Going to make a dozen floating buckets for 280s this year. Same basic idea. I imagine some fresh fish and a little call lure will be good for a few otter.

At a dock where I once worked, there was a boat that was not moved for a few years. It had a swim platform across the stern. Otters would catch crabs and take them up on the swim platform to eat them.

I always wanted to put a fish in a partially submerged bucket, with a 280 on top to see if I could catch them.

These floats work great around docks.

What size black pipe is that . .?

I tried this with RBG 280's because they are round and 8" they are strong and legal to not be fully submerged. The 330's are not legal here if they are not submerged. The round RBG's fit in pipes nicely. I put it over a beaver dam thinking the otter would play in it. Beavers packed it full of mud every night. Until I caught them all anyway. Got the limit of otter in other sets but when they open us up for more than 2, I will play with some more pipes.

I had some concerns about anchoring the trap directly to the float. My fear is that the float could be damaged by an animal so I came up with this idea. The trap chain (with extra swivels and chain) is attached to a homemade drowning lock. This in turn is attached to a main line chain that holds the float in position.

My thinking is the trap will be activated, the catch will go in the water, and then it is a one way trip away from the float thus preventing any damage.

I haven't tried this but I think it solves the problem of a permanent anchor point on the raft.

Brian

Green Bay, the float that you made..how much of the pipe is submerged? Is yours designed so that the pipe is just above the water, half way in, or what?

Just curious if the wood floats totally on top or if it's sort of weighted down bringing the mouth of the pipe slightly in the water

It is designed so there is a trickle of water going through. This should help wash the smell of the bait downstream without being strong enough to wash the bait out.

Brian

How many otter have you caught In that set up? Or Is It still In the planning stages.

Planning stages with deployment in Nov. 2020.

How many muskrats do you think you might catch In that set up? Hopefully you will catch your 2 otter but If you have muskrats In the area they will be drawn to that set up like bees to honey.
Good luck.

The set catches rats, mink, otter, coons, especially in Feb. when they’re hyped up, and an occasional beaver. If you’re trapping in a river that might have a 20 foot rise you don’t want your float anchored so it can’t take the rise. If your in a marsh or tidewater I guess that’d be fine. Just play with it and you’ll like it.

If I were to use one I would drill a hole through the middle and use some type of rod or pole for an anchor so It could move with changes In water movement.

Green Bay, any updates on your November deployment..?

I have my 4 otter, but I'm curious about Others success or otherwise. ^^^

This definelty getting archived

Well... I put out six Bottom edge 330 Body grip traps and my otter float. I would love to tell you I caught something but on the first check I had an otter double on the BE sets so I had to pull it. It was only out three days.

I really think it will work but we are only allowed two otter for our season.

I am thinking of using the "float" on dry land for winter coons. Maybe get some double duty out of it.

Thats an Idea!
Congratulations on your two otters

Ttt