Hey guys, I was looking for a few good under-ice foothold sets. I couldn't seem to find any good ones in the forums (If there are and I have missed them feel free to bash me). Thats all, thanks.

Not sure what its called, but you can make the set where you put a wooden pole at an angle under the water with the top sticking out. A few feet under water you nail on a "shelf" for your trap and above it you nail on your bait. Probably a peeled stick. I'm sure someone else could explain this in much more detail.

I'll look around, thanks for that water n my boots. By the way, my boots are unfortunately dry...

a peeled stick is useless. they discard those things. use a piece of poplar. or chop a huge hole in 3-4 foot deep water near the house or feed bed and stick poplar in the mud securly then just put a foot hold near the base of the sticks. and last make a fence on 3 sides of the stick and trap. like a pen.

I heard about that set Bear, at what depth does it work well in? And how close to the lodge do you generally out it?

Seen that set before bass, have you used it with any sucess?

Back in the '70's and early '80's before I bought 330's that's all I used. With good success. Prior to the advent of the body grip trap, this and the snare were the options you had. I'd say 10's of 1000's of beaver were harvested with this set up.

Sounds promising! Will have to try this set asap.

If your using jump #4 or 14's you can make a cut into your pole about an inch deep instead of making the platform.Simply set your trap flip the loose jaw up and hold your hand up under the pan holding the pan up high take the trap and with your axe or hatchet tap the end of the trap so the end of the spring goes into the cut on the pole, then level your pan.Alot easier then building a platform.

will do bruce, any other sets out there?

i have had luck with the pen in 3-6 feet of water and i make all my sets at a reasonable distance from a colony to get the bigger ones. doesn't always work but the chances are better. make sure the set is near a run or a place a beaver frequently goes to.

Heard about that set, but never heard a review on it. Thanks beartrapperbeef.

Saw a guy at the NYS Trappers Conv showed a way to make an under ice foothold get with wire. First he peeled off enough wire loops to support the trap plus abut 10" Wire the set trap to the loops and wire it to a piece of willow about 1 1/2" dia. Take the extra and form a loop down the pole and back to the trap. Wire the bottom of the loop to the pole anchoring the setup to two places on the pole. Scrape some of the bark off the pole above the trap. Then put the pole into the muck so it just holds everyting in place. Attach 4'-5' of wire or chain to the top of the pole and to the trap and anchor in the ice. When a beaver gets pinched he pulls the pole out and has six to eight feet of wire and pole to swim in big circles with till he drowns.

Yikes, you want to keep that set away from anything a beaver could tangle around.

Could you get any pics of that gutpile?

Don't have a photo of it and by no means am I an artist but I tried my best to draw it for ya.

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn161/steamingutpile/Poleset.jpg

I have used that set in the U.P and it catches everthing rats , Mink , Otter as well as Beaver . Be sure to place trap down a Bit but just under the ICE where they will come up for AIR that upi put under the ice from Chopping or augering .
I like to add be sure to use a dry pole Not Green or the beaver will have it cut just a tip .

Here is a photo of some what there talking about but use it under the ICE

Thanks DannelBoone, read your post then started making one. Will be finished soon.

Same as others its all I had back when I started in NW Wisc. Used the pen set most, usually in about 20" of water from bottom of ice to mud. Try to get right next to a run a ways from the house. Have caught big old beavers in this set in as little as 10 inches. Worked well at ponds where beavers were wise to the 330's.