I have a bridge I'm trapping that has a lot of concrete and rocks on the stream bed so it's difficult to drive a wooden stake. I made a couple of these platforms to get a few of the rats on this creek. Pretty quick and easy. Just wire trap to the platform, stick it in the side of the bank, set trap, add apple, and go. Collect rat in the morning. I just tried it last night, and I caught one! I think I will make some more for those ditch rats in the tiled lowland sections.



I wouldn't try this set in beaver water, and I would also only use it where the bank is high enough (and the water deep enough) to prevent a coon from pulling the stake out.

Is that a piece of plaster lath?

What are the dimensions of the platform?

What size trap do you find to be most effective with that rig, and what are you anchoring the trap to?

Jonathan

Shouldn't the pin on the bottom be verticle so it can hold the trap on the flat part of the platform? I have several like that and in fact had one stolen the other morning. Funny thing is 3 days later it was returned, I believe someone stole it for the pattern.

Neat Idea.

I do mine different, I wire my trap to a long wooden stake and stake it in deep water that way I don't have to worry about coon pulling out my stool. You don't have to use a drowner lock just a long piece of wire conected to the trap. I know it works I caught coon and a rat this week on one.

yup use them too,mine are 36 to 40 inch long stake with the platform about 10 inches from the top, with two headless nails in the platform to keep the trap in place as the rat climbs on the it jumps off the nails when the trap goes off with about 2 foot of chain,to drown with. I just run a reg nail through the top with the pointy end sticking out above the trap to hold the bait and a few wraps of wire to add some reeds,grass, etc to cover the bait from above to stay within the law. Set them out in the creek facing the bank as most rats will be swimming along the shoreline,taken a few mink on these too. I use some victor pinch pans on mine, what does everyone else use for a trap??

Not plaster lath - just a spare 24"x1"x2" wood stake (scrap wood)

Dimensions on the platform is approx. 5"x5"

I'm using a 1 1/2 CS for a trap right now. I wired the trap right to the stake, but I am going to make a bunch up with the eye screw so I can prebait before the season, then I can just come along opening day and attach traps. (trying to think ahead.)



Those pins are vertical!
In the picture, the top illustration is the top view, the bottom illustration is the side view.

I like this idea....

Very neat invention!

I would like to see a photo of one my imagination is that good.

Here's a picture of one.

I take it the bait goes on the exposed nail in the photo. Looks neat might have to try a few if you take photos of actual sets I would like to see them also thanks for posting the pic.

Here's a photo of the set. I had it out 2 nights, and caught 2 rats.







And this is why I like the 1 1/2 CS for rats.

WH, Thanks for providing the dimension details, materials used and photo showing the platform in use. That makes for a more complete "set" of instructions for us to follow.

Nice idea! Thanks for the share.

Jonathan

very nice westfork hawkeye,you must have alot of high banks to trap,very good ingenuity!

Is there a way to mod that to use a 110? I havent aquired any smaller coil pans to use for rats. Or should I just put the bait on the triggers?


Thanks

Josh

That is such a cool rig, I would ask mr.sullivain to mass produce them and put them in his catolge,,and patint to,,nice job,, great idea..

Awesome. thanks

nice, i like it!

Thank you so much for the great info. now I have only one more request? Will you come set some for me, then check them every day. LOL For real though Thanks again I think I will try to make some tonight!