For dry trail or slide trapping…trigger wires up or down? Preferred trigger shape?

Do you like them slightly elevated?

I use 220 belisles and 12" twiste galvanized Spikes - pounded in between SET spring loops
trigger on the bottom; wood pan.

blocked down to be the only opening.

I like the belisles as well. Not elevated, triggers either L shaped or a spread out U.

Wood pan triggers on bottom

Two traps in cattail "Trail"

Not trapped otter for years but a 220 on a slide with the trigger on the bottom was my go to set. I’d set it on a couple sticks to keep it from freezing down.

280 is my otter trap of choice

160 is legal out of water here

In NY even got them in 160 set like in the photo above. I set for mink that way and an otter decided to try to get through.......jk

I prefer my trigger wires held together as a Post with a double ferrule.

But straight up and down

My ferrule would be at the bottom of the wire.

Yup...that's my beaver set up

Why do you like the wires together? To move to the side and make the appearance of a bigger opening?

For trail or slide otter sets, trigger wire up in a V form with no trap elevation.

Circle triggers on all 280s and 220s.

if I didn't use wood pans my triggers would be a " L " shape on the bottom all the way to the side with otter trail sets

I’ve used that exact configuration in an attempt to catch gray fox.

It makes a nice inviting opening and with the right trap (and some can be waxed) the trigger will fire with side pressure too.

Wires fastened in a Post are far more durable. More sensitive as well as their is no give when pressure is applied. Plus in my experience Otters worth the knife work don’t slip through a 220 with a post trigger moved to the side.

My beaver body grips are similar. Post trigger and ferrule with trigger wires clipped at hinge point or slightly higher.