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Long chains #6928443
07/12/20 11:52 PM
07/12/20 11:52 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
G
Gone Trappin. Offline OP
trapper
Gone Trappin.  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
How does super long chains on muskrat and mink traps like 3-12’ help drown in shallow water? And why do you use the long chains?

Re: Long chains [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6928458
07/13/20 12:25 AM
07/13/20 12:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,238
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Offline
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,238
The Hill Country of Texas
It has been a while since I read them but I know there are several good threads on this topic in the water trapping archives.
They are a great resource


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Long chains [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6928462
07/13/20 12:33 AM
07/13/20 12:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
chas3457 Offline
trapper
chas3457  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
Longer chains let you stake the trap out in deeper water so the weight of the trap can hold them under water. smile




Charlie


Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

NRA Life Member ~ GOA Member ~ NFOA Member ~ UNMLA Member
Re: Long chains [Re: chas3457] #6928527
07/13/20 07:45 AM
07/13/20 07:45 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
R
ratbrain Offline
trapper
ratbrain  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
Originally Posted by chas3457
Longer chains let you stake the trap out in deeper water so the weight of the trap can hold them under water. smile




Charlie

This! And don't forget the swivels!!!

Re: Long chains [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6928529
07/13/20 07:47 AM
07/13/20 07:47 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
R
ratbrain Offline
trapper
ratbrain  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,238
Illinois
My longer chains are not 3'-12', maybe 2' . I would have to measure. Add the swivels and I do not have any losses.

Re: Long chains [Re: ratbrain] #6928563
07/13/20 08:36 AM
07/13/20 08:36 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
G
Gone Trappin. Offline OP
trapper
Gone Trappin.  Offline OP
trapper
G

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
Should I put long chains on all my rat traps? And will a #1 ls be heavy enough to hold a muskrat under water

Re: Long chains [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6928575
07/13/20 09:02 AM
07/13/20 09:02 AM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
Buy a roll of 18 gauge rebar tie wire. A lot cheaper than chain and you can easily adjust to the length you need at the set. I, generally, use two strands of wire. That stuff is super flexible and takes a lot to break it.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Long chains [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6928576
07/13/20 09:04 AM
07/13/20 09:04 AM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
Originally Posted by Mason Mayer
Should I put long chains on all my rat traps? And will a #1 ls be heavy enough to hold a muskrat under water

Do yourself a favor and get some #1.5 coilsprings for rats and mink. Much better rat/mink traps IMO.


"The voice of reason!"
Re: Long chains [Re: Gone Trappin.] #6928580
07/13/20 09:09 AM
07/13/20 09:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,755
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,755
Central, SD
Add a railroad spike to the #1 traps if you need more weight.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Long chains [Re: trapperkeck] #6928639
07/13/20 10:16 AM
07/13/20 10:16 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
K
K52 Offline
trapper
K52  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
Originally Posted by trapperkeck
Buy a roll of 18 gauge rebar tie wire. A lot cheaper than chain and you can easily adjust to the length you need at the set. I, generally, use two strands of wire. That stuff is super flexible and takes a lot to break it.


Do you have otter? I don't think that would end well with otters. We have them everywhere here so chain and swivels is what works for us.

Re: Long chains [Re: K52] #6928660
07/13/20 11:05 AM
07/13/20 11:05 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
N
nightlife Offline
trapper
nightlife  Offline
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N

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
Originally Posted by K52
Originally Posted by trapperkeck
Buy a roll of 18 gauge rebar tie wire. A lot cheaper than chain and you can easily adjust to the length you need at the set. I, generally, use two strands of wire. That stuff is super flexible and takes a lot to break it.


Do you have otter? I don't think that would end well with otters. We have them everywhere here so chain and swivels is what works for us.



The same here, even a good size coon can do a number on wire, I gave up on it years ago except to wire the trap chain to a wood stake when I use one for some reason



�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.�
― Robert A. Heinlein
Re: Long chains [Re: nightlife] #6928691
07/13/20 12:21 PM
07/13/20 12:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,293
East-Central Wisconsin
B
bblwi Offline
trapper
bblwi  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,293
East-Central Wisconsin
What is the definition of "long" I have been all over the board on this. My first rat rigs were mostly 1.5 long springs and 1.5 coils that I added about 3 foot of chain to. That is too much as the rats and coons could move quite far.
Today I have almost all 1 stoploss and add a double loop 9 inch cable with a slip loop to the existing chain, probably 2-2.5 foot total which works well. I don't use any wire and can tighten the cable loop to my stake with no wire or ties. When trapping through the ice in pushups I take the cable extenders off as I don't want rats getting that far from the pushup and freezing in the ice or wrapping around more cattails.

Bryce

Re: Long chains [Re: K52] #6928843
07/13/20 04:07 PM
07/13/20 04:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
Originally Posted by K52
Originally Posted by trapperkeck
Buy a roll of 18 gauge rebar tie wire. A lot cheaper than chain and you can easily adjust to the length you need at the set. I, generally, use two strands of wire. That stuff is super flexible and takes a lot to break it.


Do you have otter? I don't think that would end well with otters. We have them everywhere here so chain and swivels is what works for us.

While otters and coon are not the target species, I had no trouble holding either species. I did have a few pull the stakes and tangle up nearby. I was running 200 traps on marsh/Missouri River. Again, I am setting fast and frequent, primarily on rat huts and feed beds. If I had been running sets that would have a higher percentage of non-targets like otter or coon, yeah, I would manage things differently. The key to holding non-targets at rat/mink sets with wire is to not allow that animal access to land where it can tangle the chain or wire on something solid and pull out or cause harm to itself. I have taken thousands of rats and hundreds of mink this way, not to mention quite a few coon and 3 otters that were released, unharmed. It is the ONLY time I use wire to secure traps. Never on land or for target species larger than mink.


"The voice of reason!"
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