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Muskrat Float Design #7386516
10/23/21 06:58 PM
10/23/21 06:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 21
Iowa
I
iowaratman Offline OP
trapper
iowaratman  Offline OP
trapper
I

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 21
Iowa
Here is a prototype for a muskrat float. I haven't trapped with it yet. seems to me to be a good design. 7 1/2 inches wide, as a 1 by 8 board is that wide. 20 inches long with one inch closed cell Styrofoam glued to the bottom. a furring strip for the sides. 1 1/2 coil spring traps. I would use a bamboo stake in the 3/4 inch hole in the center. Looks good to me. Anybody use the same or similar design? Does it look good?

20211019_182051.jpg20211022_164337.jpg20211019_182057.jpg20211019_182114.jpg20211019_182138.jpg
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7386596
10/23/21 08:14 PM
10/23/21 08:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,170
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
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trapperkeck  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,170
St. Cloud, MN
I have used the exact same design, except mine were 24" long. Only because I ripped down 4' wide sheets of plywood and it was less cutting. I will say, a longer float will equal more doubles. I had days where I had 35 floats out and scored as many as 67 rats. I screwed a bent washer on each end with a hole drilled in it to accept a quick link to attach traps. A #1.5 Duke DJ on that setup has taken 1,000's of rats for me. Always in the spring. Quite hit and miss in the fall, unfortunately.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7386634
10/23/21 08:42 PM
10/23/21 08:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 476
Oregon
SpottedOwl Offline
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SpottedOwl  Offline
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Posts: 476
Oregon
We don’t have huge numbers of rats in my area. Why does the extra 4’" result in more doubles? Less tippy?



Owl


Spend time with your kids while THEY still have time

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Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7386743
10/24/21 02:02 AM
10/24/21 02:02 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,913
ny
U
upstateNY Offline
trapper
upstateNY  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,913
ny
Stake it better.


the wheels of the gods turn very slowly
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7386826
10/24/21 07:48 AM
10/24/21 07:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,234
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Wisconsin
looks like the perfect float. Now you just have to place the bait up about 7" above the traps.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: The Beav] #7386839
10/24/21 08:11 AM
10/24/21 08:11 AM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 244
IA
K
kinley31 Offline
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kinley31  Offline
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Posts: 244
IA
Originally Posted by The Beav
looks like the perfect float. Now you just have to place the bait up about 7" above the traps.

I know a guy in South Dakota that uses the same design, and never puts a stitch of bait on them. Not saying bait won't help, but they'll work without bait also.

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7386843
10/24/21 08:16 AM
10/24/21 08:16 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
South metro, MN
I see a couple issues (having used them quite abit and having watched many many rats swim onto them and how they react). The traps should be secured to the ends....and realistically it's still abit too short. You'll get a lot of one rat in two traps with that setup. Sometimes rats jump off the side and sometimes they run in the direction they are facing (to your other trap).

The width is better than most that make them but if you're going to make more, make them just wide enough for your jaws to fit between the outer firring strips. I've watched more than a handfull of rats that will walk the furring strips. Sometimes they'll drop a foot and sometimes not. if the pan is too far from the furring strip they are apt to miss the pan. This is where the biggest (and lightest) pan you can find helps more than most think. The first thing I do to my rat traps is take the stock pan off. Watch a few rats walk all over your "properly tuned" traps and the lightbulb comes on pretty quickly.

The staking setup is fine...but I'd use fiberglass rods. I've caught more than a few coon on floats and they hang up pretty close usually.

Also, most use the closed cell foam underneath as rats tear up the white stuff pretty good.

That said, floats work great in the Dakokas but don't work worth a hoot around here in MN. I hope you can get them to work for you. Good luck.


Last edited by Calvin; 10/24/21 12:26 PM.
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: Calvin] #7387418
10/24/21 08:35 PM
10/24/21 08:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,170
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,170
St. Cloud, MN
Originally Posted by Calvin
I see a couple issues (having used them quite abit and having watched many many rats swim onto them and how they react). The traps should be secured to the ends....and realistically it's still abit too short. You'll get a lot of one rat in two traps with that setup. Sometimes rats jump off the side and sometimes they run in the direction they are facing (to your other trap).

The width is better than most that make them but if you're going to make more, make them just wide enough for your jaws to fit between the outer firring strips. I've watched more than a handfull of rats that will walk the furring strips. Sometimes they'll drop a foot and sometimes not. if the pan is too far from the furring strip they are apt to miss the pan. This is where the biggest (and lightest) pan you can find helps more than most think. The first thing I do to my rat traps is take the stock pan off. Watch a few rats walk all over your "properly tuned" traps and the lightbulb comes on pretty quickly.

The staking setup is fine...but I'd use fiberglass rods. I've caught more than a few coon on floats and they hang up pretty close usually.

Also, most use the closed cell foam underneath as rats tear up the white stuff pretty good.

That said, floats work great in the Dakokas but don't work worth a hoot around here in MN. I hope you can get them to work for you. Good luck.


They would work fine in MN if we had a spring, open water, season!


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: trapperkeck] #7387466
10/24/21 09:23 PM
10/24/21 09:23 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 17,357
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
~ADC~  Offline
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 17,357
Iowa
Originally Posted by trapperkeck
Originally Posted by Calvin
I see a couple issues (having used them quite abit and having watched many many rats swim onto them and how they react). The traps should be secured to the ends....and realistically it's still abit too short. You'll get a lot of one rat in two traps with that setup. Sometimes rats jump off the side and sometimes they run in the direction they are facing (to your other trap).

The width is better than most that make them but if you're going to make more, make them just wide enough for your jaws to fit between the outer firring strips. I've watched more than a handfull of rats that will walk the furring strips. Sometimes they'll drop a foot and sometimes not. if the pan is too far from the furring strip they are apt to miss the pan. This is where the biggest (and lightest) pan you can find helps more than most think. The first thing I do to my rat traps is take the stock pan off. Watch a few rats walk all over your "properly tuned" traps and the lightbulb comes on pretty quickly.

The staking setup is fine...but I'd use fiberglass rods. I've caught more than a few coon on floats and they hang up pretty close usually.

Also, most use the closed cell foam underneath as rats tear up the white stuff pretty good.

That said, floats work great in the Dakokas but don't work worth a hoot around here in MN. I hope you can get them to work for you. Good luck.


They would work fine in MN if we had a spring, open water, season!

Iowa too.

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7387632
10/25/21 08:06 AM
10/25/21 08:06 AM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912
michigan,USA
S
seniortrap Offline
trapper
seniortrap  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,912
michigan,USA
Quote
Calvin: The first thing I do to my rat traps is take the stock pan off.


So whats your answer? A wider pan or what?


Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers

"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction."
"After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7387643
10/25/21 08:16 AM
10/25/21 08:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,339
Manitoba Canada
M
MB Coonguy Offline
trapper
MB Coonguy  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,339
Manitoba Canada
Wild river trap pans-but on the float design-I agree a little longer but one thing for sure-the hole for the pole is way too small-it will bind when water levels change-make it at least an inch if you are using 1/2" fiberglass poles. Trust me I have used floats for years-using them as I type this out response. But other than that it looks good!

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: seniortrap] #7387651
10/25/21 08:23 AM
10/25/21 08:23 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
South metro, MN
Originally Posted by seniortrap
Quote
Calvin: The first thing I do to my rat traps is take the stock pan off.


So whats your answer? A wider pan or what?


Yes, Mikes Wild river pans are about the best I've used. HD and pre bent for consistent tension. Double post for me.

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: trapperkeck] #7387652
10/25/21 08:24 AM
10/25/21 08:24 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,002
South metro, MN
Originally Posted by trapperkeck
Originally Posted by Calvin
I see a couple issues (having used them quite abit and having watched many many rats swim onto them and how they react). The traps should be secured to the ends....and realistically it's still abit too short. You'll get a lot of one rat in two traps with that setup. Sometimes rats jump off the side and sometimes they run in the direction they are facing (to your other trap).

The width is better than most that make them but if you're going to make more, make them just wide enough for your jaws to fit between the outer firring strips. I've watched more than a handfull of rats that will walk the furring strips. Sometimes they'll drop a foot and sometimes not. if the pan is too far from the furring strip they are apt to miss the pan. This is where the biggest (and lightest) pan you can find helps more than most think. The first thing I do to my rat traps is take the stock pan off. Watch a few rats walk all over your "properly tuned" traps and the lightbulb comes on pretty quickly.

The staking setup is fine...but I'd use fiberglass rods. I've caught more than a few coon on floats and they hang up pretty close usually.

Also, most use the closed cell foam underneath as rats tear up the white stuff pretty good.

That said, floats work great in the Dakokas but don't work worth a hoot around here in MN. I hope you can get them to work for you. Good luck.


They would work fine in MN if we had a spring, open water, season!



I'm not sold on this viewpoint anymore. A few years ago we had a super early spring thaw here where I was able to set out some floats before season closed. Rats were moving and we had open water. The floats were a big fail.

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7387843
10/25/21 02:24 PM
10/25/21 02:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 635
ID
O
Ole Offline
trapper
Ole  Offline
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O

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 635
ID
If you cut the top of the firring strips at a 45 degree or more angle, do you think they would be more likely to walk on the flat surface, ie. the pan?

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7387845
10/25/21 02:26 PM
10/25/21 02:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 635
ID
O
Ole Offline
trapper
Ole  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 635
ID
Are ducks a problem with this floating set?

Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7387890
10/25/21 03:23 PM
10/25/21 03:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,234
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,234
Wisconsin
They never worked for me other then In ND. And they connected both fall and spring. But more effective In the spring.
If you place your bait up high It doesn't matter how they climb on the float they have to stand on their hind legs to get to the bait.
Never caught a duck on one but I'm sure It could happen.
But I'm more partial to using stools then floats.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7387901
10/25/21 03:36 PM
10/25/21 03:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 27,520
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 27,520
Georgia
Good turtle set


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Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: The Beav] #7387904
10/25/21 03:40 PM
10/25/21 03:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 24,927
New Hampshire
N
Nessmuck Offline
trapper
Nessmuck  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 24,927
New Hampshire


Originally Posted by The Beav
They never worked for me other then In ND. And they connected both fall and spring. But more effective In the spring.
If you place your bait up high It doesn't matter how they climb on the float they have to stand on their hind legs to get to the bait.
Never caught a duck on one but I'm sure It could happen.
But I'm more partial to using stools then floats.


Beav....can you post a pic of your stool ...


It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7388256
10/25/21 09:58 PM
10/25/21 09:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,700
S Illinois, former cheesehead
K
Kelly Offline
trapper
Kelly  Offline
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K

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,700
S Illinois, former cheesehead
I used 2x6’s 30” for my floats-the 1 1/2 coil fits great on the end in them. I put a rail on the end so trap wouldn’t fall off. Also had rails but were 3/4” x 1” on sides. Caught over 2200 rats in them with way more doubles than singles. I used no bait, just lure except for a pile of green grass around center stake and after a week didn’t use anything at all but shakes the water out of dead rats over my float 😉 Maybe in the fall bait like carrots would be better, I don’t know since I didn’t need any.

Now here is what I learned.

The rails need to be as narrow as possible and at least 2” tall to discourage climbing onboard from over the sides and running up/down the rails. I like the idea of a triangle piece pointy up.

30” is perfect IMO but suppose 24” would be minimum if you used high sides. Still use 2x6”. Now I’d use nothing but #2 old Victor #2 SJ coil springs with big pans and because this trap is 5.5” jawspread might have to add my rails to the side of board.

Ok, your chain is too short-have seen rats climb back up the chain from underwater. I want a heavy trap hence the #2’s and lots off heavy chain so once they are down no coming back up. They get bite up from other males in the spring so the more you can stay away from that the less damage.

Last edited by Kelly; 10/25/21 10:01 PM.

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Re: Muskrat Float Design [Re: iowaratman] #7388294
10/25/21 11:09 PM
10/25/21 11:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,234
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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Posts: 24,234
Wisconsin


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