What would you guys recommend for chain length on 1 1/2 coils that will be used for both coon and otter ? Some will be anchored with T stakes, others with wolf fangs !

T stake may not hold and otter. You will want at less 3 swivel's in your chain.

I add about 10" to the stock Duke chain for coon.

If im gonna tye off otter i use only about 18" of chain, I set up drags on 5 too 8 foot of chain for coon otter and mink and pre tangle. I wouldn't use a t stake on that long of a chain for otter my self. And Id check them wolf Fangs good. But if you fill its acquit in your ground for both go ahead, for me here if I can get a t stake in it it won't hold an otter!my be fine for your area just don't forget to test.oh yeah and swivel swivel swivel!!
Colt

Thanks guys and gal ! I bought a dozen used 1 1/2’s at Escanaba and some of them have very short twin loop chain. I plan to replace with some machine chain ( yea I know it might be over kill ) but one and done right !

I don't think it's overkill if you may encounter otters.It's also,nicer to handle.

I personally like the twin loop chain better for anything water related. In a marsh it grabs the cattails better when you DO catch an otter or beaver. Kind of like a bunch of mini drags built right into the chain.

I plan to set these dry Calvin, primarily for coon on crossovers between pond and creek. I will be using dirt holes or pvc with something sweet or fishy. I don’t think I can avoid the otters once it gets cold enough to use the fish .

Calvin your right on the money with your assessment. I've held several otter in 1.5 long with only a long thin stick and couple feet of wire and old twin loop otter sure ball up a huge pile of cattail but there always close!
Colt

Mike Kelly turned me onto that observation.

Can always swap the chain out for 3/0 if you're worried about it I guess. I added 3/0 to a lot of mine for added rat drowning weight...but probably not real necessary.

I do swap out the Duke J hooks, though. They're cheap and kind of really soft (if using Dukes). Very cheap to replace...Duke's chain systems weak link.

Yes I've had coon straighten out duke j hooks on static ancors
Colt

I have no knowledge of T stakes and their use, what purpose are they?

My first impression is you push them into mud and let a lot of the stake stick up? My biggest question comes with if it is easy in, it must be easy out?

You can heal em in and yes they are easy out. Water sets mosltly.

Coons don't pull them? I've had coons move a substantial log when staked too close to one.

I said T stakes but I’ve not used one since about 1978 , lol . I prefer a 1/2” x 24” or a 3/8” x 30” with a nut or washer welded on top, may even weld an expanded lock washer towards the bottom if in soft ground . I’ve caught a lot of coyote with a 1/2” x 20” smooth rod and 24” of chain . Although I’ve never caught an otter I can’t imagine they would be any harder to hold than a 40# coyote .

I like the nut on top, gives the vise grips a better hold when puling. I like a shorter chain for coyotes ~12".
I haven't trapped otter yet and kinda wanted to see what others said.

There tuff otter are. My reserve on rebar stakes with otter are the type of ground you'll be ancohring in. If it's good solid ground like up on a cross over it'll hold. But anchor for yotes in mind they'll test um that hard! I've held um in cattail marsh stuff with tobbaco sticks and 1.5 longs but they tangle in the cattails! I've caught buck otter 35 and 38 ibs. And it all mussel.if you've done plenty of trapping just go with your instinct.
Colt

If you in a place like I am down here 3'-5' of extra chain is super nice because there is almost always something within that distance you can chain or wire to.
Just slip another j hook in and attach your extra chain with a quick link on the end.

This kinda set up gives you alot of options. You can use a T stake through the quick link, wrap your chain around stuff in the water like roots or in my case most of the time ,old tires,and secure it with your quick link.
Mink and rats will take the long chain out and drown or you can stake in deep water for coon.
And with the j hook if you don't need all the chain just have your jhook tool in your pocket and pop the hook and now your back to your stock chain and you have you jhook for connecting to a disposable or what have you.
Just an idea

Wolfdog that's what do. I just add a graple and pretangle works good around here!
Colt

Now ya know why I don't use T stakes, all my rebar have nuts 18-24 inches. More versitile for land and water