Hey Everyone. Question for all you guys/gals. Little story first. My father law has been a trapper for most of his life. He has also taught myself and the grandkids as much as he could with trapping and hunting. This past August ha passed away. We all miss him dearly. Well I would like and try to fill his boots and carry on the trapping with his grandkids.

He was mostly a beaver trapper for the 10 years. I want to do more muskrat, mink and coon with the kids. We are starting to get some traps for these critters but I have no lures or bait.

So here is the question. Could I get some advice and opinions on what would be a good group to buy for rats, mink and coon? Would like to be ready when we start trapping.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

If I was to use one lure that would pretty much catch everything you mentioned would be a straight castor lure or a lure with some castor In It. In my opinion castor Is the universal lure for every critter.
Keep It simple when starting out.

Thanks Beav, I don't mind getting different lures.. That way as well when we are all out together, everyone can have some with them...

Is Lenon's a good brand to buy?

Get your lures from the boss man. But you can't go wrong with Lennons lures.

Lennon's muskrat is good. If you have DP's for coon , cheap cat food or fish food. You can spray liquid smoke on it and mix it around. Fish oil for a trail scent. I like Kaatz bros. Cherry Ultimag for trailer, can also use it for Rats.

Learn some blind sets too. No lure needed or desired for that and in most cases they're simpler and faster than lured sets.

jack mackerel is a pretty fair coon bait right out of the can. cheap too. no lure needed. has plenty of smell. rats and mink are usually blind set when I trap them.

I never used a bad coon lure. some are better than others but coons are curious. will want to check out about any new smell. doesn't need to be a coon lure even.

A lure with rat musk in will be attractive to all three animals.
Any lure with mink musk is attractive to mink and coon.
Add some fish for bait on mink and coon and you are good to go.
99 percent of the time I find no need for lure for muskrats, but it doesn't hurt.

Fish oil and castor mixed.

Boco quit letting the cat out of the bag.

IF you want some specific lures I'd try:
Minnesota special from cavens
mud road from Kaatz
muskrat all call from Lennons
OR a big ole chuck of carp
Have fun!

Blackies "money maker"

I’ve had luck with everything I’ve bought from Dobbins, Lennon’s, O’Gormans, Hawbakers, and about 20 other lure makers. really I cant say that any lure I’ve tried hasn’t attracted some sort of critter. But I’d challenge you to take one day and look hard for sign, then match that sign to a pinch point or a funnel. That alone will catch you more fur than any magic elixir.

I was going to say blackies money maker lure, too. It's a lure designed for water trapping at pocket sets and will be attractive to all three species you mention. So was his sugarbabe lure. A bottle of shellfish oild will take all three, too.
A good muskrat gland lure like Carmen's Hudson's seal will also be attractive to all three species.
If you want a specific lure for each species, MN trapline products in their online catalogue go to lure section and they have a list of good lures by species, sort of a top 10 list if you will.
Try to look those up. My personal choices...
(Rats) hudson seal or moneymaker
(Coon) night bandit, moonshine, or hawbakers coon lure
(Mink) Carmen's mink gland, or just shellfish oil
Jim

Wow. Thanks everyone for all the great advice looks like I’m gonna have lots of fun picking. Will for sure keep you all updated on how we do . Again thank you all