I do not quite like the idea of teaching this set to beginning trappers. It does not teach them anything than another set. I think maybe we should switch the "Location, location, location" addage to , "Teach location, teach location, teach location".

For one, I think it would be another waste of time to add the foil. If you dig the pocket and bait/lure like normal. WHY add the foil? I think it would just make it more likely to have your trap flipped or snapped. Because that coon knows something is down there so he will fiddle around trying to find it. He may get your chain and miss him all together. If you just do the pocket normal and bed the trap WITHOUT the foil he will be clueless when he comes to work the pocket. Nick is 100% correct, DEAD COONS DON'T LEARN!

Good point cedar didnt think of that.
Mink

How many big number coon guys put tin foil on their trap pans?

Zero that I know of.

I not only caught 2 coons on this set but a mink as well

I will sometimes use this along with my pocket sets when my baits being stolen every day. Just add foil to the pan of my trap. The raccoon goes for the hole in the bank but the foil catches it's eye and whammo. No more stolen bait and a pelt in my shed. I wouldn't use this all the time but it has caught me a few frustrating coon. Dan
Oh yea, I run about two pounds of tention on my coon traps and when I use the foil on the pan I set the tention so that the pan falls on it's own weight. when the coon grabs at it I want it to fire as soon as he hits the pan.

If you push your chain into the mud he shouldn't find the chain to flip your trap. When I use this set I use it in shallow water about 2 inches deep. I guess they think the shiney pan is a fish in the shallow water ready to swim away and the coon practicly pounces on it if it's hungry enough.

Tried this when I was 11 years old with no success. Haven't had the urge to try it again 27 years later. I think I fisrt read about this in the book 'Where the Red Fern Grows'

There's too many faster, easier, and more efficient ways to competitively trap raccoon which makes this set impractical to me. Maybe I'm missing out on those few coon who only have eyes for a shiny shad or creek chub in a perfect eddy of clear stream water 2-3 inches deep. My mud slicked pocket set with a trail of fish oil, bait and lure probably gets passed by from these 'wise old coon'...

I'll take my chances on keeping to what I've found to work over the years. My raccoon numbers have increased every year and I've introduced new methods and sets that have also worked. Besides, most of the drainage ditches, marshes, and creeks I trap have water that is usually the color of chocolate milk come trapping season.

What do I know though...just a newbie here giving my 2 cents worth. Oh, I don't use the rubber crawfish on the pan trick either.

Use what works for you though as I am not saying this won't catch a raccoon. I just feel it is not worth my time to make a set that focuses on only ONE of the 'coon's senses when a baited and lured pocket, pvc, or dirt hole appeals to them all.

Friend of mine has done this and has caught coon in it during full moon. He won't use it other times only during full moon. His theory is that the moonlight reflects the foil and the coons curiosity gets it to poke at the shiney thing. He also says he catches more young coon this way because they are more playful.

I tried it on an unbaited set once and caught 1 coon in a week. I think that one was just walking by and tripped onto my trap. I then tried it on a few pocket sets and didn't notice any difference good or bad in my catch rates.
I don't waste my time with it anymore.

I have heard of painting the trap pan white does the same thing as the foil, I don't know as I heard this prior to starting traping. I also from the same person heard that he caught mostly small (young) coons in this type of set. Like most I just use the PVC or blind sets for most of my water edge coon sets. Just my 2 cents worth.

I think I'm going to try what Dan talked about. I got a large culvert set where a sand bar runs all the way up to the entrance of the culvert. I have a trap sitting where the wall and the sandbar come together leading down into the water. I have got my bait cleaned for 3 straight days. I have repositioned bait and trap to try to draw him to it, but he gets around it daily. I might throw some foil just for grins and see what happens!

Bowhunter, Blind set the most likely approach to your set and you will get him.

I put out 8 traps with foil over the pan a few years back and had 8 coons the next morning...its quick and it works ecpecially if you don't have alot of time and are tired of digging holes for all your yote and fox sets...I also thought it would not work on a cloudy night but.....I have only had one weekend this year (and it was very cloudy) that i have been able to trap and put out 5 sets just for fun....4 dirt holes and 1 foil over the pan..I know its only one coon but i am %100 on the foil over the pan trick

Sniper, I have set it up 3 different ways the last 3 days with no luck. Its like he know where the trap is at and he goes right on around. If I set left he goes right, I set right he goes left, I tried splitting the difference, He walked bowlegged and got around??? Whatever he is doing, it is working for him. And Kentucky doesn't allow you to gang set. No traps with in 10' of each other. I got track up to with in 2-3 inches every morning but, he gets around.

I use it just for a change, you can set it in shallow running water and nothing freezes, not the trap or any bait. Just make sure your trap fires on a hair trigger.

It's not a trick and not a waste of time.It's just another set in the coon trappers arsenal. It works on crossovers well and Like Dan said. RD

How do they see it when its dark out? A wise man once told me they look for food with their nose more than their eyes when it is Dark out.

They can't smell food under water. IMO they use all their senses to find food. Ears,nose,eyes,feet&tounge. RD

I never tried it in total dark, just when there is light, but if you have the extra trap it only takes about 2minutes max, throw it out and let it sit until there is moon lite, its just one more odd in your favor.

All the more reason to place it in a P O C K E T.