After watching the video with Johnny the other day I whipped this contraption up. Big beav might break it but I’ll try it. Drilled a bunch more hole so I can figure out how high off the trap to wire the bait sticks.

Hard to tell but that must be for very thick ice.
Baited sets for under ice beaver should be set just under the ice.bait should be right under the ice and trap about 8 inches below that for a foothold.
Even with green snare poles many more beaver are caught on top than bottom.

I drilled a bunch of other holes so I can adjust the cross piece for depth of ice. I’m worried about a beaver freezing to the top. The few beaver I got in drowning sets the trap was holding them from floating to the top.

Unless you are trapping at 40 below or only checking every 5 days or so,beaver frozen to the ice is not a big deal,just chip around the spot thats froze and bring the bit of ice home with the beaver.

We only get the -40 for maybe a week or so, and that would be over night lows or with wind chill. Checks are every 3-5 days. With the short trap chain I might luck out and only have the tail freeze if I’d get a front leg catch. I’m guessing with the bait 8” above the trap it should be a front foot catch? Unless it uses the trap for leverage with the back legs as he’s trying to pull the bait stick off. 330s will probably be my main trap, but I have to try snaring & the foothold. Most of my beaver will be fall and spring, but there’s a few ponds deeper in the bush that I can’t get to until freeze up.

I trap at -40 and check my traps every 5 days still only have a rare beaver frozen to the ice. But chopping out a bathtub sized hole two feet thick ice takes all day when it does happen.

Bring a chainsaw.

That way if I don't get any beaver at least i can get some wood.

I’ve considered making something exactly like that just for the fun of using footholds. Thought about a small weight and longer cable to help pull em down, but worry about em getting tangled in sticks. I see -30 or more often in February early March and get an occasional one frozen in.

Is it made of wood? If it’s wood I would have some spare parts along as them beavers love chewing on things there not supposed to.

You can cut a great foothold trapholder out of small white spruce.White spruce has branches radiating out around the stem that are trimmed and hold the trap rock solid.Wire a piece of scored bait on the trunk just above the trap and drop the whole set down just under the ice,with your crosser shoved between the safety wire and the pole.
No hauling a bunch of bulky stuff around just make everything on site with axe wire pliers and traps..Like drowner poles these can be hung up under a spruce near the pond for use in subsequent seasons.

I think that’s what’ll probably happen. It is made of wood too so might get chewed or break on the first catch. Killed a Saturday afternoon though. I still plan on using 330s mainly, but last year there was empty sets (set off) half the time. Fixing the bait on the bottom of the jaws and sliding the trigger to the side this winter.

And you know I’m gonna put a dap of the kids glow paint on at least one of my sets! Hahaha

Maybe a good thread to post this picture.
These are hand carved at a remote camp from I believe the 1960’s. Possibly sooner, possibly later. Found em hanging in a tree on the trapline. The flat part is shaped to fit a set #14 perfectly and there was a 14 with em. Note the holes were made by drilling out a bunch of smaller holes and knocking out the piece. I think the dead/set pole went thru the back hole and bait stick in hole by the trap. They are also burnt to make em black . Was a cool find