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Bait and lure for muskrats #7644934
08/08/22 02:49 AM
08/08/22 02:49 AM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,295
South Dakota
What bait do you guys use for rats? I'm thinking of using pumpkins, apples, and carrots this year and was wondering if anyone else had tried these. Also going to be running Rat Checkmate and a few other random lures with the bait and was wondering how you guys stored the lure while driving around in the truck. Thanks in advance!

-TheYouthTrapper

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7644935
08/08/22 02:52 AM
08/08/22 02:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,215
W NY
Turtledale Offline
trapper
Turtledale  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,215
W NY
For lure I found poplar bud oil works
I store the lure in my coat pocket while trapping


NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7644958
08/08/22 06:25 AM
08/08/22 06:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 611
PA
S
Strut10 Offline
trapper
Strut10  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 611
PA
Always just used a 1/4 of an apple on a stick. Used a drop of Hawbaker's oil apple (don't know if it's even made anymore) on the slice for a while. Not sure it was necessary or helped any more than just the apple slice.


Wollen nicht krank dein feind. Planen es.
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7644984
08/08/22 07:24 AM
08/08/22 07:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
2cylinder Offline
trapper
2cylinder  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,336
SE MN
I've used carrots before on triggers of 110s under ice. I've always used lenons or carmans mcl100 as my lure and just keep it in my wader pockets


Rebuilding john deere and international/farmall carburetors
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7644986
08/08/22 07:30 AM
08/08/22 07:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,987
Central Pennsylvania
Nittany Lion Offline
Don't call me Mister, Mister
Nittany Lion  Offline
Don't call me Mister, Mister

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,987
Central Pennsylvania
Not sure I ever caught a muskrat using bait or lure, I seldom used it. I probably tried it when I was first trapping 65 years ago. Once I learned a little about trapping muskrats I found it wasn't necessary.


I got myself a seniors' GPS.
Not only does it tell me how to get to my destination,
it tells me why I wanted to go there.
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: Nittany Lion] #7644995
08/08/22 07:36 AM
08/08/22 07:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,535
Saginaw, Mi
M
micheal Offline
trapper
micheal  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,535
Saginaw, Mi
Spearmint toothpaste

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645002
08/08/22 08:00 AM
08/08/22 08:00 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,058
Ky
J
jbyrd63 Offline
trapper
jbyrd63  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,058
Ky
I just cut a hole out in the bank sit a trap in front of it Collect the rat next morning

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: Nittany Lion] #7645004
08/08/22 08:06 AM
08/08/22 08:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Originally Posted by Nittany Lion
Not sure I ever caught a muskrat using bait or lure, I seldom used it. I probably tried it when I was first trapping 65 years ago. Once I learned a little about trapping muskrats I found it wasn't necessary.

In most situations its not but sometimes it is when you're in scenarios where you're not setting dens and runs because they don6 exist or not practical to find

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645009
08/08/22 08:13 AM
08/08/22 08:13 AM
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 165
White House, TN
camlock Offline
trapper
camlock  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 165
White House, TN
Had good results when using floats for rats with dried field corn. Best rat lure I used is Lennons Muskrat super call. (my 2 cents).

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645022
08/08/22 08:29 AM
08/08/22 08:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
Kart29 Offline
trapper
Kart29  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
A freshly made mud slide seems to be the best lure. But the boys and I often add a little toothpaste to the set - mostly to make us feel like we are doing something.

I've never had much luck with muskrat bait of any kind.


What from Christ that soul can sever,
Bound by everlasting bands?
None shall take thee
From the Strength of Israel's hands.

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645029
08/08/22 08:49 AM
08/08/22 08:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
K
K52 Offline
trapper
K52  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
It might be different where you live but if I use any kind of lure on a rat set a coon will be there the next morning, and have the area around the set destroyed. I learned this years ago. I don’t really think my take has been hurt at all by not using lure and it’s one less thing to mess with.

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645095
08/08/22 11:18 AM
08/08/22 11:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Here's the way I see It.
You find a rat toilet or feed bed and you set them. Now your only going to catch ONE rat at those locations. But If you make several lured sets close by those locations your going to catch more then ONE rat. Those feed beds and toilets are being used by more then ONE rat.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: Turtledale] #7645100
08/08/22 11:28 AM
08/08/22 11:28 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
E
Eagleye Offline
trapper
Eagleye  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
I love Poplar Bud Oil on a Q-Tip and I also use Peppermint- the Beav posted a few years ago on melting lard in a small crock pot until it liquefies and then add peppermint extract. It makes a paste and I also use Anise Oil ... great on pocket sets, remembering to always stake for coons.

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645106
08/08/22 11:39 AM
08/08/22 11:39 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,483
PA
P
PAskinner Offline
trapper
PAskinner  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,483
PA
I very rarely need lure to catch a muskrat. The problem with lure in my area is that any lure that attracts muskrat attracts beavers, and beaver season isn't open most of rat season.
And usually, it's easier to just drop a conibear in a run. Lenon makes a dandy muskrat lure but coon love it too, so fasten your traps well if you use it.


Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645123
08/08/22 12:15 PM
08/08/22 12:15 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
No lure needed. Just scrapped carrot or parsnip or sliced apple is bait and lure itself.

Last edited by bctomcat; 08/08/22 03:55 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: bctomcat] #7645247
08/08/22 03:25 PM
08/08/22 03:25 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 591
Tipton, In.
R
RHuff Offline
trapper
RHuff  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 591
Tipton, In.
Youthtrapper send me a message with your address and I will send you a couple jars of Lenons I have more than I will use as the rats are not nearly as abundant around here as they uused to be.

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645289
08/08/22 04:37 PM
08/08/22 04:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,746
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
trapper
newhouse114  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,746
S.W.Oregon
I trap tidewater, can’t find burrows or runs, apple on a stick works great. I’ve found that semi dried gravenstiens work best, with a tiny bit of rat gland.


Life Member NTA & FTA
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

http://alaskastoneanivory.com/index
Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: micheal] #7645400
08/08/22 07:44 PM
08/08/22 07:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,292
Sugar Grove, WV
J
JTfromWV Offline
trapper
JTfromWV  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,292
Sugar Grove, WV
Originally Posted by micheal
Spearmint toothpaste

X2 Get the cheap stuff at the dollar store.

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: newhouse114] #7645404
08/08/22 07:48 PM
08/08/22 07:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,294
East-Central Wisconsin
B
bblwi Offline
trapper
bblwi  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,294
East-Central Wisconsin
Open water marshes I use neither. On rivers and streams where I find the longer feed beds under the overhangs I use a homemade lure dipped in a Q tip. I put Q tips in a container with a lid and pour in some lure. I can carry several dozen that way. Under ice body grippers I use colored duct tape, orange works better for me than red, green or white.

Bryce

Re: Bait and lure for muskrats [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7645475
08/08/22 08:36 PM
08/08/22 08:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,180
Priest River, Idaho USA
S
SundanceMtnMan Offline
trapper
SundanceMtnMan  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,180
Priest River, Idaho USA
Apple and bread and butter lure

Last edited by SundanceMtnMan; 08/08/22 08:37 PM. Reason: Added a word

"They Say Nothing is Impossible,
But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
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