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No rats.


Random guy

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I have heard the old timers talk about low water years and how the rat trapping is the best it ever is and then nothing the next year. Well it happened.

Last year I put up an outrageous number of rats, they were all pushed into the river systems as we had dry conditions with a high lake (reservoir) level. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Now this year I have spent two days looking for rat sign; not one bed, run, chew house or even track. I put out 48 test sets over 8 miles of waterways and not one rat in two days. And this is looking from a boat where I can scan every inch of shoreline. Last year I would see 20-30 rats a day jumping of humps as the boat would come around the corner, this year I was pretty lonely motoring up and down the river.

Now the question is what did this? Did they freeze out last winter as water levels dropped? Did the ones that made the winter starve out as vegetation changed with low/warm water conditions? Or did they group too tightly and disease grab ahold of them?

Either way it was weird to hang 200 rat traps back in the shed without them ever seeing water.

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Overconsumption and overexploitation of a resource. As Infamous hip-hop rapper, Young Jeezy would say, "you're a trap-star." You trapped 'em all!

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Ya but we are talking about an entire region, 20 miles each direction is a void of rats except those in tiny farm ponds. Last winters sled trips through the area showed enough rats they kept the water from freezing around the houses...and not one or two houses but hundreds.

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Same here in otter tail county on the river. 100's of houses last year. This year i have counted 3. Many of the ponds that were loaded last fall are bone dry right now.

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same here in southern mn. i thought with the creeks and ponds dry where there is water it would be full of rats but very few. instead of moving did they just die off?

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I was wondering about how this year would be on rats and beaver. During last years winter months I saw more rats on dry ground and crossing the road than every before. When they are on dry ground I bet it's pretty easy pickings for all the predators. I've also never have seen as many beaver lodges dry to the point of being able to look into the lodge enterance holes. I havent started my rat trapping yet but had alot of froze over pushups last year. Good thing they do breed like RATS! ha

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I called my fur buyer today and told him I need some rat seeds so I can plant them for next year.

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I haven't checked much area, but I've got an eight acre pond/small lake that adjoins my property, and no rats in there either. First time I've ever seen that. There's always been a few, at least.

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Pretty spotty population this year. Even where there is water there may or may not be rats.

Strange.

I've had some spots going great, but just as many still with habitat with Zilch.

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  • 2 weeks later...

What are you guys using most for catching your rats? I tried floats but they seem to wise up to them quick. Some of the areas I know have bank rats but finding the run-way is easier the find the needle in hay stack. Running colony traps are almost out, Conibare traps seem to need the same runs as with the colony trap.

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I play the numbers game. Evey hump, bump, run, chewing, turd pile, floating anything gets a 1 1/2 trap on a drowner stake. I hit two small section for three days, every other day I leap frog one set line leaving the otter and mink sets behind as I push further and further back into the bush. Once ice comes on (two weeks normally) I go after houses and runs...mainly where they are making tracks on the ice. This off course is now by land as I don't own an ice breaker boat even if I do think so from time to time.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The lake I live on has more muskrats than I've seen in years. Before it froze over you could look out on any calm morning and see several of them floating around. Lots of houses along the shores too. Many of the small ponds are bone dry. Those left moved to our lake!

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The lake I live on has more muskrats than I've seen in years. Before it froze over you could look out on any calm morning and see several of them floating around. Lots of houses along the shores too. Many of the small ponds are bone dry. Those left moved to our lake!

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  • 5 years later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
5 hours ago, LymanPreston said:

Rats are a potential danger to almost everyone.

 

Yeah, they are talking about Muskrats, not sewer Rats!  But Welcome to the forum.  ?

Have you checked out the Trolling thread? ?

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  • 1 month later...
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
On 9/20/2018 at 7:37 AM, leech~~ said:

 

Yeah, they are talking about Muskrats, not sewer Rats!  But Welcome to the forum.  ?

Have you checked out the Trolling thread? ?

Says a troller 

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
2 hours ago, monstermoose78 said:

Says a troller 

 

Wow, I am certainly getting beat up over on this side of the fence today.  On month old posts and mostly by the mods oddly. ☹️

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
      Thanks for the updates!  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for most this past week for resorts and ice fishing outfitters is checking ice conditions.  Things are progressing nicely.  As we remind anglers each and every year, ice conditions can vary significantly.  Consequently,  we typically will not make blanket statements about ice conditions or thickness of ice.  It is best to work through a resort or outfitter who knows the ice conditions on the part of the lake they are working.     The 10 day forecast shows temps staying below freezing and hitting the single digits many days.  Depending upon the wind, this should continue to build up the ice and get things started,   Some spearing and angling for pike has started in areas of back bays.  Work through an outfitter and stay on marked trails as ice conditions still vary, even on the bays.  Naturally, with Lake of the Woods having a robust population of big pike, some nice fish are coming in. As the days go on, resorts and outfitters are continuing to mark their ice roads and venture out further checking ice conditions daily.  Initial reports are showing good ice formation on many parts of the lake off of the south shore.     From many parts of the south shore, there is ice as far as the eye can see.  With cloudy conditions, a satellite image of the entire lake has not been available for a number of days.   On the Rainy River...  The river is iced over.  It certainly isn't ready for any traffic as of yet but the fact it is locked up is encouraging.   Some spearing and angling for pike happening in back bays off of the river.  Once ice thickens, a couple of resorts who fish the river will mark ice trails in their particulate fishing area.  The river has current, it is best to work through a resort or outfitter.   Up at the NW Angle...   The Angle is locked up with ice for the most part.  Fishing isn't happening yet, but resorts and outfitters have started checking ice conditions and the ice is progressing nicely.  Things are on track for a good ice fishing season. Watch the Lake of the Woods Tourism Facebook page or other resort facebook pages for reports and videos of current ice conditions.  At this point, reports are coming in daily. If you haven't made reservations for ice fishing, now is a great time. 
    • SkunkedAgain
      Good update.   There has already been a host of idiots walking on the thin ice in the metro, with several rescues taking place. I read that a retired pastor in Duluth also went ice skating on thin ice and died. It's good to see that you're waiting a bit.
    • smurfy
      I got all the time in the world to getter done!
    • leech~~
      Just send it!   https://www.facebook.com/reel/1449647545993157 
    • Wanderer
      It’ll hurt your arms as you’ll have to saw through that thick, thick 12 inches instead of 6-8. 😉   
    • smurfy
      saweet to hear........and an extra week sure isnt gonna hurt. 
    • Kettle
      Lots of medium lakes are locked tight, big lakes like trout in colraine, turtle caribou north of Marcell are open. I'd venture small and medium lakes will be good for foot travel and or atv this weekend 
    • smurfy
      thats sounding great. honestly unless we get a pile of snow i am pretty sure the ice will be in great shape by the weekend of the 13-14th.  i spent 10 days at the cabin deer opener...8 days in Wi chasin deer, part of me says i should stay home for a bit, .......but naw that itch is getting worse to hit da ice and throw that fork!!!!!! 😆
    • Wanderer
      I’m seeing reports of up to 6-7 inches in the Brainerd area.  Edward as much as 8 by shore and 4 still out quite a way.   The big lakes might take that hit but I doubt the smaller ones will be affected,  Man, it turned fast this year.  This weekend there will be a ton of people out.
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