Hello all, I'm new to trapping/forum. This past season was my first. I definitely contracted the trapping bug and now I'm totally enthralled by mink. But, I have questions.
I want to do a few dry land sets for mink using leg-holds, but where I live you can't set leg-holds with a jaw spread greater than 4.25" without having a 3/16" gap on dry land.

So, if you had to choose a #1 trap to rule them all for mink, what would it be?

Why would want to catch a mink on dry land with a leg hold...?

If you can only dryland mink, I would use a 120 or 160 body grip trap in either a baited mink "cubbie" or a blind set where there was plenty of mink sign. Check to see if body grips traps can be used out of the water in your state and any other regs such as size limits fro them, etc.

Mink are a edge creatures a creek is your friend! I like the #1 longsprings myself greater holding power then the 1 1/2 longspring traps and less moving parts then a coil spring trap. IMO

Where I live Conibears can be used on dry land and I did take one that way this last season. I ask about leg-holds because I've been doing a lot of reading on mink trapping and it seams like a lot of old school mink trapping book authors preach dry land leg-hold sets. Some preach this due to the fact that conibears weren't in production at the time and others due to trap/trigger avoidance with conibears. I guess conni-pans might be the better work around. I'm just trying to add as many arrows to my quiver as possible.

1 1/2 coilspring which is not only my choice but the choice of some who have caught more mink in one season then most of us will se in a lifetime and its a good fox and coon trap outside of that whatever you have is a good mink trap

Jeff, I agree! But I can’t use 1 1/2’s due to the jaw spread limit. I’m needing advice on the next best option.

a mink confined to dry land will fight hard.

check the jaw spread on the #11s and the #1 coils. they should be within your jaw spread restrictions, without the need for offset jaws. the 2 traps mentioned will hold most all incidentals along with the mink.

What's your jaw spread limit?

the bridger #11 long spring and the bridger #1 coils both fit your restrictions. click on the mtp banner above and check them out.

hes limited to 4 1/4 inch w/o an offset.

Fossil, I want to be able to set a leg-hold up the bank on a drowning slide above the water level so I don’t have to worry about water level fluctuatuions rendering my sets useless. If I set far from the water I’ll use a conni for the reasons you mentioned.

that's being fair to the mink. id find a vertical bank a bit above the water level, and dig a standard pocket set. id use the #1 coil for this set, as youll be bedding and covering the trap same as at a dirt hole set for fox. the coil will take a tiny trap bed compared to a long spring, and about equal holding power. if you have fox in your area, this set/trap combo will take them both.

do you have otters, and an open season on them? when otters were being live trapped down south, for reintroduction to other states, most were trapped with these same #1 coils or #11s. they held them well with no damage.

I don’t have any otters, I wish I did. I have a few Bridger #1 coils. I was hoping I could get everyone’s opinion on who produces the best #1 coil. Even though it might be a Ford vs. Chevy type of discussion.

Sleepy creek

the bridgers are about the heaviest-duty youll find on the market. the dukes are most likely copies of the victor design, and a lot lighter in construction. you wont find one better than the bridger, that im aware of. #1 coils aren't a really popular trap, as most states allow the 1 1/2 sizes, and most prefer those. the #1 coils are too fast and strong and powerful for rat trapping, and don't have enough weight for drowning, compared to a 1 1/2. for these reason, not many companies make them.

I wasn't aware sleepy creek made a #1 coil. they would be a quality trap as well. they never put out anything that was junk.

I believe they're right around 100 dollars a dozen give or take a few bucks. Utah allows any size trap set on dry land, but anything larger than 4.25 inches has to be offset. I've caught a pile of grey fox with those little #1's
https://www.fntpost.com/Products/Sleepy+Creek+Coil+Spring+Traps/+1+Sleepy+Creek+Coil+Spring+Trap

103.00 at mtp for the sleepy creeks. bridgers are 69.00.

and youre right, theyre a great grey fox trap as well.

I'd definitely go with the bridgers for price, I'm not overly biased what brand design etc. I just like a trap with a critter in it when I get there. That being said I pretty much run bridger 1.75 for fox and bridger #3 Canadian modified for coyotes and bobcat. Just because I like uniformity in my equipment.