clogging with leaves.
but i'll keep trying.

If I name them all can I take the credit for a catch?

I'm still figureing this out myself but have had some success.I'd put my money on 16 with 6 being my second choice.Without seeing the real thing its tough to speculate.

Ever seen a mink working a waterway in the wild?? They are rarely midstream unless its a trickle,they'll usually hug a bank.

I run the bottom edge set for rats and mink all the time. Get some good polarized sunglasses. I prefer the amber colored lenses. Walk upstream so you are not stirring up the mud and look at the mud and look at the bottom. Where they are swimming the silt will be gone. Look at the edge of any grass in the water and you will see the silt cleaned off of that as well. Look for any kind of point under water that sticks out farther then the rest of the bank and then look for a disturbance on the bottom. For beaver you can see the trail plain as day and it will be as wide as a beaver. I take about 30 mink a season using this set and a lot of rats sometimes over two hundred all with 110’s. one you find those points and the sets are working they will produce even under the ice. Chopping holes in the ice will make you question the value of the rats and your sanity! I would not even attempt this set without polarized glasses. It’s like tracking only it’s under water.

Another way to look at this set is to remember what the rat does when you startle it. They dive from the bank, go to the bottom, and shoot along the edge under water next to the bank and as much cover as possible. They bounce off the points under water. Mink do the same thing. Look for those points and the shortest distance from the point sticking out farthest to the next one. They are escaping the threat and want to put as much distance as they can between them and the threat. With those glasses you will see it on the bottom. Drowning sets with legholds work with mink and rats because instinct tells them safety is in the water and they dive. I use #2 double long springs that are weak but will hold a rat or mink for blind sets. When they dive they cannot pull that big ole trap back up. You are trapping based on that instinct. Dive and get from point a to z in the fastest method possible.

Trap choice depends on the critter. 330’s work good on beaver and 110’s work good on rats and mink. 110’s don’t work so good for beaver and 330’s are not so good for rats and mink.

ttt

Here are som picture I took today of the bridge. In the diagram, the picture is oriented so "north" is up. So 1, 3, and 5 are tight to the west wall... Also, there isn't a ledge on the west side, it's much shallower there, the water is 6"-8" deep at the most, it transistions to land by point 3, so it goes from a couple inches to dry land.

These next two pics I'm standing north of the bridge looking sout east.



On the south side, at the west end, looking east.


Here is the west wall (points 1, 3, and 5)


Here's the center support, from the north looking south (9, 11, and 13)


The next few here are along the eastern wall, I also tried to get some pictures looking into the water. The ledge also has a recession under it, there are some rocks along there too I tried to get pictures of.





The pic above is part of the ledge I described, you can see I have the one coni there now. The current is fairly strong at that point (pt. 17) From what you all have said so far, this may not be the most effective spot for that trap. I'm not sure they can be seen in the pictures, but some of the other above pics there were rocks out 6" from the wall. I thought these would make good choke points for 110s.

Below: Here is a log about 6" from the edge of the center wall (pt. 11)


Below is pt. 8... I could fit a 330 in between the center wall and this rock.


Point 12




Hope these pictures help. I took as many as I could given the conditions. Again, the current is stonger and the water deeper on the east section than the west section.

Here is the diagram again for reference.

If I were going to only set a few traps 5 and 6 if I had plenty of traps 1,2,5,6,16,17,20,21 if I was worried about theft 3,4,18,19

I was also pm'd that building up along the eastern edge would be good. Using cinder blocks, then putting some sod on top of that and placing a foothold there... keeping the trap just under water. I'll set this if I can find the proper amount of blocks to make this set work too. I'll probably set this bridge fairly heavy for a while. I'll keep posted as to what gets caught where. I hope this is helping others out as much as it is me!