Pulled all my wolf gear, seasons over for me. After having lots of traps submersed in salt water for a few months they are rusted up now. Any thoughts as to how to store em till next year/slow rusting/etc. would be appreciated. All Bridger #9’s, and a few 750’s (the only ones with a pullout😃)

I would boil, dump water, repeat. Then soak in 50-50 vinegar and water, to remove rust. Mix a bucket of water and box of baking soda, and dip, then rinse, and hang to dry.
I would then treat and wax. BEFORE STORING for the year.

akntrapper from Tok posted a video a week or 2 ago on the main page re trap care he seems to know his stuff

Saltwater is heck on steel....

Pressure wash with hot water

Speed dip or paint

Let dry, air out til next season

Wax is worthless if in saltwater. It's not really a big issue with scent if you're putting them in the salt water. The bigger issue in my opinion is protecting the steel so that it doesn't turn into iron. Rust in a few months others may habe a few tips

100% spot on. The vinegar water will also remove the old wax (if there is any). Only suggestion I have is soak in the vinegar water for two days, then take your power washer to the traps and you'll get right down to grey metal. Then your wax/dip, etc. will stick.

I rinse mine real well with the garden hose and hang until dry. They get boiled in alder and hemlock, for the tannins. After the boil just the usual wax job. If I could get speed dip to dry properly I would be trying that.
The most important thing, I think, is to not use expensive traps in the tidal zones. I prefer the SC 4.5’s for that duty. The longs seem to hold up much better than the coils do in that environment.

I wish that wolf trapper from Petersburg would chime in. I learned most of my tidal wolf trapping methods from him.

Get JR to make you some stainless 9's

If you get a chance to talk to Bob at Ketchikan trap supply, he will tell you his way. I know he has had some 750s in the saltwater for the last 10 years and they're still going strong. He's a great guy to chat trapping with in my opinion.

I asked the man about a stainless and aluminum number 9. It's just not cost effective. . The number 9 is not a trap for the saltwater in my opinion. Although I have caught some wolves in that trap in a tide pool set. Ed Hutzel was looking into an aluminum, Trap with stainless parts. I tried A very expensive paint with epoxy in it called por-15. And it is some really good stuff for coating metal and resisting corrosion. But it's like $50 a quart...lol, I am going to try cold galvanized spray on some traps.

I power wash and spray paint. that's it.
Works fine for me.

You don't put wolf traps in saltwater, grapestomper.

You are right. oops
I would be hard pressed to find any salt water.
I was thinking antifreeze.