I am adding additional chain on all my 1.5s. I exclusively use my 1.5s for water sets. I was wondering how long would be ideal for muskrat/mink drowning? I was thinking 2 feet extra. But maybe I need more.

I have 3' of overall chain on my water traps which takes muskrats to the bottom. Some of it is snow chain from a car which is really heavy.

Brian

Are you just going to stake In deep water or are you going to run some type of drowning rod or cable?

Some times that extra chain hinders the rat or mink from getting out to deeper water because of the extra weight.

I also like 3' of chain on my 1.5 coils that I use for muskrat and mink.

For the most part a small critter like a rat may not be able to even move a 1 1/2 coil spring out In to deeper water no matter how much chain you have on the trap.
That's why I use a 1.75 sized trap. It gets a high hold on a rat and then It doesn't make any difference what depth the water Is or how much chain you use.
If I add any thing to my traps It would be cable. It's lighter and cheaper.

What is the application you all are talking about for the added chains? I am thinking pocket sets maybe on the shoreline? My rat line usually runs a bit different. trap on hagz or sudden valley on fencepost every critter drowns. coils spring Trap wise that is what I currently do. I have tried pocket sets for rats and personally have not had any success with them. I dont add chain to mine at all right now. I am interested in learning more though as trapping rats for me is about as fun as it gets.

Just stake

If I'm setting a trap against a bank, such as a 'traditional' pocket set, I would attach a long piece of 3/32nd cable on a Wolf Fang shoved right in the bank horizontally and let the animal swing out into the current. On a rat or mink, most of them will be drown, but a few (may be) sitting on the back, as will be a few 'coon.

4' long enough ?

Are any otter around?

Not alot around here. Some have been spotted. I don't even have them in mind when making any water sets