Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7110652
12/29/20 01:26 PM
12/29/20 01:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,845 Wisconsin
The Beav
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It's about eye appeal not taste when your trapping under the Ice. So It might work but orange peels or grapefruit peels may be a better choice. I'm thinking the sweet potato might be a bit on the dark side when used under the ice.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7111762
12/30/20 12:59 AM
12/30/20 12:59 AM
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 212 Central MN
Gray Breard
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Central MN
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I know that they like sugar beets. Sweet Potatoes should work. I think they both put out a sweetness in the water that the rats pick up on.
My Gal's name is Ma Deuce.
The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: sjc]
#7111838
12/30/20 05:00 AM
12/30/20 05:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 212 Central MN
Gray Breard
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sjc, that is motley looking crew you have there. lol.
My Gal's name is Ma Deuce.
The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: Gray Breard]
#7112390
12/30/20 02:28 PM
12/30/20 02:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 northern michigan
sjc
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267
northern michigan
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I know that they like sugar beets. Sweet Potatoes should work. I think they both put out a sweetness in the water that the rats pick up on. I agree.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: Gray Breard]
#7112391
12/30/20 02:29 PM
12/30/20 02:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 northern michigan
sjc
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northern michigan
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sjc, that is motley looking crew you have there. lol. Yep. The one on the left and two on the right are mine. The other one is a cousin who just went along for the walk.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7112401
12/30/20 02:36 PM
12/30/20 02:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 northern michigan
sjc
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northern michigan
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Yup.....thinking that kid on the left in waders has already forgotten more than I know. Ought to borrow him for a few days to coach me up.
So this board set.......if I understand right, it is something like a 1 x 4, with trap set below a carrot.....pushed through a hole in the ice......set at an angle.....bait just below the ice? That kid wasn't born in the swamp, but he got there pretty quick! That's pretty much how the boards work. I use pieces of luan plywood with a nail for the trap, a drywall screw to hold the bait and two holes drilled thru to wire it to a stake. This cuts down on weight and allows you to adjust for different water depths. You can see in the first pic.
Last edited by sjc; 12/30/20 03:22 PM.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7112521
12/30/20 04:40 PM
12/30/20 04:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,845 Wisconsin
The Beav
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I'm not sure If a rat can smell or taste something under water but I know they can see. And I think that the sweet potato loses It's color when submerged for any period of time. If you don't have anything bright just use some white styrafoam on the triggers.
Last edited by The Beav; 12/30/20 04:41 PM.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7112926
12/30/20 10:03 PM
12/30/20 10:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 northern michigan
sjc
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I'm not sure If a rat can smell or taste something under water but I know they can see. And I think that the sweet potato loses It's color when submerged for any period of time. If you don't have anything bright just use some white styrafoam on the triggers. I agree. I doubt if anything that breathes with lungs does much smelling underwater. I do believe that they can taste, especially when they bite the bait. I guess what I should have said, was that I think baited footholds work better most of the time and here's why. I used to catch rats in conibears and boards with squares cut out of Clorox jugs. I found that boards baited with edible bait out produce conibears with fake bait, conibears with real bait, and boards with fake bait. I also found that I had no problem catching that first rat in a baited coni with real or fake bait, but they would start coming harder after that. I don't know if it's because I wired my conibears and the dead rat stayed there. Oftentimes, if I just moved it a few feet, I would catch another. The reason I like boards with real bait better, is because when you catch a rat, it dies away from the bait and the next one eats it. Replace the bait and he's sure to be back. If you miss one with real bait, he will be back. They did not seem to keep coming with the fake bait. Also, you can get away with chopping smaller holes with boards and fewer trapped rats freeze to the bottom of the ice. I also think 110s are too small to be very effective for baited sets. I still use some baited conibears under ice and I know some guys that use use them mostly and do pretty good. This is just what works for me.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7112964
12/30/20 10:36 PM
12/30/20 10:36 PM
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 212 Central MN
Gray Breard
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Posts: 212
Central MN
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sjc, Underwater, smell turns into taste. For example, could you taste the difference between plain water and water with a little Anise? Be assured that rats and beaver can.
Last edited by Gray Breard; 12/30/20 10:37 PM.
My Gal's name is Ma Deuce.
The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: Gray Breard]
#7112995
12/30/20 10:53 PM
12/30/20 10:53 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 267 northern michigan
sjc
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sjc, Underwater, smell turns into taste. For example, could you taste the difference between plain water and water with a little Anise? Be assured that rats and beaver can. That's what I'm saying...
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7113039
12/30/20 11:23 PM
12/30/20 11:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 212 Central MN
Gray Breard
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 212
Central MN
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I think that is why I think sugar beets have worked well. They have loads of sweetness. Wether it is a chunk in a feed bed or under water. Not to mention that I can get a PU load for $20. I pass them around to others. If they start to ferment a little, they just get better for both bait or making some wine. Lol.
My Gal's name is Ma Deuce.
The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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Re: Sweet potato for muskrats?
[Re: HayDay]
#7114796
01/01/21 12:45 AM
01/01/21 12:45 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,513 Kanabec Cty, MN
Drakej
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Kanabec Cty, MN
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Using a coni-clip of any variety with a BG on a stake will do the same letting the sprung rat and trap drop away to bottom. I attach my clips to a short piece of pvc with a screw eye thru it to allow them to be depth adjustable and attach to trap ring. Also lets me set trap just under ice in bubble trails as blind sets.
I've learned enough thru the years to now know that I don't know enough. KNOWLEDGE IS FREEDOM.
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