This weekend is my first time trapping on a big (ish) river, trapping out of my kayak. I pre-set out a couple concrete blocks earlier in the year for weights, and can carry two 5 gallon buckets full of traps and supplies in my yak.

There's several dead coon along the shore, probably 6-7 along a 1/3 miles stretch. Obviously some disease is ravaging them from an over-population, they're apparently seeking water and then curling up on shore and dying.

The first night I caught one baby black beaver.

Today it was nasty out, raining and sleeting, but it stopped the whole time I was on the river,and super peaceful. I had 7 school bus yellow coon today, and another little baby black beaver.

I missed another beaver, my trap was silted in and there was a beaver track right in the middle of my slide

Nice school bus boar.


I was super overloaded, it was pretty sketchy paddling back up stream.

I made it though, so we'll see what we get tomorrow.

Way to go.Congrats

Very cool!

Looks like fun!

Looks fun and brings back great memories.

Heaven on earth what a way to do it, keep going for it.

How'd the kayak feel stability wise? I've used a canoe mainly because of its carrying capacity.

This guy looks like he's embarrassed he got his hand stuck in the cookie jar.

Not too bad. It's pretty stable. But with all that weight in the back end, the nose was way up and it felt weird. I'd like a canoe,but I've got about a 150 yard walk down to the waters edge here, so the lighter my load, the better.

Nothing like floating alone on the river checking traps.

Looks like an Adventure

looks like a good time

WTG!

Nice looking setup you have there. I have an Acadia II tandem kayak I would like to take on the trapline someday.

Nice pics

Thanks for sharing, what a great way to spend your day.

Nice ride along - thanks.
Looking forward to your next check.

Nice job sir.

Looks like a good time. Relaxing almost. Hope the distemper didn't knock too many out for you.

great way to spend time trapping and enjoying the outdoors.

I have never sat in a yak. I have trapped a lot from a canoe. I always went upstream from where i put in so the paddle back was easier when heavy.

My only choice here is to go downstream then back up, but I don't start collecting critters until my way back up so I don't have to carry them both ways. I dispatch on the way downstream, then toss them in the water to rinse until I come back.

Another nice day on the water....

Only caught two coons, both little mud balls. One was a female with big nipples, so she must have had a late litter.

I liked what I saw when I got to my last beaver set....

The results.....nice front door catch in a bridger #5. This the spot that was silted in yesterday.

The set....castor mound on top of a slide. Kinda-sorta a castor mound at least, it's hard to make a mud pie on a bank made of chunky mud. It all looks the same.

Neat old tree in the water.

I pulled the coon traps today, since I work tomorrow and won't be able to check, but left the beaver traps for Thursday.

Is that the blue river, sir? Pretty calm stretch there, cool pics.
Jim

Brings back a lot of memories. Great pictures.

Yup, walk-in land just south of Holmesville. Average depth here is like 2-5 feet.

Nice photos! Good job!

Enjoying the photos, keep them coming and thanks for sharing.


B

Looks like ok mink & muskrat water. Any there?

Way to get 'em! Stay topside when carrying the heavy load!

Chris

I imagine so. This is my first time trapping this location, so I didn't look for a whole lot of sign, but did see some muskrat poop today.

Getting in and out is the hardest part, I'd like to have a sit on top kayak but the one I have was cheap, so it'll work for now.

With a canoe and kayak of equal length and material the canoe will always be lighter. And as mentioned, getting in and out much easier. Look into finding a 14-16’ solo or small tandem canoe. Mine is a wenonah vagabond and it weights ~45 lbs. Carrying it 150 yards is no problem.

I would much rather have a 12 foot Jon boat if I am going to have a load. I have heard way more stories about tipping canoes than jon boats.

I really enjoy river boat trapping. Haven't done it in a while though. Your pics are making me want to.
I can't imagine me trying a kayak, I had a 10 ft flat bottom and it was all I could do to not flip it. Good luck..

Nice ride along. Thanks for sharing

Ah the old dam at holmesville...fun times.

Weighed my big beaver from today....63 lbs.