I've been using Mr. Dobbins dam break set for years, as taught on his video, and have always had good success. This week I've had three sprung traps and the dams repaired. I've never had such bad luck before. The traps were MB-750s and Bridger#5. I went to review the DVD and I can't find it. The only thing I can think of is I might not be putting my stick in front of the trap correctly. I'm leaving it up about 5 inches. Could this be my problem? The traps have been plugged with debris, like they would if you set them real shallow on a dam break, but I feel like I'm setting at the same depth (my arm in the water up to my biceps) that I always have. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas before I completely tear my house up looking for that DVD.

Set steel shallower and use more sticks around it..mine are only a couple inches above trap.
This double set is when I've missed them with 1 trap.

I seen a video many years ago by Charles and it was for a back foot catch. Trap was set deep 16" I think.

I dont set in the middle of the break. I set on the sides...just outside of current. This is where the beaver will spend time with his back feet down while repairing break.

I do the same unless I can get a firm trap bed.

Here it is almost always muck and hard to have a firm trap bed. Also it seems to work best with a constant water flow. We have been in drought conditions, so that has berring also.

You may be experiencing the same.

Do the two traps ever interfere with each other?

Kirk how would you set a dam brake with a cage trap?

Only if the chains are too long.
I've caught 2 in 1 night in this set.
That's the beauty of quick snaps (karabiners)...connecting chain to sliding lock....you can adjust the chain length on the spot.

I have many videos of a two part cage in a dam break, but the most versatile trap is a guillotine powered door trap 30 -36" long. It allows a multitude of other set opportunities.

Just make a small break, Set a trap that is at least 14" wide and 16" tall, at the door, perpendicular to the water flow and paraell to the dam in 4-6" of water. Stable with a stick on the deep side in the middle. Place a wad of scented grass wired to the inside in middle. You can also block sides and place lure on outside of trap in middle. Beaver will go right in. Have videos on youtube.

Made set like that yesterday. Should have beaver in the trap and beaver in other traps near it because of the decoy effect of a live set.

Thanks Kirk

Thank you so much for the advice, I will give it a try. And thank you trapperjohn for the picture, that is a lot different than I have been doing. I want to catch these, they have actually been leaving the creek and going uphill to chew on pine trees. I'm counting on those pines for my retirement, so they have certainly gotten my attention. I can't see any trails to set where they leave the water, these particular beaver have not been there long. I think they chew on the big pines because they know how much they are worth and just enjoy causing me grief!