I have been inspired by you guys to get serious about drowners this year - cables, chain, and rebar. I think I have everything ready to go but I have this one last lingering question:

How much chain should I leave on the trap?

Have a great day!

Brian

If you can get 3 swiveling points In 8" of chain go for It. I actually don't consider the swivel at the trap In this set up.

If you have 3' of water at the deep end you can get away with more chain. Same when your targeting a front foot.
But for most set ups no more then 10" should make the cut.

I say about 4 inches.

Leave a whole bunch of chain on the trap. attach some type of clip to your drowning lock so that you can attach it wherever on the chain works best. if you find shallower water, chain it short. Real deep water, leave some extra so that you can set the trap comfortably and bed it easier.

Thanks for the responses. Does anyone else have an opinion?

Yep. Kendal shows this on his coon trapping videos.

Aix, how do you make your cables adjustable?

X2, I use a quick link for this. !6 inches from the trap to the drowning lock, then shortened if need be with the quick link.

Cheap and simple adjustable drowners. I believe I got this Idea from Ron Marsh.

Make a slip noose on the deep end. On the bank end use a large washer. Take a 3/4" washer drill 2 holes In the edge of that washer. Keep them as far apart as possible and keep them In line. Don't have one hole In line with the other so they cross the hole. Make the holes a tad bigger then the cable.

Attach your drowning lock then thread the cable through both holes In the washer. If you feel the need you can crush on a stop on the tag end of the cable. BY loosening the cable you can slide the washer up and down the cable to make your adjustment. A T bar stake driven through the washer and your good to go.

I have never seen the video, but this is how I'd do it years ago to utilize the fox traps on the creek. This can be as simple as a universal swivel jhooked in up short and left in place always.
Along with this all the traps can be short chained and extensions added when needed, two sides of a coin.

Shorter then short

I keep them short

Short it is. I have done the keep them long and hook in the middle thing before and that is a good solution if you are going to be switching traps out but I am going to dedicate these particular traps to only drowning.

Bolt cutter here I come.

Brian

4-6”, couple of swivels. Like all things in trapping. KISS.