Hi,

I was thinking about night latching my water traps for next year. I have maybe 2 1/2 dozen so it is not that big of a deal for me. I was wondering how many people on here actually night latch their water traps for mink and coon. You know I really like that "click" when the pan is in position.

Please tell me why or why not to nite latch water traps. and/or Why you do or why you don't.

Thanks,

Mark

I nightlatch mine,The reason is that I dont like any creep in any traps I own, land or water.

Im not a fan of it. I night latched 1/2 of my traps one year. regreted it ever since. If you do carry a file with you while checking traps you'll need it. "Minnow"

Minnow-Your saying that the edge on it wears off after one catch!?

I nightlatch my #11s and have never had a problem with having to dress them later with a file.

minnow i agree with the nightlatch ... but it makes it nice to just push the pan and HEAR the click .... really nice when settin at night .... but sucks that the filed area slopes after so lil time

I night latch all my traps. I like to hear the click and now its ready to fire. never had to redress mine and it's been 3 yrs now with those traps. just my .02

Even if I set my traps in the dark I have a light and good eyesite so I see no advantage to the night latch other than the "coolness" of the click. I put the dog deep in the notch, then lower the pan to where I want it. Works for me.

~ADC~

DITTO! dont like it on water traps

Hunter82, No it wears in time. Im not saying it doesn't work because it does, However it will wear out in time. Then you'll be replacing your pans. I just bend the dog down slightly above the jaw when adjusting my traps on the bench. I still have a nice crisp snap on my trap. Night latching is not needed. Minnow

If you have ever trapped in very solf muddy bottom you will see that advantage

Minnow- I see what your saying about it wearing down over time and having to replace the pan,But its going to wear even if you dont have it nightlatched.I've had to touch them up a bit at the end of the season but after a few swipes with the file and they are as good as new.

That's why I put my notch on the dog. But I love Night Latching my traps. You will know you have it set properly when you here the click. You can rest assured that there will be minimal pan creep prior to the trap going off when a critter steps on it too.

Agree with PaCaller, I was taught to nite latch the dog, if you screw it up just refile it and adjust the pan level. After waxing just touch the pan and dog with a propane torch. I nite latch all my traps, for water currently running SC # 11 and # 2 DLS, plus some Duke 1.5 when I run out of DLS.

I have always Nitelatched my traps,but not fot the "click" I do it so I know my pan is were I want it to be and ready to fire. If it does wear down, I just refile it and adjust my pan, as if it was a new trap. As a matter of coarse, I touch up all my traps each year. Boil & die, re-wax level and nitelatch. but if you have to re file your nitelatch very often , then something is wrong. My guess is that its too shallow of a notch, but too deep is piontless.

I nightlatch mine

ttt

what the heck is night latching?

Night latching is basically where you file an extra notch in the pan above the factory notch. When you set the trap you set the dog in the factory notch then pull down on the pan until the dog moves into the new notch. When that happens, you should here an audible "click". This allows you to set traps at night and know the pan is set level, hence the term "night latching".


I night latch all my traps. Keeping your traps uniform like this keeps you from catching your fingers.

For you non-night-latchers, don't you have to touch up your dogs and pans every year anyhow?

I see absolutely no drawbacks to night-latching. Again, you leave everything the same from year to year?

Do what you want, I want absolute minimal pan drop and a crisp trigger. Also, when dealing with beaver traps, you definitely don't want to mess around pulling pans down without either a PIT system or a good night-latch.