I tried posting this on Trapper Talk and it didn't get many responses. Has anybody used a muskrat float for mink? I have a homemade float I made and then realized that there isn't any muskrat in the creek I'm trapping. I know there is mink cause I found one the coyotes got but left in the open. Any ideas would be helpful and thanks in advance.

I would think you would be more likely to connect if you used the trap from that float and made a good pocket set with bait? Or a blind set on a solid trail.

But to answer you question I don't think i have ever heard of mink hitting a float. They certainly have not done that for me. I do no however bait mine for mink though.

I've heard of catching mink on a float, but not many. Muskrats are usually the main target

Yes. I attached a piece of 3" drain tile to a 5/8" deck board, stuffed a rat carcass inside and guarded both ends with a Duke 1.5 C's.
Had a nice mink first check...never caught another on that float.

Many years ago Bob Noonan wrote an interesting article about a Maine guy that had a good system using them.
Perhaps one could urge Bob to write about it again. It was in the Trapper magazine. I can not remember a lot about it. What I do remember is the guy was an accountant, trapped part time, deployed ten under bridges. I believe they worked well.

this reminds me of the magazine that used to be. It was awesome. This summer I got to dig them all out in all my spare time. LOL

No, I have never tried it before.I have 3 that I bought from an ex trapper this summer. They are wood and somewhat heavy- I wouldn't want to carry them far. He used them for rats but they are covered, with a spike for bait and can accommodate 2 foothold traps. I have a couple deep slow water culvert pools I want to try them in Just haven't got to those locations yet.. I think with a half a muskrat they should work. Did a mock test w/ traps this summer and the traps were at the perfect water level. Now when I add the muskrat they will probably sink too much LOL.

As a side note I did hit one pool yesterday I wanted to try them in. It was a deep slow pool but not anymore. Recent flooding sedimented (is that a word?) it up and now there is only 6 inches of water in it. Today there is probably 3 feet of water running through it.

Search the archives. I believe there might be a NAFA or FTA or Fur Harvesters diagram of a mink float there somewhere.

I haven't tried it, but it might be worth a shot. I have best luck in bottom edge sets.

Here is a floating set I use for top edge muskrat sets. Should work for mink. The set up uses 2 fiberglass rods that keep the trap from swinging in the current and allow the trap to float up or down with the water level. The rods go through the trap spring eye on one side and a wire loop on the other. It can be used as pictured. The wood on top creates a dive stick.
Sorry about the side ways pictures.

Corrected pictures.

Neat, Archeryguy.

Thinking out side the box

All I can think to add is a fishing plastic lure. Just press it on the trigger wires. The current will do the rest.

You could also, just a idea to try set the float, the one with the foot holds on it, in deep water along the shore to give the mink beside the rats a place to land on and rest at the shore line.The place that they need to swim a length to get to shore and the bank is to steep to go up on.