What size pipe works best 1 1/4" , 1 1/2" , 2" ? Or does it even matter ? -Thanks

All of mine are 3/4 and 1"

So smaller is better ?

I use 1-1/4

Zaggers set calls for 1”. I like that best because it’s not too tricky to get bait into, isn’t a pain to carry around a bunch of them, and is about the size of a mouse hole. Make sure to use gray electrical conduit, it’s more durable and won’t shatter when you hit it in cold weather.

X2

I started with 3/4th inch only because that's what I had.....I used it solely for a number of years and then tried some one-inch inside diameter and like it better for ONE main reason: I use an icing spreader to apply baits and lures and the one-inch size allows my applicator to go down into the hole!

If you use a butter knife in the same fashion, perhaps 3/4th will work just fine.

Don't forget: you want them to get a taste of it so there's always a little on the top rim of the pipe.....but then with the smaller diameters, they simply cannot get at it and go round and round attempting to, and you should have them, assuming trap is operative.

Therefore, I'd not want to go much bigger than one inch.....I don't want to make it easy to get to the bottom....

Also, if you consider hammer heads hitting the top of the pipe to drive it in, you have LESS chance of cracking or breaking if every blow hits the entire 360 degrees of the top of the pipe. If you hit it at 180 degrees you increase the odds of breaking that side. Make sense?

MZ

I made a plug to go inside of the top of my pipe to hit onto to drive the pipe into the ground so I do not break the top of my pipe when I'm hammering it into the ground.

Caught yotes on 1/2” - 1 1/2”. Hide it in the grass and fill it with stink. Good to go.

Not a bad idea but I have heard several guys say to "wear eye protection" when driving pipes......and I just don't see the need. I'd say I've driven in as many as anyone, hard ground, rocking ground, frozen ground.....and I break 1-2 a year........I must be lucky.

That said, if I know me, I'd have you make me a plug like you mention and I'd lose it on Day One!

Whatever works for you is right!

MZ

Zag. Paint the plug orange. lol I use the gray pipe no problem. Admittedly hardly any rock, much heavy clay.

The ground here is rocky as can be. I have never had a gray conduit break while bashing it into the ground. Dent, bend a little, yes, but have never had one shatter. I have impact resistant glasses I wear all the time anyway so I don't worry about it.

I’ve never had the schedule 40 conduit shatter and we can have clay like cement. I’ve beveled the ends on them and they’re a pain in the butt to reuse after several catches (they’ll chew the heck outa them), but still none have broke or shattered. Some of mine don’t even need anything in them I’ve used them for so long, lol. They all go in a separate bucket.
I switched to 1” last year for the aforementioned bait application, it’s just much easier.