I'm looking for the best foothold fisher trap to use in PA since the bobcat season and fisher season run concurrently. I'd hate to miss a bobcat that visits a fisher set so I'm looking for the best trap that would work in this situation. I read Ralph Scherder's & Ritch Faler's book, Fisher Trapping-Pennsylvania Foothold Methods and they recommend Victor #2 round jaws or Bridger #2 Dogless. I was almost sold on the Bridger #2 Dogless, but am now thinking about MB 550's. I'm also thinking about closed jaws instead of offset jaws and wonder whether 4 coiling would be necessary. What do you guys think? Thanks

Target the cats, any trap that will hold the cat will hold the fisher. I caught a bunch in 1.5 soft catch cs..

We don’t have fisher here, but do have bobcats. I catch cats as well as otters in Duke and mb550 offsets. Have yet to have anything pull out of one. They also hold packrats, so I’d imagine they’d be good for fisher.

I trap State Forest. The “soil” is mostly compost with roots and always rocks. Up on the mountain, you can find dirt, but always rocks. As a result, I carry my dirt in. Therefore, I use 1.5s where I feel theft could be an issue. I mostly use a good number of 1.75s. I will use bridger 2s in locations if I feel there is a good chance of a coyote catch. I like to catch any critter that visits. That means grey fox up to and including coyote
Any of your trap choices will work. That’s a great book. Best of luck to ya

I like the Bridger 1.75 o/s 4 coiled for fisher and they have even held large coyotes.
I seem to be overrun with fisher in the area I trap but cats are scarce

We've caught cats in 1.5s, but the toms have big paws and a toe catch isn't ideal. I like the bridger 1.75, have caught cats in them and several fisher...but a 550 would probably be fine. Fisher do a lot of twisting and will chew at times. Lots of swivels is a good idea.

Closed jaws or offset jaws? Two coil or 4 coil?

I've caught Bobcats, coyotes, and fisher in the MB450 closed jaw if you were looking for a little smaller traps. The MB 550 has worked good also but is probably overkill if just targeting fisher.

Thanks Guys - I appreciate your input. Please keep it coming.

Closed jaws or offset jaws? Two coil or 4 coil?

I don’t think it really matters.
My personal preference is closed jaws. I do use some 1.75 SC that are offset. My bridger 2s are half offset
All my traps are 2 coil.

MB550 closed jaw. Feet are slender on fisher.
2 coil, unless bedded in dirt under ice/snow then maybe 4, but probably still overkill.
IMO

I have caught both fisher and cats in MB550's and Bridger #2 laminated coil springs. Both close jawed traps. Sets were for cats but fisher cannot resist.

What traps do you have now? Maybe you have Fisher/Bobcat traps.
#2 size trap will hold Pa.'s land furbearers.

Fisher feet are like baseball gloves (look below), Bridger #2 on left paw-


Bridger #2, released unharmed-

Nice pics Hern!

I've only caught a handful, so no expert compared to many on here, but, The ones I've caught in footholds (cats and fisher) have been in MB550 (closed jaw) and Northwoods 1.75 SJ

Both did great

Here in MI, we only get like 9 days for marten/fisher and it runs the same time as cats, so I try to make every set work for all 3.

450 or 550 coilspring

Thanks Hern,
for the info and awesome pictures. Last year I used a few Victor 1.75 round jaws that I laminated and four coiled years ago. I also have a half dozed 40 year old #2 Northwoods that I fixed up since I retired. Now that I may have some time to trap again I'd like to try for bobcat and fisher. Early this spring I bought 3 MB-450's thinking they would be perfect fisher traps, (and I think they are), but the more I think about the possibility of having a bobcat visit a fisher set I'm thinking MB-550's would be better.

Thanks Everyone,
Keep me posted