Beaver under ice on river

Thought I quit trapping around Christmas, but have been thinking about doing some more. I thought of going for some beaver under ice on a smallish river. Was wondering the best approach to go about doing it.

Not to be a Richard but do it carefully. Wear a life jacket and go with a partner and have a length of rope with you! Good luck and I hope you catch a few!

Chris

Snares

Snares the way to go on small rivers White17? I have a river full of houses like that. Snares on poles or loose snares with bait? Throw a couple 330, swinging Suzie's in for effect?

I like 750s on a platform. Any current to speak of?

Screw you, Richard

yes be careful cant believe you have much ice , we don't here

Yes do be careful... if you have 3 or 4 inches of ice everywhere …. you may only have an inch of ice around a feed bed or a beaver lodge. Good luck.

Garry-

How small a river?Any channels?Any points of land above or below the house's I'd have 330 blind sets up against the point with a few feet of fencing outside of the 330.Id also block off any channels around the feedbed as well.

That has always been the most effective for me. Swinging Suzies work too but not quite as well. as a snare. Just loose snares with a bait in the center of hole.

If you have a lot of current you may need to play around a bit to stabilize the loops

As a number have stated, and as a survivor, don't do it. Trapping through the ice on a river can be extremely dangerous; thickness can vary greatly, and if there is a currant and you should go through you can be in a world of hurt.. My own experience was on a beaver pond and when I went through it was instantly, no warning.. I have trapped through the ice on small rivers,but peering down from above water depths can be deceptive. These days I wear a life jacket no matter where I am on ice. Secondly wear a pair of ice fisherman picks around your neck in order to get a hold to pull yourself out, should you go through. No beaver is worth your life.

Thanks White17 I doubt there will be much current the ice is supper thick. We had lots of -30+ and a bit of -40 and not much snow. Probably have to use an auger extension. For the loose snares I will probably have to order Thompson snares from Washington, I don't think anyone sells them in Canada. I mainly been setting in the runways this year, when I can find thin ice.

I disagree!!

Yeah the Thompsons will work fine . Might have to hook two together to get below the bottom of the ice