I'm trying to use more conibear traps on my line this year muskrat mink but I've never been successful with them short of muskrat runs. What do you guys who use them a lot recommend as a teacher

Knowing & understanding the inherent behaviors of both will almost paint a big red “X” for your eyes to see where to make a body grip-type set OR foothold set!

I did better with foot holds last year but couldn't figure put the conis location wise the rocky bottoms make it hard I had a trap set for almost a month that never did connect in places that I was catching them with footholds

I understand your situation. I would suggest thinking about WHY there was a difference in performance because there is a reason. Why with one type of trap vs another completely different type. The answer is in the WHY!

I think they could approach the feed pile from any direction and didn't have to hug the bank but I don't know forsure I'd love to have a trapper better than me tag along but haven't found anyone

Try a carrot on the trigger and hang from a piece of lath, vertically in areas you’re currently catching ‘rats. Orange or bright green fluorescent tape wrapped on the trigger wires works under the ice. If you’re not setting exactly where they’re traveling, color might be all you need to pull them over

Ive yet to catch a muskrat on baited sets. Ive been told by other local trappers we have to much food acess for them even in the winter (southern Missouri

Use a float, they will climb on to it. Try gland lure, especially in the spring.

I do not understand how you do not have luck in the muskrat run? but if you do not have luck, Look for the muskrat home in the bank. Like teacher said use a piece of lath. You can hold the lath while you place the trap in the run or home. Or if a deep hole. Put your foot in the muskrat hole push the lath next to your foot, push down into the mud. Let the BG hit the top of your foot then push down another 2-3 inched.

Use a float, they will climb on to it. Try gland lure, especially in the spring.

I do not understand how you do not have luck in the muskrat run? but if you do not have luck, Look for the muskrat home in the bank. Like teacher said use a piece of lath. You can hold the lath while you place the trap in the run or home. Or if a deep hole. Put your foot in the muskrat hole push the lath next to your foot, push down into the mud. Let the BG hit the top of your foot then push down another 2-3 inched.
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I can catch them in the run but here a run only shows up as an entrance to a den you won't see them anywhere else. Ive not had luck with floats either they just don't seem to pay bait any attention. I assume that is because they can always get grass or moss to eat. We don't have much mud here our stream bottoms are either gravel or solid limestone