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Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 #6822972
03/30/20 12:05 PM
03/30/20 12:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 362
NW PA
W
washxc Offline OP
trapper
washxc  Offline OP
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 362
NW PA
I'm looking to purchase a dozen or two 1.5's to use for a coon, mink, muskrat water line next fall. I've been reading the forums for opinions on both the Duke 1.5 and the Bridger 1.5 special. It seems that many think the Bridger 1.5 is not the best water trap, and that the Duke's are a better trap for the value. I have a Bridger 1.5 special I got as a free item from MTP and I have some Duke 1.5 double jaws. The Dukes required lots of tinkering out of the box to get them working well and even now, the pan doesn't sit that great. The springs seem very stout on the Dukes. The Bridger didn't require anything and the pan sits level, it's also a bit easier to set. I have been reading about pull outs with coons on the Bridgers though. Just looking for some opinions from people who have used both on a water line!

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6823084
03/30/20 01:29 PM
03/30/20 01:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,174
Middle Tennessee
T
TNcat Offline
trapper
TNcat  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,174
Middle Tennessee
I have used both ..1 1/2 Duke the best coon trap for water sets , not even close. I have caught many muskrats too. Not many mink in my area these days.

Last edited by TNcat; 03/30/20 01:33 PM.

IT'S A SOUTHERN THANG
Y'ALL WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND

NRA member
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6823098
03/30/20 01:41 PM
03/30/20 01:41 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
son-of-grizz Offline
trapper
son-of-grizz  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 372
northern indiana
Duke 1 1/2 since I started trapping 20 yrs ago. Never have had issues with them at all. I have held everything from beaver to rats in them.

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6823144
03/30/20 02:30 PM
03/30/20 02:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,973
Ohio
C
Computer Hater Offline
trapper
Computer Hater  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,973
Ohio
Duke 1 1/2 coil is the best 1 1/2 coil on the market in my opinion. Have held waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many otters, bobcats, beavers, and coyotes in them on my mink line. Have to release the otters, beavers,(before Dec.26) and cats. The coyotes usually are junk. The last one I sold went for $1.75. LOL


Randy
Member NTA, FTA
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6823156
03/30/20 02:48 PM
03/30/20 02:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,448
Colesburg, Iowa 52035
M
MINK I LOVE Offline
trapper
MINK I LOVE  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,448
Colesburg, Iowa 52035
You will find that after years of using a Duke #1.5. That they are by far your better choice for water trapping. Good Luck!

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6823177
03/30/20 03:16 PM
03/30/20 03:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 551
Iron Range, Minnesota
R
Ringbill5196 Offline
trapper
Ringbill5196  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 551
Iron Range, Minnesota
I was under the impression that the Bridger had been corrected for whatever the problem was and that was the designation "Special" on the trap. All mine are the specials and hold as good as anything.

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6824278
03/31/20 10:57 AM
03/31/20 10:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,276
Manitoba Canada
M
MB Coonguy Offline
trapper
MB Coonguy  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,276
Manitoba Canada
the Duke holds better for sure-but if you are trapping muskrats I feel the bridger is better( less damage)-guessing the slightly rounded edges on the jaws helps out the bridge on the rats

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6824286
03/31/20 11:03 AM
03/31/20 11:03 AM
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,141
Michigan
D
Ditchdiver Offline
trapper
Ditchdiver  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3,141
Michigan
Duke's 1.5 is their best trap, imo.
As far as 1.5's go, I'm partial to the NO-BS. Get the weaker springs for rats though.


When life gets me down..... you know hunting/trapping season is closed.
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6824336
03/31/20 11:50 AM
03/31/20 11:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 610
Wyoming
T
thedude055 Offline
trapper
thedude055  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 610
Wyoming
When it comes to 1.5 traps there is a lot of love from one side to another. High priced low priced and in between. For the most part they are all fairly good traps. The bridger specials did make better the issue they had and are very good water traps. Personally i use wolf creek 1.5's because of two reasons. One they are cheap (just as cheap if not cheaper than dukes) and two I grew up running Northwoods 1.5's. These are identical setup wise as Glenn uses the same design. I am just comfortable with it. sometimes i feel the springs are a little too strong on the wolf creeks but for the price i deal with that just fine. I had some bridgers a while back and really like the similar to pit style pan setup on one of their 1.5's not for sure which one. It was really nice. I really like those traps but for me personally the 1.5 market is quantity over quality as they all seem to do the bare minimum required which is catch rats and coon.

I have not tried the no-bs or mb-450. Both are made by great companies and both are likely very good traps. For reasons above i will likely not purchase too many as they are pricier than i would ever spend on a 1.5.

I have ran dukes in the past and they are great traps. simple adjust easy and catch animals. Just weird that i prefer square jaws over round. That is just me.

Last edited by thedude055; 03/31/20 11:51 AM.

Owner Wind River Trapping Supplies
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6824390
03/31/20 12:43 PM
03/31/20 12:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,664
Wisconsin
G
Green Bay Offline
trapper
Green Bay  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,664
Wisconsin
Others will chime in but if you are going after rats / mink I would take one dozen of the two dozen Dukes and dedicate them to only rats/mink. Torch the springs, put on Wild River pans, (Hagz bracket, extra chain...) and seriously make a rat catching machine.


Author of The Lure Hunter: A Guide to Finding Fishing Lures
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6824642
03/31/20 05:07 PM
03/31/20 05:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,520
Kentucky
ky_coyote_hunter Offline
trapper
ky_coyote_hunter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,520
Kentucky
Is everyone running double jaw duke 1.5's?....I run the regular jaw dukes with good results.


Member - FTA
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6824735
03/31/20 06:26 PM
03/31/20 06:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Pa
C
coalminer Offline
trapper
coalminer  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,606
Pa
I have both, just like Duke better, the pan tension screw on the Bridger sets down inside the spring some. I like to tinker with Dukes, makes them better.


My heart belongs to my family.
My body belongs to my work.
My soul belongs to the woods.
Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6825002
03/31/20 10:01 PM
03/31/20 10:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 304
Iowa
M
Mitch L Offline
trapper
Mitch L  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 304
Iowa
If I was to start all over again I'd go with 1.5 bridgers all the way. Spent too much time dinking with duke pans.

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6825192
04/01/20 06:40 AM
04/01/20 06:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,444
Wisconsin
Muskrat Offline
trapper
Muskrat  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,444
Wisconsin
The Bridger #1 1/2 Special is indeed a good trap, has none of the issues it had before with the jaws in water, and is built very stout.

That being said, I do like the Duke #1 1/2 for the water line. Replace the stock pan with the WIld River pan, and move that Duke pan to my Bridger #1 coilsprings. The stout Bridger #1 I use in shallow water situations where I've got to slide that critter on a drowner cable a ways before it hits deep enough water to drown. Specifically for 'rats and mink, though it holds 'coon just fine front foot targeted. That's just me and it works for me. A dead/live 'rat or mink exposed in shallow water in this area anyway is going to be fed upon by the time I get back to that set.

The stock Duke #1 1/2 with a Wild River pan.

[Linked Image]

And take that Duke pan and replace the pan on the Bridger #1.

[Linked Image]


Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6825196
04/01/20 06:43 AM
04/01/20 06:43 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
P
pcr2 Offline
"Twerker"
pcr2  Offline
"Twerker"
P

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 28,978
potter co. p.a.
cool









Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6826430
04/01/20 10:33 PM
04/01/20 10:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,804
Waldo, OH
H
hogwild Offline
trapper
hogwild  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,804
Waldo, OH
Duke 1.5 double jaws are my preferred trap. I replace the pan with wild river pans, cut the chain and use stainless steel cable, bend the jaw tips up a little so they do not pop out tweak the levers. Makes a nice mink and coon trap.

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6826431
04/01/20 10:33 PM
04/01/20 10:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,448
Colesburg, Iowa 52035
M
MINK I LOVE Offline
trapper
MINK I LOVE  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,448
Colesburg, Iowa 52035
Muskrat is right on and from what I have learned from his post would be he leads I follow. I respect folks with experience willing to help others. Even at 54 years old I still do.

I have Wild River pans on all my Duke #1.5's and my Victor #2 Square Jaws. I set my pan slightly above the jaws with a hair trigger and almost always have a high shoulder catch

Duke #1.5's have held up for years without changing springs.

Good Pics Muskrat and Thank You for sharing!

Re: Bridger 1.5 special and Duke 1.5 [Re: washxc] #6826686
04/02/20 08:14 AM
04/02/20 08:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 362
NW PA
W
washxc Offline OP
trapper
washxc  Offline OP
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 362
NW PA
Awesome advice. I really appreciate it. Love the T-man forums and the willingness of more experienced trappers to share their knowledge!

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