I bought a dozen and started using the WCS 7.5 this year and been using them on drowners they have the night latch paws-I-trip pan.. I have had several pullouts where the trap is slid half way down or all the way down to the bottom of the cable… what is going on? I have tried to offset the trap from castor mound and sent I tried different depths of trap from 2” to 6”… I tried with steep drop off and tried to gradual drop off so beaver walks to traps… I’m so confused please help

Are you making a jdepression to place the trap in, or are you just placing it on the bottom? When you place the trap, what position is the dog in relation to the bank?

I am taking my heel of my boot and forcing a pocket for the traps to sit… I usually run the trap to the side “either left or right “ and the dogs are to the left if the trap is on the left side and the dog on the right side when I position the trap offset to the right… I run the jaws left and right and the spring levers towards the castor mound and the other away from it

I like to have the top of my trap at least 2 inches below the surface of the bottom. The beaver needs to step down to contact it. Your trap position with the dog to the left or right is how I do it.

Way Paul says it is definitely the way to go, especially for shallow water sets targeting the front foot. Prevents belly fires and it buries the shoulder into the trap vs risking wristing the foot.

Are you setting trap so they step over the jaw or between the jaws. Set your trap so they approach and step between the jaws. I started turning them that way haven't had much trouble since doing that.

Sounds like they're hitting the trap with their chest

It happened again this morning 2 WCS 7.5 snapped and half dragged down the drowned?!?! Red star is castor.. i have no clue why I connect but have so many pull outs

That’s what I am thinking?! But it’s shallow for 2 feet in front of the trap shouldn’t they be walking? I dug a pocket out for the trap to sit 2 inches below water line? I offset the trap as close to the left and right side that I can… Should I shift the trap to the side more? Should I set the trap farther out away from the castor mound? I set the trap so the beaver has to step over the levers to hit the pan!

You should buy dobbins beaver and otter trapping book.

I had one last year that did that. I finally put out a snare and had him the next morning.

Paul’s one post said to have the trap 2” below the ground level under water. So they step down into the trap…..not 2” below water level.

Pan tension? I've eliminated most of that with heavier tension on my bridgers. I do like Paul's advice on bedding the trap deeper though, definitely gonna try that myself!

That right there is some of the best advice a beaver trapper can be gifted with! Plain and simple, it works.

I like making a little "ledge" and then seat my trap in a hole. The beaver swims up, feels the ledge, thinking it can drop its front feet. When it drops the beaver does down with all of its weight into the trap. Attention to detail and never compromise the basics, that's stacks fur.

This!
I purchased some of the WCS 7.5s last spring and all had pan tensions of 2.5#. I had a heck of a time getting the tension up 2 lousy lbs and holding it there!! I complained to WCS that they had a design flaw but fell on deaf ears!
Also, with the pan latched in set position, all of mine still had the end of the pan sticking up above the jaws when purchased so they needed to have the pans adjusted to lay flat when set.

Very possibly Paul’s hole for the trap to sit down in would negate the lack of pan tension.

I’ve got a bowl smashed out for the foothold to sit in but maybe I should make it deeper? What should I have pan tension at for beaver? I’ll check that out also..

What pound tension are you running?

The poundage it came stock… about 4lbs average

I wouldn't guarantee walking up to the set unless the water is an inch or so deep. I would prefer even less over the trap when setting for the front foot.

I poke a stick into the bank behind the trap for them to hit with their chest, usually the end of the stick should be a few inches from the rear most part of the trap (closest the bank). That way, they swim up to your set, get poked by a stick, and drop their feet onto your trap