Any Pa muskrat trappers have luck with baited poles with the hagz bracket and trap set?

The Hagz brackets work fine for holding the trap.

I tried them this past week with the bait clips with apple used as bait. I had them right along side conibears in bank runs. I caught rats in the runs but nothing in the pole sets. I won't give up though. Probably out of time this year now. Starting to get ice.

It's not the brackets fault It's rats not wanting the bait.

I plan on running a couple dozen poles through the ice this year with the Hagz bracket and bait clip system. Open water sets I run the Hagz bracket with the end tabs pointed down to allow the trap to set relatively flat the rats can climb up on, but for the under ice sets I plan to run the bracket with the tabs pointed up so the trap sets at an angle. Bait clip will be placed only a couple inches above the trap and the set placed just under the ice.

I have caught them on apples before. Maybe these were to sour.

As a new trapper I've wondered, does bait clipped on to a rod count as bait visible from the air? PA regs prohibit bait visible from the air. Don't know if that qualifies or not but I'm curious to know.

Call your local game warden.

Try a slice of potato or carrot.

When apples turn brown most rats will not eat them, stay with a 2" piece of carrot for your rat bait.

As 080808 stated above, check with your local game warden or review your game laws book. Here in Michigan they provide a definition for bait in the trapping guide as "any animal or animal parts, including dead fish EXCEPT dried hides, fur, feathers, and bones that are 36 square inches or less and entirely free of meat may be used as a visual attractant." No mention of "non-meat" items such as fruits or vegetables that would classify them as a bait - heck, even a piece of wood is a "bait" in a trapper's general terms for a beaver set.

Parsnips work great. And a section of poplar Is even better Zip tie a 4" section of poplar to your pole or stake. Skin It up a bit and your good to go.

Anyone use them under the ice? Baited pole sets with Hagz? I've always used baited BGs under ice but might be worth putting some of my open water 1.5's to work as well. Baited above water sets have been low producers for me and have tried EVERYTHING many times. Under ice over 75% if any m'rats present. Pop here is critically low.