You build them n the summer and set them in the winter. They're not left out year round.

Thought you meant to pre locate them before season.

A smaller version should also work for Mr. Mink too......jk I like it

Kytrapper brough up tide water.
I'll tell you guys Tide water is much easer to trap than rivers with dams that they let go when they feel like it.I would rather trap tide water than ANY place else. Even dry land.

Two trapper sayings comes to mind
1-If it works for you.
2- Flooded water always makes more sets than it takes away.

First thing I ever saw taken with the float was a mink. I was pretty amazed at how many coons swim out to them and get caught. No worries about water level or weather as long as you don't put them out in the main flow and get into debris.

A very good trapper here in WA used floats for years. They were all made with two cedar fence posts tied together and a wood tunnel built on them. He used 1 1/2 CS on each end. He used them mostly in sloughs where there was a lot of water fluctuation but also in lakes. They were heavy and cumbersome so he put them in the off season and left them there year around. We could do that here. He caught all water animals in them. Beaver, otter, mink, rats, and coon.
He liked them for two reasons fluctuating water levels and they never caught a possum.
He had videos of the things in summer and it was amazing all the attention they drew from animals. It was a hoot watching beaver pushing them around trying to move them somewhere.

X@ on dammed rivers. Aggravating is the nice word for it.

I could see them coming in handy in some of the streams I trap. Streams that are deep and fairly wide with steep banks come to mind.

Thought I had a better picture. I don't float them. Just set them in deep enough water to cover the trap. The above otter was the second one in two nights. think he came looking for his buddy. Nothing special on the location. Set in front of my house. Have caught 3 in two years. Otter not thick here but they keep coming to my pond from a small river near by. I started this year just put a leafy branch over the slot just to darken it inside. I also put a 6" soft bait fish on the trigger. Caught a bass on day 3 in a open set.

I read the article. I might have missed it, but he didn't say how he anchored the thing, did he? Some of the otter I've caught in a body grip were like a beaver on steroids. With no anchor, an otter would pull that set all over the river. The other thing I wasn't too keen about would be having to lug the set back in the woods a ways, so nobody steals it.

You anchor them to a tree limb over the water or a snag. Yes they need to be anchored solid.

Do you think these would work with the entrance completely below water? I live in Washington where we are stuck using cages. We can do a 72 hour check in drowning sets. If I rigged a tunnel setup with powered door traps under water this would be great for the lower tidal portions of the rivers in the area.

Has anyone made these in the two years since this was posted?

I know of one Amish trapper that’s built some and was tickled with the results.

I’ve been thinking of using these for some time. Haven’t made any yet but was going to use big field tile or pvc pipe. My use will be nuisance summer otter around docks in a private lake.

Didnt think the Amish were ticklish.

Anybody?

Ok, I went and made one. I will let you know how it works out.

Looks just like one of Leon’s. Set it where there’s otter and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Interesting