I hear about big traps needed for bobcats. Also head that long cables or chain will increase pullouts. Just add Mike Kelly’s expanded pans to your traps, and keep them exposed, and you can catch big cats in small traps and not get any pullout. This is a Tom in a Bridger #1.65 with mike Kelly’s 1.75 replaceable mink and muskrat trap pan. Don’t think this guy had any chance of pulling out!

Good deep catch not to mention that's some sweet trap setting on your behalf.
Have you upgraded those coils on that trap or is it stock standard, also maybe wouldn't hurt to notch that pan out with a grinder.

They are stock springs. I was worried about the way the levers hit the pan, but have since seen how much fur a cat is able to fit in there. My biggest issue with most expanded pans on coil spring traps has been those notches. For buried traps, those notches are fine, but for exposed trap sets, we are trying to make a very inviting spot for the cat to stand on. To me the notches give the pan a more unstable look than a solid pan. Now of course thats to my eyes, so cats might not care. I worry that by grinding the edges, the pan will lose its inviting look because its now narrower than the paw especially on these smaller traps.

I hear about big traps needed for bobcats. Also head that long cables or chain will increase pullouts. Just add Mike Kelly’s expanded pans to your traps, and keep them exposed, and you can catch big cats in small traps and not get any pullout. This is a Tom in a Bridger #1.65 with mike Kelly’s 1.75 replaceable mink and muskrat trap pan. Don’t think this guy had any chance of pulling out!

I'll bet there are more1.65/1.75 set for cats than 3's. in the west!

How often do you use traps that small? Thought i heard you talk of this before for long walks and considering trading the 3s for smaller. I have some long walks of my own. Ughh..

Ive held them in #11s and #2 longs too. They aren't hard to hold just have to have traps functioning and some pan tension for good deep catches.
Thanks for sharing!
Jim

When I was growing up back in the 90's. All the traps I had was mostly 1.5 Northwoods and few Victor #3 jump traps. I caught a bunch of cats in that 1.5 . I put #2 music springs on a 1.5 frame. Made the trap little stronger. That's all I had. Not the idea cat trap. But they work at the time..
I would cut a oak or hickory small tree. And wire my trap to make a drag out of it.

46” Tom in a Bridger 1.65 with Mike Kelly’s 1-3/4 replaceable pan.

Got another one today.