I'm very new to the drowning rod setup, I got some of the green 10' from Lowes and set 3 sets a couple days ago to see how they worked. Two sets were 100% missing, I wired the tips to shore trees and had both the shore side and deep side plunged into pretty hard sandy bottom, wire and all were gone and I paddled up and down the shore looking for that tell-tale green somewhere and didn't see a thing. I only had drowning locks for cable so I had the cable connected to both tips of the rod, the final setup resembled an archers bow, with the cable running tight along river bottom and rod bent from being inserted on both ends...the rod was close to the surface and quite visible. Third set was untouched. 330 at the hut connected on a nice 45#er. IF any of you have ever failed ;), did you ever end up finding the trap or rod twisted up or on shore or the bottom? I can't imagine he could swim very far with all that not getting twisted up on something...
It might be just wishful thinking, but I'm wondering if I was robbed by a righteous kayaker?? That would be better than failing for me. Albeit extremely annoying. I'm on a very heavy recreation/kayak stretch of river and I do see folks out about the half the time I'm out there, and I go midweek midday usually, just to avoid people. I learn something new every time I go out, I haven't yet figured out the lesson on this one
Thanks in advance for any thoughts!!

Hard to tell for the description but to answer one of the questions, yes I have found beaver after something went wrong. Don't give up too quick.

Could possibly be a person but I'm betting raccoon. If you have a lot of coon in the area, get up on shore and walk the banks. Look for drag marks from trap and check out the brush for nearby entanglement. I've dealt with this a few times.

My rods are staked at the top with 24" stakes. Never had a problem with beaver. They head for the water and end up at the bottom. Raccoons head for higher ground most of the time and can get leverage to get the stake jacked out.

You're making things too complicated with that setup. If you're using cable anyways, just use the cable. Stake it or wire it to something solid on the top side, then fill a bag full of rocks and gravel and loop the bottom end to that and toss it in deep water

did you not run a stake through the top end? That end needs to be solid. if the beaver pops either end, the other will shortly come out as well. Beaver are powerful animals and can break wire.

I have had issues with drowning rods where the beaver decided not do go down the rod so he stayed on the bank and jacked the top stake up. Luckily he stayed there long enough for me to chase him down, grab the stake and rejab into the bank.

I did not stake the shore end, I was hoping the wire would act as a backup if it pulled out but I had my doubts. This is all helpful, thanks! I do think it’s weird that neither site had any struggle sign and that the wire didn’t break at the chain and rather the tree, and then also I had the wire wrapped so I figured there’d still be a piece there to confirm it was a snap off…I think I’ll bring a magnet on a rope setup and just try to drag the bottom close to the location and hope I get at least an answer to confirm , water is usually crystal clear but this melt has it clouded up down deep

From your description, it's possible that a human is your culprit but as others above have stated, my money is on an animal. I've caught everything from beavers, otters, coons, wolves, and domestics in re-rod beaver drowning set ups. If the top isn't staked well or the bottom of the rod isn't dug into the lake/stream bed well enough, there's going to be a problem. If the top is pumped out then the trap can just slide off the rod and away your beaver goes. If the bottom is pumped out of the lake/stream bed then the beaver is typically waiting on shore (if you're lucky) with a heck of a catch circle. When I have a trap/rod/stake set up missing, I take a metal detector or one of those extendable handled magnets and start searching down river in the water. You'd be able to tell pretty quickly if your set disappeared via animal on land versus in the water. Sometimes the set up is just feet away if the current isn't bad but sometimes is long gone. I've had a few head scratchers that still baffle me.

Carry feed sacks. Fill full of rocks OR stake it on the bank. You don't always have to drown a beaver to hold him. I am limited on beaver trapping but the few I have caught were sitting there looking at me when I walked up.One I hade the feed sack and just pushed a limb in the bottom of the creek. worked fine.

Even if you wrap wire it's still possible for it to pull through. You have to knot in. Especially for anything bigger than a raccoon

Top end on mine has a Double stake loop. I also add a 6' cable that has snaps on both ends.

The top needs staked solid.

Theft would be the easy answer I’m looking for but my gut tells me one of the described scenarios above and my inexperience is the real culprit. Will go back with a magnet in 2 days and report back! Thanks again folks !!

A potato rake on a long handle helps too!

Exactly! I like to use a long smooth rod hook or a re bar T stake hose clamped to the end of a long willow with T end exposed. Poke and drag around till you hear the unmistakable "tink" of metal on metal. Good luck B buster!

You had it wired to a tree and the wire is gone completely? That seems near impossible for an animal to accomplish to me. Did you look for footprints by chance?

Sounds very much like a human took your traps and gear. Really hope I’m wrong and you find them laying on bottom with beavers in them, good luck.

Good luck. Curious to follow the thread and hear if you learn anything

I'm putting my money on human interaction. The fact that two sets vanished into thin air with no sign left is too strange, but anything is possible. Keep looking and good luck.

I’d say it depends on how it was wired to the tree. Just looped around tree and both ends back to rod could end up completely gone. I’m guessing beaver or coon has your gear. Good chance of finding at least one of them as long as lock didn’t come off the end of rod.

I find a bright flashlight at night cuts through water pretty well, if you want to go looking.

If this is a canoe or kayak route, with regular traffic, stop trapping there. You’re asking for tampering and theft.

It sounds like you’re probably new to trapping. Get in touch with your state’s trapping association and get some sort of a mentor. I’m sure your Trapper’s association will be able to answer all your questions. Better yet, become a member!