muskrat floats
#8056861
01/21/24 10:18 PM
01/21/24 10:18 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 190 North East Utah
That.darn.coon
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 190
North East Utah
|
What do you guys think of floats.
******* I save my sick days, because come winter, I'm gonna have a bad case of trappin fever *******
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: That.darn.coon]
#8056936
01/21/24 11:21 PM
01/21/24 11:21 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 555 wisconsin
Muskratwalt
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 555
wisconsin
|
Some times and places they work great,others not so much. Just another tool in the box if conditions or circumstances warrant their use.
Walt legge
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#8056983
01/22/24 12:49 AM
01/22/24 12:49 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,026 Wy
Giant Sage
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,026
Wy
|
I caught around 250 rats using them last year for 2 weeks running an after school line. I would say for certain regions they work better than others. But as far as I know, many places can't trap rats in the spring so most guys have never experienced it. Back to floats, I know of guys catching hundreds of rats in a day and thousands in just a week or 2. I'm going to go for 400 for this year since I added another 50 floats to my arsenal. YT would you mind sharing a picture of a float. I've had descent luck in the spring. My biggest problem is keeping coon out of them
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: That.darn.coon]
#8057253
01/22/24 01:08 PM
01/22/24 01:08 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,966 South metro, MN
Calvin
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,966
South metro, MN
|
Floats work great in the Dakotas for some reason (probably a spring thing) and almost not at all here in MN where I'm at (no spring season). The only guys I know that have had any luck with them here in MN are guys who use them under lake docks for nuisance rats, but by the time season starts those docks get pulled in...soooo. Try a couple before building 100 of them is my advice. As far as dimensions, you don't want the float much wider than the trap. I've watched rats climb all over floats (and traps) without getting caught. Rats hug the edge of a float most times and will walk on the outer rails. Watch a rat walk all over your freshly tuned trap and you'll re think how little pan tension is necessary to catch the bulk of your rats. It's an eye opening experience. Its not how many rats you are catching but how many rats you are missing that's the key. It's more fun when they walk over your competitions traps, though
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: Giant Sage]
#8057580
01/22/24 08:55 PM
01/22/24 08:55 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336 South Dakota
TheYouthTrapper
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
|
YT would you mind sharing a picture of a float. I've had descent luck in the spring. My biggest problem is keeping coon out of them
I'll get you a picture tomorrow, I had to work a little late today and they're all outside in a shed.
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: TheYouthTrapper]
#8057720
01/22/24 11:46 PM
01/22/24 11:46 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,026 Wy
Giant Sage
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,026
Wy
|
YT would you mind sharing a picture of a float. I've had descent luck in the spring. My biggest problem is keeping coon out of them
I'll get you a picture tomorrow, I had to work a little late today and they're all outside in a shed. Thank. You YT.
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: That.darn.coon]
#8082508
02/20/24 11:11 PM
02/20/24 11:11 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,537 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,537
james bay frontierOnt.
|
Not if the floats are small,and dont use any bait(apples parsnips etc) on them. Lure made from rat castors really works good in spring on the floats.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: That.darn.coon]
#8082519
02/20/24 11:27 PM
02/20/24 11:27 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,537 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,537
james bay frontierOnt.
|
I will add nothing is 100%,you can tent some chicken wire over the float if you are too worried about it.That could deter some rats possibly.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: That.darn.coon]
#8082575
02/21/24 12:44 AM
02/21/24 12:44 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,397 Iowa
~ADC~
The Count
|
The Count
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,397
Iowa
|
What do you guys think of floats.
You really are missing out not reading through the archives. This post alone --> making muskrat floats has tons of pictures and enough written info to fill you with more knowledge of muskrat floats than the average guy would gather in a lifetime.
|
|
|
Re: muskrat floats
[Re: That.darn.coon]
#8082689
02/21/24 08:39 AM
02/21/24 08:39 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,064 WI
nimzy
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,064
WI
|
I was never impressed. Quadruple the weight and mass of your gear.
I’ll set 6 today to show I’m not close minded
Last edited by nimzy; 02/21/24 08:42 AM.
|
|
|
|
|