Do any of you find it necessary to put a piece of wood on the underside to deter the beaver from diving under the trap?

No. Like many of us beaver look for the easiest route in life!

I used to have a problem with some beaver taking the bait from the side without going through the trap. The side boards should help prevent that. Nice idea!

Never had a need. for a bottom piece...make sure what ever trap you use that the jaws clear the float when it fires..

Not an issue

I never needed sides. My design with 3 wood layers and foam makes it ride high enough.

Also Anchor it away from vegetation or trees so they can't climb over

330 could you post a pic of your design ? I will be honest I built one several years ago and never had any luck with it , may have just been the spring they didn’t travel up my creek .

I'll have to look for my pictures...they're in the Archives

same here

another scenario is to shove it into bulrushes so nothing can go around

..and I like my platform a lil longer so when I want to make a castor mound on it, it is more visible

don't forget the hole for shoving skint sticks as food attractants

i put wire mesh on mine,pretty sure i saw that on here last year when i built mine,maybe dont need it but didnt hurt.and what traprjohn said

I cannot find my pictures
3 layers 2x4
Pink or green closed cell foam between. Front has a triangle mud mound shelf with a 3/4" hole for a peeled branch

I'll look again

Larger platform and holes drilled.

I d use another layer of foam then wood

Test float it with a 330

the uprights on the sides are a good idea. Too often I'm building up the sides with available debris.

That's a great idea.

The low hooped folding garden fence(green) makes a good side barrier when one is wanted. A liitle grass, etc can be throw over it if more camp wanted. I put a pair of smaller fence staples(half wya in, one over other) to slide fence ground legs into(like a stake truck). two sections fit my floats on each side(the narrow end is too close together to have beaver climb over).

I also have some floats that I have made a 1/2" clvc or pex hoop under the BG end and covered the under side with plastic rain gutter guard. I have a few moving waters that are always full of trash in spring and even if I check everyday they are plugged or sprung). With guard they work fine. Obviously beaver can't come up from underside with these but it makes them to cumbersome to do every float.

Mnman has pictures of hid shoved on cat tails

this is how i do mine.