That could be, I have to give that tile set in the picture a try soon

Hopefully you can get out and find some fur. Good luck.

Snow had helped insulated our banks in many spots here.Dug a couple pockets today with no issues and we’ve been below zero. It’s a matter of picking the right spots. Good luck.

In Maine by Thanksgiving things are starting to "tighten up". Some years it does not freeze hard until we get into December.
I am too old to struggle with a drill etc. in frozen soil.
A great mink set is to simply take a fish or a hunk of fish for bait. Find a grassy bank. Lift up the grass and pin the bait to the frozen wall. You take a rebar stake to punch a hole for the bait stuck.


Hack out a rough bed for a foot trap just below and pretty close to the bait. Camo the trap. Use stepping sticks. This set also works in running water and I love undercut banks for this set. Pull the grass back down over the bait. The mink will find the bait.

I cannot really recommend a commercial, good lure as I never found but one lure that worked with any consistency for mink. Bait yes. Lure, well no. I have no idea about bait being visible in Iowa but the grass covering the bait sort of takes care of that. This is a good set. Baited body grips Thorpe style are an option. using small body grips. Myself I would not use the baited body grip sets with large traps. (30 or more years ago I would have suggested Hawbakers #1 Mink.)

Good luck and be safe. Hope this helps.

Mac

Lenons Super Range Super All Call has worked well for me!

Another option is a chunk of fish and put a rock over it to keep in place, trap guarding it.

I used a lot of small bluegills for this years ago. Found two flat rocks (or cement they used for erosion control at bridges) and put a bluegill between them and exposed just the edge of the fish on one side, at the waters edge, guarded with a trap. It caught mink and coons. Minks love hunting through rocks.

Like someone mentioned my recommendation would be to use a tile spade, plus sharpen the blade. You can cut away enough of the bank to dig a pocket straight back. Did a deeper pocket, setting your trap inside the pocket will buy you some time from ice forming over your trap. Use a large chunk of bait, carp, or a mink or muskrat carcass shoved back into the pocket.

It is important to play the sun angle, set by faster current or by running tiles. Most animals move right at dusk, so if you can keep you sets operable for a couple of hours after dark, you will make some catches. If your lows are in the 20s you can operate for a while, once it starts to get down in the teens or colder it is much harder, especially if it doesn't get above freezing during the day. Good luck!

^^^^This....Listen to Gerald; the man knows of what he speaks.