Lately I've been leaning more towards my belisle 280's vs my belisle 330's. My 330's are reserved for my floats. I run alot of floats. Castor mounds usually get a 280. My channel sets get a 330. So, no one trap does all. But 280's seem to fit the trails and pullout easier in my area.
Easier to carry and set. Plus im covered up in otter here. They also seems to dispatch quicker.
So, what is your preference?

Sarge

I dont have enough knowledge from personal experience to have an opinion however I watch a guy who traps in Southern Missouri on YouTube (ozark mountain lures is his channel) and he says he prefers the 330 hes trapping lots of otter in creeks most folks could cross in 1 or 2 steps maybe 3 its a wide spot. Ive never heard him give a reason other than he likes a 330 better but he seems to catch a lot of otter in bottom edge sets.

I run both but have less refusals from beavers with the bigger opening of the 330. I rarely have nice little slots that 280's fit in.

Not to mention that a lot of our beaver are darn near too big to sit in a #280!

I think both have their advantages. If I'm in places that have otter with narrower channels and places for bottom edge, I prefer the 280. If I'm in a bigger water system like a large creek, swamp, flooding, etc I prefer to use a 330 most often. If I'm making castor mounds, depends on the location on which trap I grab. If I'm trapping deep runs, its the 330 on a tall H stand.

330 Belisle's
660modded Belisle's
280 Belisle's

Kind of in that order... I have tall itch stands for the 3
330s and the 660s. the two eighties usually are used on crossovers and tight areas where they fit.

I don't have a problem using bliles with any of them for killing power

I like 330s best. I think beaver will go through them with the larger opening better. I like the 280 for otter, though.

The 280 is a haahd hitting trap. When setting crossovahs for otter...that is the

#1 trap

They both have their place. That's way I run 50/50 on them. Wished I could find someone to make me a couple Belisle 660's.
I've had some some beaver think they can fit through a 280. I once caught a 72 pound female in a 330 Belisle and I stood there thinking, how did she think she was going through that. Caught right behind the skull. Lights out.
This year im overran with otter. Not really complaining. We don't have any limits on them. Like to have them tanned sell that way.

Sarge