True

I've got a duke #5 I'm a big guy 6'2" and weight about 350 the springs just bounce me up and down only way I can get it set is to bounce and try to break the jaws over at the right time then set it not my favorite trap for this reason only.

Wax it...much easier to set then.

Last I checked they weren't legal for Illinois, even fully submerged. They have rough burrs on them, and they're too much for me to set by hand.

That being said, I still like them for the fact they're PIT and the biggest commercially available long springs, so they're beaver machines.

I just can’t imagine waxing a water trap let alone a #5…I like my fingers too much I guess. I speed dip mine. I agree they are stout…I’m not a small guy by weight and I definitely don’t consider myself strong…but if they are empty, I set mine over my knee. I only have to step on the springs to remove the catch.

I just checked the regs and they are fine for Illinois. 7.5 “ jaw spread and smooth jaws.

I will give that a shot i have some bridger #4s that are ridiculously hard to set as well.

ADC, the video says "this video is unavailable"

Does it work now?

Yep!

Good deal, that is Matt Duncan. He made that for me to use a demo on setting them.

I received the replacement springs in the mail today…great service!

I was thinking they were 8" inside. My bad.

Got my first Duke #5 yesterday, it won’t be my last. I have a few SC 4.5 that I will keep using, wish I had more but that Duke is pretty awesome.

Thanks for this thread and all the information.