Geez that looks like a lot of fun.

So I'll try to keep it all in order but I'm sure I'll jump around. So I was planning on doing this trip with my kids in March but since I'm off work a friend of mine caught wind of trip idea and we decided to go try to stack some up. We started on the Tuesday after Christmas by Wednesday afternoon we had around 70 sets out and they were coming in good. The kids came out Wednesday and rode with us Thursday and went home Friday due to bad weather and we were pulling Friday to move areas. Well Friday rolled around and we pulled everything planning to have it all back out by night fall. Suddenly my partner decided he caught beaver fever and was going home. Suddle comments he made before that make me think it was more home sickness.... That really put me back as I'm doing this for income right now. Any how that's the difference between trappers and people who trap. Really left me hanging. That will be the last I bring up that part of the trip. I called my good friend Ron who helped save the trip. We reset Friday and checked Saturday Sunday Monday without moving any traps. Typically I like moving my sets after a catch even if it's by 20 feet. It helps my catch rate go up. I long chain them and have a hard time getting catches in remakes. The set up I run I have to use the boat to pull my earth anchors. Somewhere along the line I broke the cleat off the front of the boat trying to pull a caught beaver out from up in the bank. so the sets were stuck till I cut them all on Monday. We had coyotes cut loose within 100 yards of camp multiple nights that was cool! We heard bobwhite in the mornings. 2 days turkeys roosted dang near above the tent. Saw alot of deer ducks geese swans and eagles. We met a girl and her dad that were out trapping beaver she did all the work and he drove the boat. I don't know how old she was I'd say teens. She was killing it and stacking them up her goal was 80 for the year i believe she said. Awesome stuff. We ate like kings bacon, deer back straps, beaver stew, canned deer and noodles, eggs sausage. I wish I had taken a journal next time I will. I will be buying a new pair of chest waders. The hip boots got me through but I got wet on multiple days lol wood stove always had them dry by morning. One of the times I got wet I stepped off the boat with one leg and it went through a lodge to my hip I was able to keep one toe on the boat grab a branch and pull the boat back up under me without going all the way in.We caught 56 beaver 5 otter 6 muskrat and more coon than I'd like to admit. The goal was 100 It was reachable but sickness weather and breaking that cleat knocked us back. We did end up digging that beaver out it took 1.5 hours but there was a 65lb beaver and a no b.s. beaver extreme in the boat after some hard work. Digging that beaver out is one of my favorite parts of the trip. I'm sure I'll remember things I missed. We hauled the catch back yesterday and I went out today to pick up camp. I could easily stay out there for a month it was beautiful, peaceful, it reminded me of who I really am, and that my passion in life is trapping. I will do more of these trips as often as I can. I'll get a good camera and take a journal next time although the images and memories will be burned into my brain forever. My yearly count is 125 beaver 12 otter bunch of rats and countless coon. Today there was a guy at the boat ramp who had a dead battery he admitted that he was an alcoholic and that last night he relapsed on vodka after 205 days of sobriety and woke up there with a dead battery. He was upset with himself and worried about his wife. I gave him a jump and reminded him hes not alone in his battles everyone has something his best bet is to go home and apologize. If he made it 205 days he can make it longer than that. He thanked me and went on his way.Thanks for reading and all the good comments -D p.s. next time I'm out there and it's deer season. There will be a deer hanging from that leaned over tree in camp. I took my muzzleloader but didn't get a chance to go sit in the woods.

Great trip, love the story. Thanks for sharing.

great read, thanks,

Wow sounds like an incredible trip, you are right you will remember this forever. Unfortunately these trips also reveal alot about how our friends operate, I am glad you were able to find someone else to enable you to finish the trip.

Looks like a great trip!
I apologize if I missed this somewhere in this thread, but how far away from home were you? Looks like mostly river trapping?

What a grand adventure, thanks for sharing

What an awesome trip.

Awesome. I'd have my shotgun and duck stamp with me though.all in all I'd say you did alright.

Dstone, you accurately describe what boat trapping on the rivers can be like. Always something. Have enjoyed my many winters doing that too.

Thanks for the detailed story of your outing!

The boat ramp is about 35 min from my door. I could have done it alone I trap alone 95 percent of the time unless the kids are with me just for that reason. I just wasn't really prepped to do it alone this time. The little finger of water we set up in was well protected from the weather we could have shot our far share of ducks as they were hunkered down too.

Nothing beats it

Thanks for sharing with us. Sounds like a great trip.

Dave

Sounds like a great trip…especially if you were able to sell on the carcass and come back to camp after running the line to relax not having to worry about skinning!! Good on you for offering the guy encouragement to stay sober.

did you have any problems with fluctuation, of the water levels

what type of set did you use

Great pictures of your catch and your tent camp. Camp looks like a excellent one.

Mac

Good pics and I really enjoyed your write up of your great adventure. That is something I would love to do.

thanks for sharing, looks fun