Mink trapping tip.

[RdFx]

When setting your mink line out dont just put in  wet blind and pocket sets.  Put some blind body grip sets up on bank and also dirt holes for mink.  This will pick you up approximately 10% more mink in your take.  Also when high water comes you will have sets that will be working and the mink will be up on the higher bank away from the  fast water... Good luck.

[yottey]

RdFx all I have to do to catch mink is set for rats in your neck of the woods!lol

[Asa Lenon]

Thats a GOOD tip RdFx! I've caught scores of mink over the years on dry ground by making dirt hole sets, utilizing hollow logs and natural cubbies and the usage of weasel boxes with a larger hole bored in them. Ace

[MChewk]

Redfox, how do you keep the coon out of your dirthole sets along the bank? LOL The theives here spot the coon caught in the dirthole and then procede to clean you out throughout the season. IF I don't bodygrip those mink either in the trails or underwater my traps seem to disappear..lol I'm thinking about using a set C.Dobbins told me about...take a large bodygripper and attach a 5.00 bill to trigger....be sure to anchor trap chain to under water root...lol Theif Proof

[Asa Lenon]

Mike: One doesn't make those dryland sets right along road culverts, bridges, etc. in my area. The theives are always lazy road trappers. I just walk back along a creek a stones throw and generally find hollow logs or blow overs that have created natural cubbies. If not I make a dirt hole or place a weasel box with a 2.5" hole bored in it. Ace

[MChewk]

Good point Asa...we must have a harder workin' type of theif in my area..lol
Actually what it is ..is wandering bow hunters Asa. I had a coon last year caught in a pocket set on a drowner no less arrowed. The ^%$%#&* couldn't pull the deep water stake out so he left everything behind.

[Asa Lenon]

Mike: The creek banks and areas around creeks here are so litered with fallen trees, debris and twisted swamp trees and vegetation that believe me there is no wandering bow hunters here! It takes an acrobat just to wade through the trash along creek banks. Ace 

[jim-NE]

Good tip, RdFx.
I almost exclusive make bank blind and dirthole sets for mink now, and occasionally put in a pocket set. Areas I trap are generally low-grazed pastures or farmland with small creeks, mostly predator trapping. I catch most of my mink in either dirthole sets, or by specifically setting #110s in blind sets near the stream edges, fencerows that meet creek areas, anywhere I find some mink tracks. I also leave a set or two at rat runs long after I've taken the last rat or so from the run...the set sits empty for several days but I've taken enough mink at the now empty runs that I'm convinced its worth the wait and leaving traps a bit longer after the rats quit coming.
I can't remember the last time I made a bait set just for mink!
Jim