I just got some pretty big permission to trap a local river that has a ton of beaver. It's a big river and in the spring it fluctuates up and down a fair bit especially in the spring when I want to trap it. I have not trapped beaver a ton so asking what the best way to do this is? Anyone have any pictures of sets? I was thinking of a castor mound set on the shore line with lure and sticks to guid him through a 330? Any thoughts?

I’m by no means an expert but I do trap a big river, the rapid change in water level can be very aggravating. I usually only set traps for a short period of time , like 2-3 days when the river is forcast not to change drastically. I mainly use just castor mounds, but I prefer footholds or snares. I try to set in the evening as opposed to mornings so there is less time for water level change by the time the beavers are active. And it’s not only the river level itself but wind and or boat traffic causing waves can destroy a set pretty quickly. Best way to figure it out is to go try it, good luck , have fun.

I trapped beaver for the first time this year on a big river and the water fluctuations were rough on running 330s

Next year I plan to run snares above my 330s so when my 330s are under water I’m still trapping

Footholds worked for me since I could set them out of the water

I don’t have much experience on water trapping but these were things I noticed

I keep moving sets up and down with the water level.The worst thing here is the ground is still frozen at the beginning of open water and no way to drive stabilizers or stakes.Your lured sets will mostly have beaver every day,so daily checks are productive at this time,and keep eye on weather forecast rain warm days will create more run off and higher water.Another tip is wire off trap well up on the bank so you can retrieve trap and catch if the water rises drastically overnight after a big rain warm weather on a melting snowpack.Floats are an option but I never liked them-too bulky to transport and too time consuming to construct on site compared to more conventional sets if your running a lot of sets.
When beaver were worth decent money lots of guys here shot beaver in the evenings on the big rivers in spring.20-30 an evening was not uncommon.

"V" floats, 330s and castor on big fluctuating rivers work good.

You could put a snare on something that floats and smear a dab of castor on the end. They’ll circle it locating the source of the castor scent and hit the snare.

Most importantly, it’ll ride the water fluctuations.


A log, a balanced pvc pipe with expanding foam (torpedo), a piece of wooden fence post with a piece of rebar fastened to the bottom using fence staples....what you use is only limited by your imagination, but it’s going to need to be balanced whatever it is so that it stays upright.


Good luck

Not much of a beaver trapper, but I have been trapping a large river the past 2 years. I like drowning rigs, I prefer rods, but cables and chains work all the same. I prefer a #5 sized trap, it seems to be more forgiving when you are fighting the constant river level change, I was using #4s last year, and I was struggling with them, lots of snapped empty traps. I use a mainly castor mounds and bait sticks. I try to set for the back foot, but if they drop the river a little, you still have a set that will take a front foot, unfortunately if you set for a back foot and they raise the river too much, you are out of commission. As Boco mentioned, I have found it best to check every day, that way you can move your sets with the river level, and take out beavers and keep your sets going. I have even thought about trying to swap over my rods from 10 foot to maybe something like 14-16 feet, that way it would make moving with the water level a little easier. I have a website here where I can monitor the river level, if you can use something like that it really helps. I also try to keep the wind at my back, really want that scent blowing out over the water, if that is not an option, I try to slick up the bank, add shiny bait sticks, anything to catch their eye, sometimes I do all thee above.



This last week has been great, staying right at 12 feet, but what it doesn't show is the week before I set 12 traps at 8 feet, I am waiting to retrieve them. Really make sure your traps are anchored solid, just in case they raise the river over night, I have yet to lose a trap, knock on wood.

Here is a set I made the other day, it's pretty crude, but it works. I like a shear backing, they seem to slam their feet right into your trap, this was a tip I got from another pretty good beaver trapper on this site.



And as others have mentioned. you just gotta dive in and do it, you'll figure it out, if you can catch 400 coyotes I think you can be hard on them beavers in no time Best luck!

You would have fewer snapped empty traps if you positioned your trap so they go between the jaws rather than over them. Turning the trap 90 degrees in other words would improve your odds .Looks good otherwise....good luck!

That and I'd offset it to the right or left just a smidge.

I like a guide stick touching the outside of one of the trap jaws. This will line the feet up with the pan pretty good and will not interfere with the trap firing.

On the big rivers I always look for feeder streams and big trees that have fallen into the water creating a back eddie. Both help protect and prevent wash outs of the set from when other boats go by. 330's and a castor mound set are ideal for what you will be doing, fast and easy to adjust. Don't know what your laws are for coni's but we always set them 3/4 of the way out of the water and fence them in, place lure at water level and then about a foot or two higher up in case the water comes up. We have alot of success with foot holds on drowners as well, targeting the front foot. We tote in empty sand bags fill them on site, and use 8-10 ft 1/8 cable for drowner rigs. pretty easy set up.

Have you tried a 330 instead of a leg trap? I was thinking of trying that out with the castor mound. Thanks for the info guys

Appreciate the help fellas. I will do these things.

nube, I have killed a few beaver doing what you are talking about. I made a slide, put a castor mound at the top, 330 at the bottom, heavily blocked. Worked great. I have to be careful as my regulations call for my 330s to have water up to the springs to be legal, if the water is below the springs I am illegal. I have better luck using this set in the backwater, as it doesn't drop as fast and keeps me legal long enough to tend to my sets. Hope this helps in your endeavor

Set





Result

You would have fewer snapped empty traps if you positioned your trap so they go between the jaws rather than over them. Turning the trap 90 degrees in other words would improve your odds .Looks good otherwise....good luck!



Very good advice!!

Bump

On rapidly changing water in spring on big water ,floats are the ticket .Just don,t over build them ..no need for a 2x4 float