So this season I switch over to smaller traps and Mike Kelly’s expanded pans (that can be ordered from wild river traps). I’m so glad I did. I believe there is a big misconception on trap sizes for cats. People think big paw means big trap. That might be true of the cat doesn’t hit the center of the pan. With the exposed trap set and these enlarged pans, there is no need for the bigger traps. This works out great especially if you are packing a half dozen traps up a hill to some rim rock haha. Below are a few pics from the last few weeks of cat trapping.

Nice catches! What size trap are you using?

I have them on MB550s and Bridger 1.65s. Speeds up set making big time. I didn’t realize how much time I had to spend putting on pan covers, replacing them after rats take off with them, and finding them after a catch.

They are fantastic. On all my mb’s.

Another deep catch in a small trap with an enlarged pan

Very nice pad catches,

Impressive indeed. I would expect more toe catches with pans that big.

I believe the big pan at a exposed walk thru gives or makes it look more inviting place to place foot.
I believe most toe catches on cats is not enough pan tension in any other set other that's not a exposed walk thru or the blocking is catwhopas somehow.
Example a buried set in a more open style set
Just like a set for coyotes I believe a coyote is scratching at the set when they feels something a miss under his foot.( ie) wire screen gets bad rap for toe catches.

I know we trap in two different environments, but were you not catching them without mods? I’ve had one toe catch with the 550’s and that was at a dirt hole that probably didn’t fire immediately due to 3” of rain...and that’s just a guess on my part. I guess if setting exposed a bigger pan could make a difference. 550’s are also the biggest we can use here and sometimes I think the 450’s would work just fine.

Aim small, miss small. I run mostly MB 550s and make the stock pan as inviting as can be.

I got them on all my rat traps.

X2

Oh oh , you and Beav agreed on something!!! Lol

Can you post a picture of both pans, side by side.

Heres a video of two ways to attach the pan to the trap. I though everyone had a welder until I got some request on Instagram from people wanting a replacement pan because they don't know how to weld. In this video I show how to weld them, and how to attach them with pop rivets. Attache a drag and you have the ultimate exposed walkthrough bobcat setup.

Hit sub and did 500 for you.
It is nice that you credit the people that have put things out.

Haha anyone who knows me knows I'm not smart enough to come up with this stuff myself haha.

Another deep catch in an exposed trap with one of Mike Kelly’s expanded trap pans.

thanks for sharing