As a new guy to trapping I have come to understand what double long springs and coil springs are of course, and although I've see them, actually have a jump trap, I'm just wondering what these traps are really used for or what their significance is?

Is it just that someone came up with a different trap design for ease and that's how they came about? I don't even know what a Jake Trap is or what makes it different from the others. But a jump trap, what's it's significance?

Chad

I'll take on the Jake trap and let others fill in the info on the other traps.

JC Conner designed and manufacture the Jake Trap. He named the trap after his Grandson, Jake. This link will tell you all about it. If you're looking for a quality trap, this is one of the very best.
http://www.jcconner.com/traps.html

A lot of guys that grew up using the jump traps can correct me if I'm wrong but here's how I always saw the jump trap. Back then it was hot stuff, but you've gotta think about what was available back then. The name implies exactly what it does, it "jumps" upward when it is tripped. Set your jump trap on the floor and trip it and see what it does.

Back then a lot of guys really believed in this style of trap, but over the years of trap advancements its flaws were made apparent. Inconsistent or non-existent pan tension, spring that wears out quickly compared to some stuff we have now, difficult to set, lots of misses if not positioned correctly, etc etc. So that's why you don't see them used as much nowadays, but back in the day when they were one of the only options people made do and were very successful with them

Thank you Paul and Coondagger, I appreciate the information. It goes a long ways in my understanding of various things associated with trapping.

I agree 100% with coondagger! This may sound weird but for me the jump trap holds significant nostalgic value - memories of my childhood when I handle them. I have a dozen or so left and from time to time I handle them - they are some of my most priced possessions...but compared to the traps of today are not very efficient.

I still have and use a few 1 1/2 an #2 jumps I used for rats and mink. As the trap closes it ''jumps'' up and if you set it to jump at the animal and the animal comes from the right direction you typically get a high hold on them. Good traps. Some #1 jumps were even made as stop loss traps. They fit right inside small pipes. Blake and Lamb seamed to make the better ones. I caught a coyote in a 1 1/2 jump about 18 years ago. It was on a slider and it drowned. Some of them hold very well but their swiveling leaves a lot to be desired.

Very good information. Zimmer, I completely understand what you’re talking about. I do the same thing with certain things.

Larry, you bring up another point, I don’t know what a Stop Loss trap or feature is either.

A man got to know his limitations

In "NEWT'S WORLD"

You have to be able to set your trap.While standing knee deep in water.With out tools, if you cant. The trap is too big for you.

Big,this is a stoploss,longspring.The stoploss trap has a "bale" that flips up after the catch and sort of holds the muskrat where it can't roll and twist.causing wringoffs.It is usually used in spots where it is not possible to make a drowning set.

Taximan, that thing sure looks strange. But just like everything else, if it works it ain’t stupid. Lol

I think that it’s interesting the ideas that people in trapping have come up with. Particularly because I can understand it and most are things that the regular man can do himself. It’s not like designing a better car or anything. It’s almost just common sense fixes to an already darn near flawless, time tested design.

when I was younger I used jump traps a lot for trapping rats and bigger ones for beaver. I had ok luck with the #1 jumps on rats and used the #4 on beaver. I had problems with the #4's with ring outs even on drowning sets. I probably wouldn't be afraid of trapping with jumps for rats but now days there are a lot better traps. Invest wisely and keep asking questions on this forum, there is a lot of good people with good information.

Thanks Backroads, I completely agree which is why I continue to ask.

Not sure why, but jumps seem disproportionately difficult to set. I can set a victor 4 double long over my knee, but a 3 jump I can't do.

You have much better leverage with the long springs in a DLS trap: leverage to compress the springs as well as hold them down while setting the trap. The jumps are definitely tougher to set with the short spring tab on one end and very little to hang onto on the other end = no leverage. I won't sound very tough saying this, but I set the #4 jumps with two feet and a solid base to stand on (ground or ice)!

I believe the jumps lost popularity because a coilspring trap can do anything a jump can do, do it faster and more effectively, and has easily replaceable parts. They are still pretty cool though, and have their place in some trapping situations.

Some times the stoploss traps help hold a catch that might not have been held like this;

I think the big deal with jump traps are their weight. Way back when a lot of guys walked in and weight was an issue. They also used the smallest size they could get away with. Think about it, how many guys use #0s nowadays.

Larry, that’s pretty interesting to see it in it’s application. I’m assuming that the Stop Loss is also held with tension from a spring of some sort