I have not trapped much beaver the few I caught were in footholds.I know that 330 are primo for Beaver. Are the 280s sufficient enough for beaver. I have picked up a place that has plenty beaver and I need to get a few conibears .

280s will work,so will 220s from time to time,I’ve done it.

280s will clamp 'em, but will get more refusals than 330s.

Swamp what are your go to on the beaver line besides 330s

280s will work fine.

Footholds are by far the most effective. They catch non-spooky & spooky beaver equally. Set 'em blind at small dam breaks, natural castor mounds, and at fresh crawlouts/crossovers.

When no part of the traps is exposed above the water for the beavers to see you will always be ahead in the game.

A 330 can be completely submerged but the location may limit that.

I use 280s when I run out of 330s and they work good. I try to find places where they fit nicely anyway and I don't have to block off the sides, that the beaver are using anyway.

280's will work but if you have to buy traps by the 330's.

I caught a 55 pounder in a dry 220 on a crossover once. I was surprised it even tried to go through. With NWCO permit we are allowed to use 280 on dry land, but I typically just use snares on dry land for beaver rather than BGs.
But most importantly is what Swamp Wolf said. I do year round beaver work, and footholds and snares account for the most (by far) of my beaver. If I were fur trapping I would probably use more BG’s because I would not mind leaving some. But I assume they are educated by the time they call me and agree to pay $ to get rid of them (unless I am sure they are not…) and in the world of edumacated tail slappers, blind footholds are where the buck-tooth stops.

Good post and I agree with what has been said about the foothold trap being the superior overall tool for beaver trapping.
lossanarrow, have you done any more with your new smaller culvert "magnabed"...you designed? I have been playing with it a bit
I like it. Hope the season's going well ...even with this COLD.

I have not made any changes to it, but I am not offering it to the public yet. I have several out with experienced trappers for testing and improvement suggestions, and that feedback is coming in now that season has progressed along. So far reports have been positive from those testing it, so hopefully I have something ready for public release by convention season this year.