Depending on the water and bank conditions in your pond, you should be able to see where the bank den is located. If you take a walk around the pond looking out in the water, there will be a small hole going into the bank with a "run" or small depression leading into it. Active runs will usually have a cloud in front of them from the muskrats stirring up debris/silt when entering and exiting. A 110 conibear or a colony trap (the trail trap as described above) placed in front of that opening is almost a guarantee. If you can't find that opening, there will usually be spots along the bank where they are entering and exiting the water either at a toilet or going up for food. An active trail will commonly have the appearance of slicked down mud, although if its only a small number of muskrats using it there may still be some vegetation there. A small foothold placed down in the water at the base of the trail, or a 110 conibear placed at any point in the trail with vegetation on both sides as a natural pinch point is best there. If you can't find either situation, you can create a "trail" set with your hand and place an apple or other bait at the top of it with a foothold in the water. Note that muskrats will often roll when caught and can actually break off the caught foot and get free so access to deep water is important so they can drown. If deeper water (6-12" is usually all it takes) isn't available, place a stick n the mud 6-12" behind the foothold to tangle them.
