which one do you prefer and why?

I vote for and use BOTH ... very durable!

ok im trying cables then soon i will try the drowning rods and see which one i like but i want everyone elses opinions

I use both also, I use cable in water that is shallower than about knee to mid thigh deep, and rods in water that is deeper... If I have a trap on the river, really deep and steep, I use 11ga wire with something heavy on the other end...

I use cable every time I have an urge to poke myself in the hand with something sharp.

Use drowning rods the rest of the time.

I use to use cable but now I use drowning rods. If I cant use rods I use chains. Cables are a last resort.

I have only ever used 14guage wire. Never found a reason to change. Never had my wire broke, and never had an animal still alive when I got there the next morning. Easy to use, and takes me about 2 min to set up. I dont run enough traps for that 2 min to become an issue.

Slyder

Rods are great and fast.

I have used everything from cable to barbless barbed wire to rods. I prefer rods but most of my beaver trapping is a long haul thus i mostly use wire or cable with toe sacks as weight. Wish i could use rod all the time though. I see no advantage over either as far as effectiveness, but location and access dictates what i use.....shane

To those of you using "rods" are you anchoring both ends with stakes(I suspect T-Bars) or just the top end with the bottom end shoved into mud?

Next question is for the latter usuage how long are your rods, do you have some type of flange/pc of flared metal, etc. on bottom end and what size material are you using?

Was thinking of making/using the cables this year but still am undecided. Mostly trapping coon and mink in mud/clay type stream bottoms. Very few rocks areound here.

I use many methods and cable/wire and rods are included. Both are effective and it depends on type of bottoms I am anchoring in. I prefer rods if I am trapping from a boat or along a roadway. I prefer cable if it is rocky river or creek where I can leave anchors or use rocks for drowning weights. I don't care much for the drowning sacks if all I have to fill them with is dirt. I have had large beaver and coon to drag them in to the bank. They are fine when properly secured and filled with fist size or larger rocks or a materiel that has weight and makes the sack bumpy to help keep it from sliding easily along a smooth bottom. a sack full of dirt is easy to slide up to the bank unless it is very steep. I have used long chains and tie plates with good results also. for soft bottoms I stake with cable, with rods I shove the rod in the bottom as mentioned. I do not recommend 14 guage wire if trapping beaver or otter in drowning situations. 11 guage will give you less heart aches. And I have been at the beaver trapping for a while. My methods are tried an true not just hear say. Don

I have used both and prefer the rods better because they will last until they are stolen your not going to have a animal kink them up if it doesn't go all the way down or if it doesn't drown. Also they don't get all tangled up like cables. But I don't use them a lot because they are heavy and cost more to make.

Cable is light weight and you can roll it up and put it in a coat pocket if needed. Another thing is you can make several for the cost of one rod and when they get kinked up you can cut the ends off and save the lock. But they do get tangled if not coiled up and they will get kinked up.

To those of you using "rods" are you anchoring both ends with stakes(I suspect T-Bars) or just the top end with the bottom end shoved into mud?


I use 1/4" half round stock and make a strap on top of rod. My lock slides over the strap and I can use the same trap on rod or #2 twist-link chain. I can also cross stake with 2-24" 3/8" stakes if the conditions dictate this. Often one 24" stake is sufficent. Bottom end is just shoved into mud, sand or gravel.

Next question is for the latter usuage how long are your rods, do you have some type of flange/pc of flared metal, etc. on bottom end and what size material are you using?


I use a 8' rod for Beaver most often as they ride in the truck better. I have many 10' rods that I often leave at favorite sites in the woods on Private land. 1/2" re-rod works best. I weld a 1/2" nut 6" up from the bottom of the rod to keep trap from sliding off end.

Was thinking of making/using the cables this year but still am undecided. Mostly trapping coon and mink in mud/clay type stream bottoms. Very few rocks are around here.


A 3/8" rod works well for coon if kept 6-8' in length. Any longer and they get flimsy.

MTP and Cumberlands both sell Bauer's Lifetime system for those that do not have a welder handy. Very similar system and Yes it will last a lifetime!

I use 3/32 cable and use a cam lock for a drownder (slide's down the cable better than an L style drownder) - cable hardly ever get's kinked, sand bag on 1 end stake on the other

Tried the rods but weight is always an issue for me so I no longer use them.
I use 1/8 cable with a large home made disposable stake on the bank side and a burlap bag in deep water. I use 11 gauge wire also and have never had a problem. Use wire when my premade set ups won't reach deep water.
Just my opinion...
Hope this helps...
rc1

I often wonder if a 8' piece of 1/2" rebar is to heavy, how does a guy figure he will get the Beaver out.

just pull up the whole works 2 poor