Post by Snareman on Feb 11, 2005 8:40:30 GMT -5
Have you ever snared muskrat under the ice before? I have... a few different ways.
Below is a pic of a simple setup I use for snaring muskrat under the ice using bait. All you need is a dead pole, some snares, support wire, hammer/nails... or wire.
I like 1/16" 7x7 for mink and muskrat snares. For locks, one can use a small washer lock, Kieper mini lock or a BMI mini lock. You could also use a camloc, but have to make sure the lock isn't frozen with ice if you pull it out of the water after checking... if the air temperature is freezing. Since we're under the ice here, you may have better success using 3/64" cable, which is a bit smaller and may close easier for you. For a situation like this, I recommend 4 1/2" to 5" loops. It may help to have your snare tilted slightly downward to help it close easier.
The snares pictured have annealed wire with the end twisted up to for a swivel. You don't have to do this. You could make short snares with a loop on the end, then use a support wire coming from the dead pole to hold snares into position. You can use 3 snares at the same height too. You can also make a 2nd set of snares below the first. Take wire and secure snares solid into position by weaving into the loops on the snares you make.
The pole should be dead or a beaver may cut it off and haul everything away. Good size is 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" thick and long enough to stick out of ice 18"+. It's good to have a 2nd safety pole to lay on ice after pole is set, so you don't lose everything in case an otter gets it's paw in a loop or beaver tries to haul everything away before ice gets to freeze pole in.
For bait you could use parsnips, carrots, corn, potato, etc. The bait should be wired or nailed into position like in picture.
You can have success at about any depth under the ice and it depends a lot on location. If you are near a cattail edge, I would put it near the bottom because that's where they travel looking for roots to eat. If it's more in the open, I would have it more to the top as they travel a lot just under the ice. Ever walk on clear ice and watch a muskrat swim?
After your hole is chopped or cut out, I suggest you take pole and find out how deep it is, then set you snares according to depth and where you are at.
Muskrat will see the bait, swim around for curiousity and the bait and get caught swimming around pole. If you set 2 or 3 snares at one height and another group at a different height, you could take more than one muskrat from one check.
Good Luck!
Snareman
Below is a pic of a simple setup I use for snaring muskrat under the ice using bait. All you need is a dead pole, some snares, support wire, hammer/nails... or wire.
I like 1/16" 7x7 for mink and muskrat snares. For locks, one can use a small washer lock, Kieper mini lock or a BMI mini lock. You could also use a camloc, but have to make sure the lock isn't frozen with ice if you pull it out of the water after checking... if the air temperature is freezing. Since we're under the ice here, you may have better success using 3/64" cable, which is a bit smaller and may close easier for you. For a situation like this, I recommend 4 1/2" to 5" loops. It may help to have your snare tilted slightly downward to help it close easier.
The snares pictured have annealed wire with the end twisted up to for a swivel. You don't have to do this. You could make short snares with a loop on the end, then use a support wire coming from the dead pole to hold snares into position. You can use 3 snares at the same height too. You can also make a 2nd set of snares below the first. Take wire and secure snares solid into position by weaving into the loops on the snares you make.
The pole should be dead or a beaver may cut it off and haul everything away. Good size is 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" thick and long enough to stick out of ice 18"+. It's good to have a 2nd safety pole to lay on ice after pole is set, so you don't lose everything in case an otter gets it's paw in a loop or beaver tries to haul everything away before ice gets to freeze pole in.
For bait you could use parsnips, carrots, corn, potato, etc. The bait should be wired or nailed into position like in picture.
You can have success at about any depth under the ice and it depends a lot on location. If you are near a cattail edge, I would put it near the bottom because that's where they travel looking for roots to eat. If it's more in the open, I would have it more to the top as they travel a lot just under the ice. Ever walk on clear ice and watch a muskrat swim?
After your hole is chopped or cut out, I suggest you take pole and find out how deep it is, then set you snares according to depth and where you are at.
Muskrat will see the bait, swim around for curiousity and the bait and get caught swimming around pole. If you set 2 or 3 snares at one height and another group at a different height, you could take more than one muskrat from one check.
Good Luck!
Snareman