Looking to buy some more 1.5 coil spring to modify for fishers. I know n have some MB 450’s, what’s the next best. Thinking on trying to get some older Sleepy Creek traps , clean up n rebuild - modify.

I would either go with the Montana 1.5 or I would go with a Bridger 1.75, depending on what else I was using them for. I have caught accidental fisher in both Montgomery 1.5 and Bridger 1.75. I don't think you need a bigger trap than 1.5 for them, but I like the extra jaw spread of the 1.75 for reaching up through cover, snow and so on.

If you are looking to stay with a 1.5 coil I would look at the Bridger 1.5. Not a bad trap and I could see it being pretty good for dryland fisher trapping. I know it would handle any fox that came along, and would probably hold an occasional coyote too.

NO-BS 1.5, regular jaw, double jaw, laminated, DJ laminated, have them built however you want. Best built 1.5 out there. Kendall will set your chain up how you want too. If a coyote stepped on the pan, it would hold it, no problem. You have a choice of springs also.

The 1 1/2 Duke Is a great all round trap and the money Is right.

I agree with ditchdiver. Those No BS 1.5 traps are really good right out of the box.

If you have time to tinker & make the trap you want yes the Duke is less cost. If you want something to use, that works with out all the tinkering etc., then buy anything else.
Now if you listen to the fellows who have trapped Fisher & the traps for Fisher, Bob Noonan says to use a SC #2 DLS trap.

bmi's

Some times a long springs spring gets In the way.

If I'm buying a 1 1/2 sized trap I can take a duke out of the box and set It for rats and mink or coon with out any tinkering. But then some just have a hard on for Duke traps.

I agree. The Bridger 1.75 would be a better multi purpose trap if that is important to you. I have never used the no bs 1.5, but they look good. I think you can get all at Mntraplinesupply

I agree. The Bridger 1.75 would be a better multi purpose trap if that is important to you. I have never used the no bs 1.5, but they look good. I think you can get all at Mntraplinesupply

I also agree on the Bridger 1.75's. I bought a half dozen last week, got them in and quickly realized how nice a trap it is, they really are great straight out of the box, no tinkering involved.
I did have an issue with some bad chain link welds on 2 of the traps but Dwaine from MTP sent some new chain and J hooks out to me to replace it. So, I turned around and bought another dozen last night.

The 1 fisher I caught this year was in a modified 1.5 Duke, lams, n base plated it worked well.

I use some older sleepy creek 1.5s that are baseplated/ center swiveled in areas closer to roads and trails. I’ve never caught a fisher but it’s a stout little trap. I also use bridger 1.75s and a few number 2s

Several years ago, maybe 10, I bought some used 1.5 Sleepy Creek offsets, thinking I could sell them on Tman. I tried a couple times but nobody was interested. Two years ago, it was literally the last trap in the truck and I set it for coyotes. The next day I had a very large male coyote firmly held in that trap. Other than a bent dog, there was no damage to the trap. They’re a tough trap, made of good steel.

I have compared the victor,duke and bridger 1.5 coils. Dukes are a good bang for the buck but after watching Johnny Thorpes fisher video and grinding down pans to make them fall further,I started looking. The Bridger and Victor spring pins are further apart as compared to the Duke,making them more adaptable to using bigger pans if going for mink. I have been toying with getting a doz MB 450 fox springs which are a tad lighter than stock Bridger springs and rigging up some mink only 1.5's along with laminating the jaws.I have also thought of doing the same with 1.75 Bridgers but also removing the center chain,going to a side chain,MB 450 fox springs again and adding a big pan for mink specific to emulate the old victor #2 coils.

I disagree with your thought on pans, pan width, and the traps that work best for them. I have enough experience on Muskrats and Mink with larger pans to say this is completely an old wives tale. My experience and results can be seen with the pan design I have come up with. This has been reflected with guys catching Fox and Cats in the 450's, 550's, Bridger #3s and Duke #4s.

Cutting down a pan to have it fall between the levers is mainly important on the trap you mention (Bridger 1.5 and 1.75, and the larger Victors). The levers are wider at the base, but come up tighter where they contact the pan. A wider pan on these traps in almost impossible to get to work because of how the levers come up, they will wedge the pan between the levers on a regular basis.

Most of the 1.5's (Duke, Victor, Blake and Lamb, Montana, Sleepy Creek, Duke 1.75, MB 450, MB 550...) the levers do not come up as tight on the pan and you can use a wider pan with a lot of success. A tapered pan is one of the most important parts to prevent the levers from ever wedging on the pan. A larger round or square pan can still cause issues, especially when wetting the trap and the pan can fall all the way down to the edge of the levers at the base.


To the original post...Pretty much any of the 1.5 traps are sufficient to hold a fisher. Just make sure you have plenty of swivels, and try to remove anything they can tangle up with or get tangle up into the chain.

I have caught several dozen fisher in stock 40 year old Victor/B&L 1.5 coils. I did add an extra swivel in the chain a few links from the trap. IMO it is a perfect trap for fisher if set in a clear area with no entanglement.

I trust and respect ANYTHING Mike Kelly says. I have always used Lots of Duke #1.5's and Victor #2 Square Jaws for Mink. I got Mink Kellys Mink Pans for the 1st Time for these Traps. This my best year ever for Mink. I had 0 misses and almost everytime in my Victor #2's they would be DOA. I Thank God for Mike Kelly to invent the Best Pan ever made for Mink/Muskrat

This man knows his fisher, and is someone I would look to for advice on how to trap them.