Whats the best chain size?
Is twist link ok?
What size drag is best?

What do you use and why?

I'm trapping cats on the river and it's sand for 100' it seems. I have 18" super stakes but want to move to a drag.
I welded up a drag today it's crude but it will work.
It's a prototype, and probably the last of it's version

Everyone has their own opinion on drags. I think your drag may work but it looks to light. The main thing is to keep the drag on the ground. Heavy and long chain. Twist link is fine. Twin loop isn't. I use bought coyote drags. Just the standard 3/8 rod type. Put 8 foot of #3 chain on it and drag it in a grassy field and you will see it will hand up. I also have some 1/4" fox drags that I use mostly on coon and mink sets. Twin loop chain is fine for them although a coon can chew it up pretty good. I use drags mainly when ground is Frozen or soul is way loose and not sure a superstake will hold.

Yeah I think I will go up to 3/8 or 1/2 bar next time. I figure considering the terrain I am trapping that if I put a spike on the end of 8' #3 chain it would hang up within 20 yards no matter what. But I also want to build drags that will be ideal in any drag situation

Rebar is a pain to bend , cut and just plain work with. If I can find my home made drags I will put some pictures up.

Yo I'll try to find some stuff in mine

One of my fox drags. Points are rail road spike nails

If you can Pre-hook your drags to saplings weight is no issue.....and they will be fine.

Besides, who has time to go looking?...and I want the critters scent left there to attract others.

I run 5-6' of chain, since I don't want a cat or coon 10 ft up a tree.......learned that from other trappers.
I want to dispatch no higher than my head.

Oh,,,and it's cheaper and easier to just drill a hole at the top of the shank and attach the chain with a quick snap or split ring.

Thanks for the pics wolfdog,
I was wondering how far up a tree that cat will get if I give him the chance. And I'd rather not shoot the cats at all if it was possible

I always prebook a drag as well but have found that a short chain can dictate were I put my trap. I don't trap cats either so am not worried about climbing but it makes sense...

Strike2X, Why don't you think twin loop chain won't work? I'v caught 100's of coyotes with it on drags and never had a problem

The first one is my favorite but all have worked many times. The last one is really to heavy for what I like but it does work. The cats I catch on drags go straight to thick cover any way. I have caught quite a few coyotes on the small drags too.

Oh,I love short chains and stakes!

Its hard to dispact a cat that got 10 feet of chain to work with lol

A bent t-post is what I normally use in thicker cover with 6-8 ft chain. Junk posts laying around everywhere. Drill a hole in middle quick link and go set it. Have experienced a few yotes heading straight across meadow if not enough brush to hang up

Awesome thanks everyone. I figure it's kind of difficult to slip a 3" DR over a cats neck that 10' up a tree.
T post might be haven't but sure would do the job.
I like the first drag bast as well Matt. Might get away without the round stock welded on the bottom. Did you heat the round stock to bend it or do you have a bender?

I have lots of rebar atthe moment. I could use that.
But some 1/4" bar stock that around 1" should be heavy enough to hold.

I'll post more pics in this thread as I develop other models.
Please keep it coming

I heated and bent it the way I wanted the bigger round stock on the end really helped it out but them little kicker spikes i put on it makes it grab and hold in about anything. I always test them by dragging them around my yard, if they hold there they will hold anywhere.

Rich Kasper made these. They work pretty good.

Dang Danny! Do you store your gear in the house? Daughter's bedroom?

What is the thickness of that bar stock?