just a quick question,i removed some beavers last fall,and the area has been beaver free until last week,now some mustve moved back in and started plugging my dam break thats been open since last fall.anyhow i got one trail thats well used im sure ill get one there,but i wanna set it heavy to hopefully nail em all. ive read you set 33os perpidicular to the dam(ive never set 330s this way)how far away would you set from the dam break,and how far away from the actual dam,like towards the high water on the upper side,6 inches? a foot? can you guide them heavy in this situation.

I use 660's near the dam , they usually have sticks in mouth.

660's cure that problem.

You will nail a lot of beaver with 330s at a dam break,the trick is to set the 330 out in front of the break in deeper water and fence back to the dam with some sticks.You can cut down on the fencing by setting 2 or 3 traps.This will also take multiple beavers per check,allowing you longer check times with sets still working.
In open water I like to set them as a swim thru-1/3rd out of the water,although you can set them under dive poles as long as the water is deep enough that the bottom jaws are a foot off bottom.Where there is deep water right in front of the dam you dont need much fencing.
When ice is on,they are set under the ice,but after freeze up the break has to be small so the water in the pond wont drop and freeze in your traps.
This is referred to as a pressure set.


Swim thru.(open water)


Diving application.(Under ice)

There are other ways to use a dam break to catch beaver without setting right at the break.

dont have any 660s,ive set like your picture before boco,but usually end up with a coni full of sticks,i was thinking i read that they will swim along the dam to check it for leaks,thats where i was thinking of setting.i have used footholds deep at the break for a rear foot catch,was just thinking of trying the 330s along the dam,or am i thinking wrong.

No sticks in the trap unless its too close to the dam and not high enough off bottom in deep water.
You have to set out in deep water on the approach.A snare pole will also work when set far enough away from the dambreak and in deep water.
If set right you will get just as many leaving the set as coming in,often both when setting multiple traps.
Usually a trap or two will be perpendicular to the dam when setting the pressure set with multiple traps.

Hilltop Trapper,
Looks like you are in Mn and the Otter season is closed so DO NOT set any traps in the dam break. Try and set as far as possible from the dam break or crossover as possible to avoid Otter catches.
Gary J

i got ya thanks boco,only reason i dont like coni's is that they can get smart real quick if you dont set right the first time and miss,but i think ill give it a try,i can always go to footholds if i miss with the 330s,thanks again

yea gary,i looked to make sure, otter is closed,we just dont have an otter population around here,but there have been a few sightings here an there, thanks for the heads up,just to be a little safe is why i was thinking of setting away from the dam break,and i do have permission from the dnr to remove the dam,which is what i was ready to do until i noticed new activity

I have done what you are asking about with the 330 perpendicular to the dam. I was doing it under the ice, but it should be fine in open water as well. I set it about 10 feet away from the dam break. If I was doing open water, I would set the trap so the top jaw was just above the water line. I used blocking on both sides of the trap. Block off the water between them the dam and the trap. What I did under the ice was I shoved about a six foot spruce tree under the ice. The top was by the trap and the triangle shape of the tree filled the space as the pond got deeper away from the dam. So yes, I used a lot of blocking. When the beaver swims along the face of the dam to check things out, they want to hit that opening that the trap is blocking. I do not think this strategy is used often and I think it works for ponds that have been trapped before where the beavers get educated to more traditional sets. Put a set on each side of your break. I had pretty good luck with this set.

Use them.

yes, use a pole and set two 330 90 degrees from dam about 8 feet out into the water , just hang them on the pole, I just made this set yesterday, works great, you will get the beaver that are coming to investigate the dam break before they have anything in their mouth!

Is there a run they use going to the dam? Set that.

A stick through the loops and jammed in the mud, not blocking?

thanks guys,i set it up after work last night(just the guide sticks)so they might get used to going through em,tonight i'll drop the 330s in the holes.

I've had good luck on dam breaks using a CDR7.5 on a drowning rod set deep for a back foot catch to avoid otters.

That might work...^^^^

But, here in the South I have near zero results when using 330s anywhere near a dam break....other than on the downstream side (if they are using the break as a crossover). And otter population here would render that set a no-go.

Nearly every dam here....you can't get 8 feet out from dam as water is over your head.

Footholds (one on either edge of break).....on separate drowners....will get your beavers....and there is nothing above water for spooky beaver to see as he approaches.

just trying something differant swamp,with the 330s,kinda an experiment for me,if it doesnt produce i'll get em with my #5 bridgers.with the dam break the water is down about 4 feet on the top side so i can walk it with chest waders,but not sure if i could drown a hind foot catch.we'll see how this goes.will update tomorrow

Taking a chance at spooking them if the 330s fire in their face. I've had em stay away from a dam breaks once spooked and let the water level drop very low. But, if you have plenty of time to play around with em....

Let us know how it works out...

For a good dambreak set with 330s or a snarepole,the deeper the water out from the dam the better.8 feet would be great.They are dedly on otters for sure.
My best check on a dambreak set with multiple traps,on a 3 day check was 5 beaver.Dont often set 5 traps,usually 3.I would say at least half are caught after working on the dam some.

Normal catch 2-3, also multispecies-beaver,otter and the odd rat.