hello all, just curious what all you minkers do come teen temps with water still open? i found fresh tracks on two creeks today, not sure my best option is here? i dont have cubbies or i would try that. am thinking of going in the water but not an expert on mink.

baited pocket is a simple set that produces fur in open water

Agree with Hern for open water, pocket set on edge of the creek, just make sure its heavy enough for coon.

i'm on the go Hern.bottom edge i say.

don't forget to ask at www.minktrapping.com too!

I have had the best success with small body grip traps on land in trails this year with all the crazy weather. Any set will work - pockets work great like Hern says. Sometimes you can put rocks in the current to make water run over your trap so it stays open.

Don’t forget to look for some dry land trails. These will stay functional even if your water sets freeze up. The big bucks spend a lot of time on the banks hunting rodents.
Pocket sets either baited or unbaited should cover the water level pretty well. If it freezes up, try some top edge sets on top of the ice.

After freeze up I have good luck with a big chunk of top quality bait like a fat chunk of beaver.A mink needs lots of fuel to keep warm when the temps drop,and a nice chunk of fat meat that they can take and hole up with for a few days is very appealing to them this time of year.I have watched mink dragging a half eaten beaver carcass thru the deep snow,trying to take it to a den hole.

What type of set?



Also I'm curious what the go to is on beaver lodges.
Got a couple I was going to try pocket sets on. Or blind set if there's already a hole.

Mink box.
In fall a pocket set or two kicked into a beaver house,while trapping the beaver will net you some easy mink without going out of your way.Use partridge or fish for bait,otherwise if you use beaver,you may have beaver mudding the traps.

Rodents aren’t the only thing those big ole bucks hunt high and dry. They’re also trying to pass on their last name!

I agree with Aix on the rodent idea. The last two mink I caught in grassy trails had chewed up mice or voles in the their stomachs.