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Otter foothold sets #7052954
11/17/20 01:05 PM
11/17/20 01:05 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
K
k snow Offline OP
trapper
k snow  Offline OP
trapper
K

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
I am looking to set up a few footholds for otter later this year. I have a few #3 and #4 double long springs. No large coils (anything past #2). I plan on setting them on drowner cables.

The creeks I will be setting are rock/gravel bottoms and sides. Would around 40 pounds be enough weight at the end of the cable? Or any other ideas to anchor the water end in rock/gravel? I can pound a rebar stake in 12-18 inches, but they pull right out and spin easily.

I may end up looking at drowning rods, but I would have to get some rebar and learn how to weld. Or should I go older school and just use a tangle stake? I worry about the tangle stake not being anchored in the rock/gravel.

Thanks.

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7053064
11/17/20 03:50 PM
11/17/20 03:50 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
D
drasselt Offline
trapper
drasselt  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
40 lbs is plenty. I don;'t use one way sliders because when I tried them a long time ago the slide cable caught leaves, grass etc so the slide wouldn't work. Instead I wire a small bag of rocks near the trap and anchor in deep water with a heavy sack of rocks. A steep drop to deep water from the bank is ideal although a strong current helps if depth is somewhat lacking. Ideally tie off anchor sack to a stout branch out over the water well away from the bank to keep the catch out.
Vertically positioned body grippers on trails/slides are great but trap shy otter may reject them.


you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7053073
11/17/20 04:07 PM
11/17/20 04:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,018
MI
C
Co�s Offline
trapper
Co�s  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 1,018
MI
TraprJon on here makes and sells Bauer-type drowning rod hardware that doesn’t require welding and is very reasonably priced, if you want to go that route they’re well made and he’s great to deal with. I picked up a dozen from him that I’ll be putting to use in a couple of weeks.

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7053087
11/17/20 04:29 PM
11/17/20 04:29 PM
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
Ave Offline
trapper
Ave  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 992
Ohio, USA
Take your cables, and some feed sacks. Fill them with rocks from the creek, and your good to go.


Ave don't go where the beaver don't flow
Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7055888
11/19/20 07:53 PM
11/19/20 07:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,776
Pennsylvania
P
patrapperbuster Offline
trapper
patrapperbuster  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,776
Pennsylvania
What Ave said. If close to road i have also used just cinder block with 11 ga drowning wire. At shore end a 12" rebar is all i use

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7055900
11/19/20 08:05 PM
11/19/20 08:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
I just used a couple of old rotors chained together. A big one off my excursion and a small one from an accord. A little slack so they spread out and they stayed where they were put. But we have a mix of mud and rock.

I also have just wired on to a large rock found on sight and tossed it into the deep water.

If I had to walk far I would use the feed sack filled on sight.

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7055910
11/19/20 08:18 PM
11/19/20 08:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
trapper
AJE  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
RR tie plates work

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7055951
11/19/20 08:52 PM
11/19/20 08:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
W
waggler Online content
trapper
waggler  Online Content
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,153
Alaska and Washington State
Use cable drowners instead of solid wire if you can. Also, a tangle stake out next to the sack of rocks sure won't hurt any; just extra insurance and something else to distract the otter. I have had theme rip up a feed sack of rocks before, they are one tough animal.


"My life is better than your vacation"
Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7055996
11/19/20 09:17 PM
11/19/20 09:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
Chain is the easiest and longest lasting drowner system If you have No welder. The chain cut at 10 feet, top end add 2 add -a -links for using one or 2 cross stakes. Lock is long lasting and Easy to make from conduit. 3/4" inside dia. Bottom of chain , use 1 add a link as a lock stop wire up to a 1/2 feedback of sand or rocks. Easy to carry in Empty and fill at the set location. [Linked Image]
Slide lock cut at angle from a pipe. Hole drilled on bottom direction end.

[Linked Image]
.slick system...no lock snagging.


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7056129
11/19/20 11:17 PM
11/19/20 11:17 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
D
drasselt Offline
trapper
drasselt  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,686
Alaska
Nice set up 330, thanks!


you can vote your way into socialism, but you will have to shoot your way out.
Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7056166
11/19/20 11:53 PM
11/19/20 11:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,262
Mt.
g smith Offline
trapper
g smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,262
Mt.
That looks like a lasting setup 330 . Twisted wire is ---- cranky .thanks


You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7056192
11/20/20 12:10 AM
11/20/20 12:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
A
AJE Offline
trapper
AJE  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
Sometimes I like the light weight of cable.

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: g smith] #7056213
11/20/20 12:33 AM
11/20/20 12:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
Originally Posted by g smith
That looks like a lasting setup 330 . Twisted wire is ---- cranky .thanks

Absolutely!


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: k snow] #7056331
11/20/20 07:50 AM
11/20/20 07:50 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
K
k snow Offline OP
trapper
k snow  Offline OP
trapper
K

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,364
east central WI
Thanks for all of the tips guys. We have rifle season starting tomorrow morning for 9 days. I'll start setting for otter heavier after that.

Re: Otter foothold sets [Re: Providence Farm] #7056335
11/20/20 08:00 AM
11/20/20 08:00 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,963
Central Ontario, Canada
C
Crit-R-Dun Offline
trapper
Crit-R-Dun  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,963
Central Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by Providence Farm
I just used a couple of old rotors chained together. A big one off my excursion and a small one from an accord. A little slack so they spread out and they stayed where they were put. But we have a mix of mud and rock.

I also have just wired on to a large rock found on sight and tossed it into the deep water.

If I had to walk far I would use the feed sack filled on sight.


I use rotors as well and have a good stock to choose from. Usually pick thorugh for the heavier ones I suspect probably came off trucks. I don't weigh them but our legal minimum is 30 lbs. Not sure what mine weigh but I've yet to experience the biggest of beavers move them. Relatively easy to carry and throw, free, lie flat on the bottom, easy to connect to, drag back in without hanging up most of the time, not much to dislike about them.

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