anybody have that story of Leons otter float set a few years ago. would like to try that.

yes trappers post volume9 jan/feb 2018 pg 20

Yes there pretty slick. He made mention of them too me few yrs back, but I believe he started with that idea around 2011 or 12 maybe even earlier!

I spent the day yesterday with Leon at display booth we set up for a towns bicentennial celebration. You guys that have built a few floats or are thinking about it before season will be pleasantly surprised with their effectiveness. They just ride there always working. If you have trouble finding the foam I’ve added a half a pool noodle on each side of mine. I don’t know if the noodles will hold up more than a season but they’re just a buck apiece this time of year at discount stores. You can wire them or I used zip ties. They do take effort to construct and are bulky but if you have spots that you have been frustrated with fluctuating water and can’t find pinch points or crossovers it’ll tickle you to see that cable and trap off in the water and pull up that otter.

If you live near a large reservoir or river you can often find big chunks of the foam up at the high water line from the last flood. Not as easy to find as it use to be since the Army Corp made it so only enclosed foam floats can be used in their waters. Still a lot of it out there though.

Home Depot and also Lowes both sell 1"x24"x24" high density foam. Cut twice as many pieces and glue them together.

wont blue or pink board work? it comes in multiple thicknesses

I’d say whatever you have locally available to you that will float enough to hold up the pipe and a couple of traps can be made to work. I used insulated metal or fiberglass panels some but the side that was cut took on water and made the float tilt or tip. I’ve added pool noodles this summer to try to make them more stable. Leon’s plans are proven and are stable enough so the otter will try to run his head into the pipe. Try to make the sides out wide enough so it’s not tippy when the otter puts his front feet on it. I’m sure that all over the country we all have different locally available materials to work with. The dense celled float material he uses I don’t have here.