Going through withdrawls

It has only been about a week and I am going nuts not having traps out
I was so used to getting up every morning to bust my butt to run traps. Hopefully in a few more days I can try and get a line running again. The first thing I need to get is a heavy duty kneepad so I can keep the knee relatively protected. Other than that, all I need is fresh ice

Looks like we’ll get some ice producing weather starting this weekend. Would a concrete finishers padded knee pad work, if so I have one I could give you.

Ed

Looks like we’ll get some ice producing weather starting this weekend. Would a concrete finishers padded knee pad work, if so I have one I could give you.

Ed

You want to know what is sad? I am a concrete finisher and I don’t own any kneepads I think I may be wearingthem from now on though

You want to know what is sad? I am a concrete finisher and I don’t own any kneepads I think I may be wearingthem from now on though

I help finish on the road crew I work for and don’t use them either, I got these for crawling around on the ceiling joise in the attic when I was rewiring.

Ed

I help finish on the road crew I work for and don’t use them either, I got these for crawling around on the ceiling joise in the attic when I was rewiring.

Ed

I am curious what kind of sets are you making for muskrats where you need ice?>

I am curious what kind of sets are you making for muskrats where you need ice?>

I am using the bank run sets. It is the same as you would trap in open water but easier and quicker to find active runs through the ice. If I were to go out this late in the season and just set open water runs, I would be lucky to get a 25% catch rate. Most areas have been trapped since the middle of November by numerous people. So with fresh bubble trails, you can eliminate a lot of runs and areas. If the rats are there, they will leave sign, if not, you keep moving until you find what you are looking for

I am using the bank run sets. It is the same as you would trap in open water but easier and quicker to find active runs through the ice. If I were to go out this late in the season and just set open water runs, I would be lucky to get a 25% catch rate. Most areas have been trapped since the middle of November by numerous people. So with fresh bubble trails, you can eliminate a lot of runs and areas. If the rats are there, they will leave sign, if not, you keep moving until you find what you are looking for

I own a custom landscape curbing outfit and I dont leave home without my knee pads.. They are the difference between day and night on the knees..

I own a custom landscape curbing outfit and I dont leave home without my knee pads.. They are the difference between day and night on the knees..

That makes sense i never trapped before after there was ice but if i do that will come in handy thanks for the tip

That makes sense i never trapped before after there was ice but if i do that will come in handy thanks for the tip

Hey Wats, I think they are telling you to go buy some knee pads with your rat trapping $$$$.

Hey Wats, I think they are telling you to go buy some knee pads with your rat trapping $$$$.

Watching all those Charmin commercials has me thinking. If I buy a case of Charmin, I could wrap my knee up with 1 roll per day and be good for almost a month

Watching all those Charmin commercials has me thinking. If I buy a case of Charmin, I could wrap my knee up with 1 roll per day and be good for almost a month

I just couldn’t wait any longer for the weather to change. I got a PM telling me the ice was probably good enough to get some traps out. It didn’t take me long to get my gear loaded and hit the road in search of ice and rats. When I got there, the ice was not in as good of shape as I had hoped and had to change my location just a little bit. I picked out a decent looking area and also one that I hadn’t been even close to before. I had to use the skiff to cross a slough with open water. Then drag it across an island to reach a small bay with ice. Well, the ice was new and clear, just not quite thick enough to support me. I made a few sets in this bay and then crossed another island to get to another larger bay. Same deal, clear ice but thin. After I got about half the sets out I was already winded. I had to stop and ask myself, “Why was it that I loved to trap rats through the ice? I was constantly breaking through the ice and sinking knee deep or more into the nasty muck on the bottom. Let me tell you, it is a chore to get my 230# with a size 12 boot out of that stuff Eventually, I was able to find firmer bottom and move along a lot quicker. I got 30 sets out and most I feel are in good runs. One thing about this new ice, the runs are a lot easier to find and I know there are no other people around me. The only other traps I seen were right along the road and in the real easy access areas. I also seen the biggest flock of Mallards I have ever seen. They were sitting in an open pocket of water that was pretty good sized. When they all took off, the sky turned black. There were several hundred in this flock. That was pretty cool to see. I can’t wait until tomorrow to see what I end up with and to see if my locations were as good as they look. Please think cold for me so the ice gets just a little thicker I also found out my knee isn’t healed as well as I thought But, I went out and bought a pair of knee pads tonight and hopefully that will help.

I just couldn’t wait any longer for the weather to change. I got a PM telling me the ice was probably good enough to get some traps out. It didn’t take me long to get my gear loaded and hit the road in search of ice and rats. When I got there, the ice was not in as good of shape as I had hoped and had to change my location just a little bit. I picked out a decent looking area and also one that I hadn’t been even close to before. I had to use the skiff to cross a slough with open water. Then drag it across an island to reach a small bay with ice. Well, the ice was new and clear, just not quite thick enough to support me. I made a few sets in this bay and then crossed another island to get to another larger bay. Same deal, clear ice but thin. After I got about half the sets out I was already winded. I had to stop and ask myself, “Why was it that I loved to trap rats through the ice? I was constantly breaking through the ice and sinking knee deep or more into the nasty muck on the bottom. Let me tell you, it is a chore to get my 230# with a size 12 boot out of that stuff Eventually, I was able to find firmer bottom and move along a lot quicker. I got 30 sets out and most I feel are in good runs. One thing about this new ice, the runs are a lot easier to find and I know there are no other people around me. The only other traps I seen were right along the road and in the real easy access areas. I also seen the biggest flock of Mallards I have ever seen. They were sitting in an open pocket of water that was pretty good sized. When they all took off, the sky turned black. There were several hundred in this flock. That was pretty cool to see. I can’t wait until tomorrow to see what I end up with and to see if my locations were as good as they look. Please think cold for me so the ice gets just a little thicker I also found out my knee isn’t healed as well as I thought But, I went out and bought a pair of knee pads tonight and hopefully that will help.

Well I ran the line after work late this morning/early afternoon. The ice still wasn’t much better than yesterday, but I didn’t spend nesar as much time in the mud today as yesterday I had 30 traps out and ended up with 1 rat initially. Not a good percentage, but I think tomorrow will produce more. The funny thing is is I have been waiting for good ice again to set traps, but had a few in open water as well. The first rat came from the open water set. I left all but a couple traps where they were and then went scouting for some areas to move to tomorrow. I did have a few traps that I didn’t set yesterday along and found places to set these. I found a decent run and decided to double set it. I placed the first one and then went a little closer to shore and set the last one. Once that was done I had to walk toward the shore because the ice farther out was too thin. When I walked over a stump it made a cracking sound and I just happened to look behind me towards the trap. All of a sudden the stake started bouncing like crazy, then a tail started to splash around. The rat must have been in that stump and shot out of there right into the trap. So, I actually ended theday with 2 rats I have 6 good runs marked to put traps in tomorrow and will be spending a lot more time tomorrow exploring more territory. I also found that the knee pads make a world of difference when constantly kneeling on the ice. One problem I had yesterday and today with the thin ice was when I would make a hole the water would come rushing out on top of the ice. After a short time all the extra weight from the water would collapse the ice all around me and I would end up standing in the muck instead of on top of the ice. Luckily, the areas I am in now are shallow enough where it isn’t really a concern but it does make getting around tougher. With this cold weather we are starting to get now that should all be a thing of the past by Sunday.

Well I ran the line after work late this morning/early afternoon. The ice still wasn’t much better than yesterday, but I didn’t spend nesar as much time in the mud today as yesterday I had 30 traps out and ended up with 1 rat initially. Not a good percentage, but I think tomorrow will produce more. The funny thing is is I have been waiting for good ice again to set traps, but had a few in open water as well. The first rat came from the open water set. I left all but a couple traps where they were and then went scouting for some areas to move to tomorrow. I did have a few traps that I didn’t set yesterday along and found places to set these. I found a decent run and decided to double set it. I placed the first one and then went a little closer to shore and set the last one. Once that was done I had to walk toward the shore because the ice farther out was too thin. When I walked over a stump it made a cracking sound and I just happened to look behind me towards the trap. All of a sudden the stake started bouncing like crazy, then a tail started to splash around. The rat must have been in that stump and shot out of there right into the trap. So, I actually ended theday with 2 rats I have 6 good runs marked to put traps in tomorrow and will be spending a lot more time tomorrow exploring more territory. I also found that the knee pads make a world of difference when constantly kneeling on the ice. One problem I had yesterday and today with the thin ice was when I would make a hole the water would come rushing out on top of the ice. After a short time all the extra weight from the water would collapse the ice all around me and I would end up standing in the muck instead of on top of the ice. Luckily, the areas I am in now are shallow enough where it isn’t really a concern but it does make getting around tougher. With this cold weather we are starting to get now that should all be a thing of the past by Sunday.

Hey Mike, how’d you do today?

Ed

Hey Mike, how’d you do today?

Ed

I am officially hanging it up for the year 3 days with only 4 rats to show for it. Time to hang it up and let the rats do their thing until next year. There are a few more trappers showing back up since the ice came back, but there just isn’t enough action for me to continue any longer. It was a good year and I had fun which is the important part. Now it is time to start fishing and hunting.

I am officially hanging it up for the year 3 days with only 4 rats to show for it. Time to hang it up and let the rats do their thing until next year. There are a few more trappers showing back up since the ice came back, but there just isn’t enough action for me to continue any longer. It was a good year and I had fun which is the important part. Now it is time to start fishing and hunting.