We have a lot of bridges like this in my area my question is one box more productive than the others blind seting for mink the closest is the shallowest 4 inches to a foot the next 2 are 3-5 ft the furthest is 3 ft to a couple inches the inner walls are all traditional straight walls the two outside walls cone out so swift floods don't wash the ends out as bad there's no mud for tracks all gravel so no sign points to one over the others id also be interested to learn how you guys might blind set this for otters as well

I would set each side hugging the inside edge,up against the edge on the outside approach as well,keeping in mind that passers by can probably see the trap. Back up everything with baited pocket sets as well.

So 10 sets?

No,leave the middle alone,catch the mink coming from the bank going in…a set or two on each side. They run the bank and enter the water, and you can usually see where.

It's all gravel chunk rock and concrete so unless it's wet there's not any tracks

I would set both sides of the bridge and make 2 sets at each corner. And if you can access the land 100 yards downstream and upstream I would also set that area too. Some of those sets may have coon in them and you what enough traps in place to take the mink. The more traps the more chances of multiple catches.

If you don't have a exposed bait rule you could take a rat carcass and place a rock on top of it. Just leave a bit showing and place a trap in front of it. No more then a 1" of water over the trap.

Concentrate on pinch points at the ends of the bridge. You can move some of those rocks around to make your own, too.

There is too much going on at that bridge, they are likely to be up against any of those walls- I would be tempted to make 12 setts there and thats probably a waste. I would go a little up and downstream and make sets where he is more likely to be working the waters edge.

I agree with this comment and the biggest reason is that there is too much helter-skelter prey habitat. Far better IMHO to find set locations up & downstream where the mink is pinched down. Twice I’ve actually stood under bridges where the bottom was strewn with large rocks and watched a mink work the water. As would be understandable the mink were immediately up on the surface BUT as they traveled they worked scattered rocks along the way, sometimes close to where I was standing and then further out in a random fashion. One mink I watched hunt by me going upstream and as I continued to watch it as it swam another 25-30yds and turned around and came back past me doing the same thing! Each rock the mink worked would have certainly been a BE set locations. Both instances I found it interesting to watch how the mink hunted the rocks as they sort of swam & pulled themselves around the rocks more on their sides, enough that I could often see the pink feet pads!

I agree on moving up or down the creek from the bridge
Johnny Sneakem don't like having to search for your trap

If the water is shallow enough , a 'smear' set, a bit deeper perhaps a cinder block set on edge (it also the drag)


*** Portable Pocket Set set in the middle, out of sight, ( on any or all of them) with a Hi-Po adjustable trap support system and . . .an adjustable head.
( that's the secret)
Baited with Fresh Fish,
It will take whatever swims there.

If the bottom is concrete, I have a solution for that as well.

That was my thought this is what most of my bridges look like or slabs there's not any fence in either direction as far as I can see but im not gonna push my luck to far from the road

What is a Hi-Pro adjustable trap support system?

I dont think you would have to go very far by the looks of it. I have done OK getting proactive and blind setting natural cubbies/holes crevasses nearby- if they arent hunting it they are using it for safety to eat their catch. To me it looks like food would be no problem for them there. The reason I know this is because they had fish in their mouth when the Conibear whacked them.

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Outside edges of the bridge, you can often see small trails coming down the banks depending on what’s using the area, those make excellent spots for trail for or snares, connis, if there entering the water a trap set there is excellent

A pocket set just up or down from the bridge is a good idea as well as one in the middle area under the bridge as well

Stuff a carcass under a rock and set a trap in front of it. Can't be any simpler than that.