2 vs 3 water traps Mostly #2 and #11 long springs I've already replaced the chain to #2 machine chain just trying to get opinions. Water trapping where otters are a possibility will all be on drowning cables.

My take ...on the double long springs at least three. Critters have a tendency to roll and wrap the chain across the frame and jaws of there trap....otter especially.

Yeah I thought that after I got done but didn't have the swivel at the time ive already got some on the way

When you say 3, is that 3 swivels. or 3 swivel areas. I look at it as one at the trap with the J hook, 2 swiveling point in mid chain swivel, then one at the stake. That would be 4 swivel points. or are you saying you add 3 swivels not counting the J hook at the trap or at the J hook at the stake area? I do agree the more swivels the better. Especially with otters and long springs with a chain clevis.

I don't replace stock chain, but I do add another swivel in about the middle of the stock chain.

When I say 3 I mean just hook at the trap a point mid chain and one at the end of the chain

VictorD I like the way you think....and yes that is what I was describing. I like a longer chain for my water trapping. Back in the late '80s -90s when coyotes showed up I
was using #3 and #4 dbls traps and 5 ft plus chain....with a single long stake. I saw a lot of the chain wrapping issues....multiple swivels solved a lot of issues.

If it's on a drowner, it doesn't really matter. You want it to swivel, but they are going to be expired in a couple of minutes. I wouldn't want long enough chain on a drowning rig to put 3 swivels in, myself. Unless I was hooking swivels directly together without any chain links in between. MChewk has a point, otter has horrible rollers and twisters, but I use long springs and chain short enough they can't wrap it around anything. Frankly, my beaver and otter traps only have one to two swivel points, one where the chain is attached to the trap, and possibly one where the drowning lock is attached to the chain.

I'm running 10 links of #2 machine chain my few bigger beaver traps are all coil springs. I'm targeting mink muskrat and coons mostly but like I've mentioned we have an otter population so better safe than sorry

On traps for beaver and otter I have a swivel point at the base. On jump traps that's the factory original point, then not more than 12 inches of chain, then a swivel that serves as a drowning lock. It will be on the drowner cable already and I just need to pinch the rivet closed on the end of the chain. Either at the set or often times I'll make up a bunch with the cables prior to setting traps out. On long springs and coil springs I base plate them if they are not already and use a swivel at the D ring and again, not more than a foot of chain and a swivel/drowner lock.

Mink and muskrat I use them as they come from the factory.