Picked up this idea on here from someone, sorry can't remember who. But I liked it and just got around to trying it. Put an MB 550 set face down on a 3/4 piece of plywood and trace inside the jaws. Then cut out and sand the plug and die you created. Trace the inside of the die onto some cardboard for a pattern and add some to the pattern on the corners. Lay over hole and press plug down with hand to form cover. Bend corners of cover with fingers so it fits inside jaw. You can cut a notch for the dog if you want. Put a rubber band from spring to spring to hold the screen flat on the pan and keep it from blowing or getting knocked off. Should be perfect for pipe dream style of bedding.

rpmartin was the one who originated the idea.

Great idea rpmartin, thank you!!

Flipper 56, steel screen? I used aluminum screen, does it matter? They do seem enough rigid to hold up support grass clippings?

If I lived in IN, I'd use poly so I'd be able to pack the dirt firmly inside and outside the jaws = takes the rain better = more critters caught.

Used steel last year, have not tried aluminum. I am sure it would work.




Mark, I kind of like 1/2 inch thick yellow pipe insulation cut to the size of the pan and placed under it. Rodents don't try and make a nest with it for some reason. It is the same concept as poly fill.

I had real good luck with the bedding method used in the pipe dream set in wet weather in a pipe set or a dirt hole. Water ran right through the grass and screen and down the hole where the chain was. You know way more about it than me, was just playing around with it last year and had fun.

I do like the tabs folded down by using a little oversized screen and putting them through the die. It indexes the pan cover so it dosen't blow off or slip around at all.

Thanks, I'll have to make a couple of practice sets to be sure?


Just in case, where did you get steel screen material?

I ordered it from No BS Lures and I used the 6x6 precut screens.

Yep, you'll have coon issues with that. More flexible aluminum works okay but it's best tucked under the jaws to lock it in place. Polly is best tho..

Your very welcome.




I normally cut my screen a little bigger to get that bend next to the jaws so it has more rigidity next to the jaws. Imo that really makes it lock in place and I didn't really care for the screen only inside the jaws. Imo if an animal steps halfway on the jaw and the screen it could tip an animal off if the screen moves too much or even worse could lead to a toe catch or a complete miss. With the way the screen gets shaped my way plus the right amount of pan tension the trap won't fire until the paw is inside the jaws far enough to make a good consistent catch.

With that said there are a lot of good trappers that use both ways that are mentioned above. I think a person should try different ways to find out what works best for you on your line. Best of luck and most of all have fun doing it.

Cool, thanks!