Hey All,

First question, how do you modify your triggers on your 330's? My trapping mentor is recommending that I cut the trigger wires about in half and bend them closer together. I am chasing beavers and have had some misses. At this time, we have otters in the area but no otter season (next year we get a short season!), so I am strictly setting for beaver.

Also, anyone use Bridger 330's? It takes a skinny stick to crosspeg the trap and get it stable... Kind of a pain. Do I really need magnum jaws? Thinking about trying Dukes, or maybe even going cadillac and looking at Belisle.

Thanks!

As far as the trigger goes, I just wishbone the wires and call it a day.

As for the Bridger’s, I got a couple and not a fan. I really only use mine in a H stand with the dog on top because it won’t fire with dog on bottom. I prefer my dukes and belisles. They’re just easier because I don’t have to think and I can just set em and go. Both stake easy and take animals. The magnum jaws will catch some animals you might’ve missed without em.

I wishbone mine but I don't have to avoid otter, until I finally catch one here.

What do you mean by misses on beaver? Empty traps isn't a trigger problem, it's either muskrats or small fish setting the trap off beaver going over the trap knocking it over.

Don't get the Bridger magnums...you'll want to leave them in the swamp after a while.

Thinking about relieving myself of the Bridgers and starting over again with Dukes...

I just wishbone mine also. I have a good mixture of 330's Northwoods, Bridgers, Victors and even some Belisle's. They all work.

Other than muskrats by tails, I cannot recall any misses with Duke 330's. I have thought about adding Victor 4 way triggers though. I have some Bridgers and never set them, not as handy as the Dukes,and see no reason to spend an extra $12 or so on Belisles,their triggers freeze up too fast for me.

I'm a big fan of the belisle's, the classics and the super x. I think they're worth the extra money. Bridgers will make due but I'd take a belisle or a duke magnum 330 over them any day of the week to a bridger.

I need to do a ride along with someone who hates Bridger 330s so I can figure out why I should hate mine. Is this a Ford vs. Chevy thing? If you spend the most money on a Belisle then "everyone knows" it must be the best trap? Or, anyone that spends more than they have to is just silly because a Duke will catch them all too?

I ask all that because with all the negatives about Bridgers in this thread no one said what was wrong with them just that they're bad. Well one guy said he didn't like them because they won't fire with dog on the bottom. Huh? Mine do. I have magnums and regulars they seem to work the same. Doesn't matter where I put the dog. Up, down, left, right, on an H stand, propped up with crossed sticks (whatever stick fits I don't care), half submerged, a stick through the spring eyes both in deep water and as a dive set in a shallow run. Doesn't seem to matter they always work.

So really, what's wrong with Bridgers?

As far as trigger set up I do different stuff. Usually just the wishbone thing but if it's a half submerged set I make a T out of them so the top of the T is under water or if I think lots of muskrats will be going through the spot I'll stand the trigger wires straight up and move them over to one side.

If/when the triggers get weird/broken from too many catches I replace them with the ones Paul sells, they seem to be an upgrade.

I'm very happy with my Bridger 330's

I don't know about the Bridger 330s since I don't own any. I do have some Bridger 155s and I cuss every time I set them. The problem is the eyes on the springs are too small and it's hard to use setters them. Even setting them by hand the eyes are so small you have to wrestle with them to get the eye over the rivet on the pivot. There's just better designed traps out there.

I've enumerated my displeasure with them many times here...

The spring eyes on the magnums and on the smaller traps as well are too small which causes issues when trying to set the traps, even with setters.

Also the safeties are a big pain as well. I know several brands use the same style. They lock up on the springs so tight that it takes a hammer to get them off. They're also terrible about getting caught on the jaws of the trap and because of the wideness, they are tough to get back off.

I bought a dozen last summer to try. So far I really like them. I went out to set some 330s yesterday and they were the ones I reached for

To quote Jeremiah Johnson, "sound wisdom"

Bridger 330's and 660's made from bridger 330's is all i use, no complaints on there performance and stay strong a long time. And I'm a Chevy guy to.

For beaver unless I'm also trying for otter in the same set I keep the triggers together and way to one side of the trap.I might miss some small beaver but a better set up for the bigger beaver for me.