what are the major pros and cons? Im sick of luging drowner weights not to mention how muddy you get handling them before and after a catch.Are there any cons to drowner rods besides un handy to haul?If I could get my truck close to all my beaver sets rods would be all id use .Unfortunately I cant hence this conversation! Yes I can and do leave behind a few weights when I use bricks they get left quite often! The beavers here move around a lot.So im always having to bring in more bricks! Eventually ill have a decent sized semi load of bricks scattered across the country side.Luckily I can get my bricks for free.But a few dozen 1/2" rebar drowner rods wont break the bank. Id like more input before I swallow that pill ! Rocky streams I know im pretty well stuck with cables

I use mainly rods. If its rocky and close i use weights. When i have to walk a ways i take a feed bag and fill with dirt or rocks

I only use the feed bag, filled on location. I only trap about 10 beaver a year though.

ive never been abel to get a feed bag to hold I always find the beaver laying on it on bank so I started calling them beaver pillows I think its the sharp edges of a brick that helps them dig in. Wish I could get that set up to work That always seamed like the way to go in walk in spots

Use both. Really like it when you can use a rod off one bank with a cable looped on the deep end of the rod to another bank set.

The rods work best for me but I don't have to walk ether drive close or boat

These were all caught with rods except two caught with 220s in otter sets

There are more beaver close to the road than I need, so I have used just rods for the past few years. I will not be going back to cables. I am sure they each have their place, but I will be using just rods.

If you go with the rods, try these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcgE9svBIS8

I use a little of every thing. Rebar rods, Carbon fiber rods, cables and weights, cables and fiberglass rods work too with the rod out there like the old spruce pole and wire trick in the swamp. If you like cable, and want to go light, and the bottom works for this, use a rod out deep to anchor the cable deep.

Every trap I have can be hooked up to any system I have, including under ice foothold sets.

Ditto.

thanks all I think im convinced rods are the way to go in easy access areas. but remote areas still need cable! Les id like to hear more about the cable and pole set up. I think I understand the concept but its not clear to me.

You need to fascten the cable to the bottom stop, these stops just stop a loc traveling down the rod with a trap on it, but I have loops welded to some of my bottom stops so I can attatch the cable there and poke it in to deeper water. Then just drive the trap stake in at the top with the trap on the cable. Same as the old days when a fella grabbed a slim spruce pole and attached a drowner wire to it and shoved it into deep water with a wooden stake topside near the trap. These are geotek rods that I have painted. I have the hardware from Rally Hess that goes with them, but you need to have a way to keep the spring loop from sliding under the pressure of a beaver, hence, my stops. It's just 1/4" nuts, bolts, and square tubing. Takes a 1/2" wrench in your pocket.

12 feet of #2 twin loop chain.....could use welded link but the cheaper twin loop works well. Used brake rotar off full size truck for weight..get them from brake mechanic shop. Use same Bauer type lock as used on rebar rods. I make my own locks with a V notch in them that prevents them from slipping backwards.

wish there was like a heavy duty fiber glass tent pole style drowner rod! Folds up in a easy two foot long bundle,Then the problem would be affordability

I normally use rebar. I originally made these for raccoon. Decided to try some this year on the beaver line. They actually did pretty good. Pound conduit in deep water and stake cable at the bank. Light weight and cables and traps can be changed out easily with the split washers. I don’t know how well they would hold up for a whole season, but I only have a few spots I can’t get my truck or 4 wheeler to so I didn’t have to use these much.

I like your rig. Do you use this out of a boat? If not, why not just use a chain or cable and pitch weight such a a brake rotar in the deep water?

I like the fiberglass rods. I started with wire and weights. Wire was difficult to wrangle around and will eventually kink. Traps slid down easily though. Cable is easier to deal with than wire, but it can kink as well. Had to have weight. Tried chain. Had to have weight. The locks I had bought sometimes failed to go to weight at bottom. Tried rods. No weight. Not had a beaver or otter fail to be on bottom. Never had one pulled out at bottom. Doubt if I will ever use anything other than a fiberglass rod. Just my experience. I tried them all. Wire. Then cable. Then chain. Then rods. Good luck.

Only time I use cable and weights is when I’m targeting otter on the creeks and 10 foot rebar won’t get out deep enough. Really just wanted to try this setup for beaver. Usually when I have to walk a little ways through thick stuff, I’ll leave the footholds and rebar in the truck and just take in some 330’s or snares.