Roger that lumberjack 391. Carrying a 110, some wire, and a stick or tbar is a lot easier.

It's my opinion that mink spend more time out of the water then they do In It.

Yea, the old books always said "A mink hates to get his feet wet".

The old writers didn't know about BE sets, and for most of 'em, they didn't have bodygrip traps either.

My point is that they are in and under water more than people think.

The Beav ghost wrote half of 'em.

More liked edited them.

Rare photo of the Beav, circa 1927, contemplating whether or not a mink spends more time out of the water or in the water.

Mink, like all critters, go where the food is. Most bottom edge sets don't start really producing until the snow flies. Sorry, I'm very close to plagerizing Ken's book. I will admit that most of the mink that I have seen during the day hopping around was in a snow storm and in a Marsh. Open trout streams during the same storm? Narry a track in sight but under the bank are chewed up crayfish claws and frog skins.

Cha-Ching!

Lord, we beat this subject to death. Just one more thing. In the mid 90s when I started using the bottom edge set I was working full time. Given the three day check for water sets this was great. I could look out of the office window during a gullywasher rainstorm and know that any pocket sets were under a foot of water but the bottom edgers were still in action. Oh I might have to shake some debris out when I checked the line but that was it. But to credit where credit is due, once winter is really here and water levels relatively stable, baited pockets sets are awesome and productive. Love those natural crevices next to culverts.

I cant believe they got him to take a break from setting traps long enough to get a photo.

Are those the traps he uses for BE sets? And is that the hide off of a mink that's draped over him?

Just when I think I'm really here..... I'm not.

It was tough but we got It done. I think EJ Daily took the picture.

When the snow fly's then you will be able to see more tracks and set as to what you see.

I have 2 late winter killer sets that will take every mink that passes by. And It's not a BE or a TE set. It's all about foot holds.

One set Is like a elbow set but with out the elbow It's a dug trench. This Is summer time work. Use a mattock to dig the trench. Dig It so that the end closest to the water just ends up above the water line. And the other end can be about 2feet from the stream bank. Dig It about 6" deep and about 6 Inches wide and cover It with an asphalt shingle. You can toss some grass or what ever over the shingle. I fill the trench with sand It makes a good bed for your trap. You could use peat moss but It just doesn't bed a trap very good.
A #2 or 3 sized trap works well. I tend to go with the bigger trap. You need to make that trap as sensitive as you can. The dog end needs to be bent down a bit.

Use 2 traps one on each end and place a large bait In the middle. I never had much luck using BGs In this set. But those big traps acted just like a killer trap especially the #3s.

In the winter the water level goes down and the creeks freeze up leaving this set high and dry and a magnet for any passing mink. They also work along open water stretches.

How I came across this set was when I was hunting along some of the creeks I had trapped during open water. I was at that time a pocket setter. I noticed that just about every pocket set had been investigated by mink. They never went In but the nosed around that opening. It stands to reason If there Is no exit hole the mink Isn't going to go In since there Is no reason to do so. But with a exit hole and a nice fresh chunk of beaver meat In that trench there was a reason.
And this set Is pretty much weather proof unless you get some major drifting along the creek.

20 yards up or down stream from all bridge crossings and you can run a lot of traps In short period of time and never worry about water fluctuation or cleaning debris out of BE sets.
Not saying that BE sets don't work I'm just looking for a easier set up. I don't have to go looking for that point or that perfect set up for the BE set Or the elbow set.
The other set incorporates a Large bait and a large foot hold and It's areal killer when It comes to mink. Just a bit harder to set up.

Thanks. I have a few locations in mind for that set.

Back to the elbow set for a moment, apologies to the Beav ahead of time.

Found a pic of Trapper Art's old model of pocket shovel, with my modified Bridger #1 coilspring inset to show how this trap really does cover the entrance of either a pocket or, in this case, the mouth of the elbow set produced by this narrow shovel. A quick thrust in, turn of the shovel, extract and rinse in the drink. If there's a root, the shovel quickly shears it off with a few back and forth strokes. Trap would be rotated so dog is next to outer wall of hole/pocket.



So yea, this tool to quick dig the horizontal hole, and a 3" hand auger to dig/ream out the chimney, but since I trap primarily out of a boat, what's another tool or two, eh?

Back to the original topic, Beav, have you really given the bottom edge set a good try say from December though February? I sure didn't think it would produce like it does before I really threw myself into it.

Rat by time Jan Feb roll around I have caught all the mink I want to catch and I'm down In SC trapping beaver and otter and working the live market. Well I use to do It for about 15 years.





I've caught some rats and some mink In the BE set. But It's to time consuming for me to be looking for them.
90% of all mink come to the road at some time or another. So catch them as they come to that location.

My problem with BE sets Is all the debris they gather In moving water situations. In the fall and winter most If not all of your leaves are water logged and tend to move along the stream bed.
Ducks are another problem. Some of these streams around here never freeze no matter how cold it gets. And the ducks never leave so they are digging up any weed growth In those streams and where does It all go? Right Into your BE set.

If I was to go making Elbow sets It would be with my cordless drill and a 4" auger type bit. No digging sets with no banjo. Tradesmen's jargon for shovel.

There was a time when I long lined mink from Oregon to Marshfield. I made some awesome
Catches. Then they went and added on 3 day checks on water sets and then It wasn't practical to do It.

If a person wants to make these sets go for It. But I know what works for me and It's pocket sets and blind sets.

The other thing I do Is I never have water flowing Into my pocket set. It's high and dry and about 3" above the water line. If there Is no exit hole the mink In most situations Isn't going to enter that hole. But they will stand outside to Investigate. 3" of water Isn't to deep to take a mink by both hind legs as It stands to look In that pocket. Well that Is if you have a decent sized trap with an enlarged pan.
The other thing about high and dry pocket openings Is for the most part you won't get your bait washed out of the hole by passing water craft. A wake will suck every bit of bait out of every set. But for the most part we aren't trapping these types of water courses. But It can happen.

I use to dig pockets but know I just take my tile spade and dig a slot In the bank. I drop In a rat carcass and stomp the slot closed. In most cases the carcass can be seen and you have plenty of scent lingering at the location. A mink may not enter a pocket but It will spend time trying to pull that rat carcass out of that slot. Very fast and I'm here to tell you It catches mink. And you can do this In just about any type of bank. If It's rocky just move a rock and slip In a carcass. You can't dig elbow sets or regular pockets In these situations. And your going to miss out on 100s of hot locations.
Bedding the trap In these situations? small sand bags set under water with a trap nestled on It and your good to go. forget about digging chunks of sod the sand bags are where It's at.

Good post Beav!