Slide Rod Drowner

[mountainman]

I have been looking for a good rugged, quick to set up positive drowner system to upgrade from slide wires and cables in some situations. Deep water anchors very often just take up too much time and effort for me and I have a very difficult time setting them up on the big rivers working out of a boat or kiyak. I really like what I see in the 1/4 in. dia. slide rod drowner rig that Gary "The Beav" Mather shows in his site located in The Trapper Pages over at Trapperman. Ever since I saw pictures of a rebar setup for beaver I have been figuring on coming up with a lighter setup for the mink and rat line. I dont believe I could come up with a better rig than he has there. The catch can be retrieved very easily and no welding is required. That would stop the problem of beavers eating my green fresh cut slide pole rigs too.

[mountainman]

My thanks to the Beav for that info. By the way, he has some excellent pictures of mink sets along with a lot of other great things on his site.

[Bottomline]

Here ya go mountainman. I've not made any of these myself, but gonna try them out. Got these from a buddy on Trapperman.

[mountainman]

Thanks for the good pics Bottomline. That looks like a very good rig too. I believe if Im right about this that the deep water end is most times intended to be shoved hard into the stream bottom then the t-bar locks the slide bar into the bank making a good solid setup that even a beaver or otter cant do much with. I looked at the ad in T&PC for the light weight carbon rods but I have seen what beavers do with bite marks on steel. Ill see what I can do now about finding a price break or wholesale price on components.

[7oaksfarm]

David
I use 3/8 smooth rod from the scrap pile at work.
I've found that 1/16" over the size of the rod, 7/16" for my 3/8" rod, isn't enough for the angle iron to lock consistantly.
I went to 1/2" holes to slide on the 3/8 rod and it locks more reliably. It appears that the greater the angle the lock can go, is better.
How deep and shallow do you need to go?
Happy Trapping
JOHN

[mountainman]

Thanks John for that info. You gave me good answers to the two of the main questions that I had in mind getting started with building these things: What larger sizes of rod were being used and how I would need to work the slide lock hole sizing to get it to work reliably. While I am in need of light weight rigs to carry in my whitewater kiyak on the big rivers where I work through some rough rocky sections for mink and rats I know some heavier rigs will be needed for beaver and otter. I can carry plenty of them in canals and creeks that I can wade in and mostly pull the little boat behind me using it for a toolbox and a quick easy way out. So far the only info I have from suppliers that carry the round rod points towards a six foot length being the longest length available. I guess thats one reason rebar is being used for beaver rigs. I am planning to use the six foot round rod setup where the water depth within a few feet of the bank runs 1-4 ft. so I should be able to set them from around 45 degrees to a near vertical angle.

[7oaksfarm]

David
In deep water you don't need to stick it in the bottom if you put at least 15 lbs of scrap steel or a flat rock wired to slide down to the stop at the end of the rod (some of my rods are 12 ft long). Just make sure your t-handle at the top is super secure. Some guys use small welded chain for the rod and a piece of square tube steel for the lock.
JOHN

[7oaksfarm]

I found it David
Thanks
John

[Nickthefoxanbvrslyr]

John,,Im going to do adc this year would them 6 footers work?If not do you have any 12 footers left..Id like to pick afew up thanks.

[7oaksfarm]

Yes Nick the 6 footers will work just fine, if the water is over 6 feet deep you can add about 20-30 pounds of weight. Just make sure it won't slide off the end, and double stake the top loop to the bank, like for a yote.
I tend to use 12 footers in deeper water to keep from having to haul weights around.
I still have some 12 footers. If you want some PM me.
Later
JOHN

[7oaksfarm]

ALSO NICK
You're trap modifications are done.
PM me your address and I'll just mail them to you
The North Carolina Home Educators conference is this weekend and I can't meet you anywhere.
Thanks
JOHN