I was looking through and old trapping book which showed some pictures of a new house long spring with a piece of metal sticking up from one of the springs the though process was you put that on the deeper end of the water and when the beavers belly hits it he thinks its land and puts out his front legs and landing his foot in the trap if you place it correctly. My question is can you use a coil spring and put a dead stick in front of the spring lever, so it does the same thing?

Or is there a different name for that style.

That is in Paul’s dvd Beaver Sites and Sets. They are called breasting sticks.
Didn’t ya ask a loved one for that dvd for Christmas?
You could always ask for it for upcoming Easter or birthday gift.

Might have to try that out when I trap one river soon.

Dead sticks put next to the jaw closest to the water do the same thing.

....Sticks on the deep water side.

Yep