Thoughts on holding fisher in a 1.5 duke coil spring? I had an older gentleman tell me last year that that's all he uses. The thought is that they're a cheap trap for someone who'd like to run a lengthy fisher line early in the season before the snow hits.

You will hold a few of them, but I would like to use a #2 myself as the smallest size to use..

That's what I caught my first and only fisher on 3 years ago. It was a 6.5 lb. female. I also caught a 39 lb. male coyote last year on a Duke 1.5. Most of my traps are Bridger 1.75s and 2s, but the couple of dukes I have, have held their own.

When I trapped them I was using 1.75's. The 1.5's will work but I would go bigger if you have the traps or the money to buy them.

I have not used Duke 1.5 for fisher, but I don’t see why they would not work. I have caught mine in MB 450’s, SC # 2 dis, n Bridger # 2 dog less. I do like that #2 Bridger, os with lams. I got some SC 1.5 os in a trade this year, did a lot of modifying for fishers . Fishers are not hard to catch, just hard to pattern .

What kind of modifying did you do to the 1.5s to get them ready for fisher? I was hoping to use them as is right out of the box.

I fuss a lot with mods, these where those 1.5 from MTP special run, D ring center swivel. Add swivels, 10 lbs. shock spring , chestnut ring to nail chain to tree root, positrip pans. Welded a extension on the loose jaw side of the cross frame for support in soft ground around pine roots. A guy on here made me some long Jhooks, I used these on the D ring swivel, it allows the swivel Body to be under the jaw. Are these necessary mods needed, not at all , just what I do.

You guys and your footholds...

A 160! Now there is a fisher trap!

Not if they are not legal to use. You guys in Canada can use most anything, not so here in the States.

Duke 1.5 is fine and will hold a fisher w/o issue. Make sure you have plenty of swivels and chain is in good shape. Of course the usual of filing any sharp edges.

I have caught many a fisher, bobcat and coyote in Duke 1.5 Coils. All were raccoon sets that I anchored well. When I'm targeting the large animals I use MB 550 Closed Jaw.

Thanks for the input all! My thoughts were to take #1.5s add a third swivel and 4 feet of #2 chain. That way I could easily quick link off to a tree and run. The line would be around 48 sets at 24 locations for only a week or so each year...

In regards to body grips for fisher... They have their place for sure but running poles take time to set up and I'll be going for efficiency. I could go the NY legal cubby route but I don't really have the storage space and I'd still be nervous having body grips on land. NY wilderness doesn't have the same definition as Canada wilderness.

Thoughts on Bridger vs Dukes? I think I'd trust the chain better on the Bridgers.

Bridger for 1.65 and up. My favorite universal set up is a 1.65 with #2 music wire springs.