By far my favorite trap. I, however, have only ever purchased them used.

I was hoping to make some of my own. Any suggestions of what works best for you would be appreciated. Parts list. Photos explaining.

Thank you guys!

Far and away the best bottom edge BG setup in my experienced opinion is a “spiked” one as you can see in my attached video. I’ve used this setup for 30 years and IMHO, a proven winner! As a couple of tips because I can’t remember if I mentioned them in the video but use rerod and a 1/4” bolt. Also do not use smooth rod or threaded rod. Once I locate a BE set location I could make the set in 5 seconds, actually timed by the MSU students that accompanied me. When I finished the MSU mink project I tried to buy all of the spiked 110’s that I’d made for the project but the professor refuse saying that he’d make sure any trappers they hired on future projects would be using them. Made him a believer by golly!!
https://youtu.be/1jEOoCZOV0k?si=03ywRrOpcVZzemVJ

A double from the two outside corners of a beaver bank den.

If I have to deal with rock banks, concrete walls, or setting BEs under ice I use “plated” bg’s. Even ice-covered 4’ deep water wasn’t a problem setting plated-bgs.
https://youtu.be/HP3jwWqlbWo?si=MF37uTjARl7A7WN4

Conibearguy, thanks for thread.

Seldom, i agree SPIKING/STAKING is the best. Here in my part of state there are many rocky streams that require the different stabilizing as you suggest.
Red bricks with holes are a favorite for me with 110 & 120's. I can leave the bricks near location year after year

What's the difference to you on a bolt vs threaded rod other than the rod tends to be softer and bends and the bolts have heads?

In my bank soil which has a clay consistency, the rerod seats itself more solidly. The threaded rod and smooth rod seemed to not be as solid and would slip out and I’m picky about things that don’t have the “right feel” to them. What slips in easy, moves and comes out even easier IMHO.

I should apologize using these photos so often to illustrate points but in my defense, I’ve only got so many! LOL

Seldom. Not to worry no one here is taking you before the Supreme Court.. lol

I can get by with a stake half that size in my area. Im not trying to hold the animal, just stabilize the trap. Too many chances of finding a rock in the way. I wire to grass or a root for that andI never worried about catching the corner of the jaws with the outer stake either, it seemed to do fine straight down. Usually I just prop a rock on the spring That said, I only have a couple dozen that way, I got them in a buy-out years ago.

The length of the rerod for me means little, just a second point of stabilization. Since I trap water that doesn’t have any otters I never wire the trap at all (I hate using wire) and I never had a problem with the stabilizing stake getting caught in the trap because it’s impossible for it to happen if the trapper places the stake between the set jaws!! Everyone’s water is different and in my case, there are no rocks so I use the horizontal bank stake with great results. I make a catch be it a mink or rat, nothing moves, trap with the catch is exactly where I placed it!

I meant stabilizing the corners of the jaws, not catching the corners as the traps sets off. Like you, otters are a rarity, the only reason for the wire is the torrential flooding we get just as I make about 150 BE sets.