They aren't. Probably 3 to 4 inches deep depending on size of the mink before they start swimming.

I've caught mink with the trap 5 inches or so under the water. I don't start there but small water rises or much higher receding water has put the trap under that much or more sometimes when I find a drowned mink in the set. Obviously in the lesser rains the mink could have been caught before the water rose but when the empty trap is under a foot or so of water one day and has a drowned mink in the set the next day it opens your eyes. Usually when resetting, the trap it is still 4 to 6 inches under water when I'm done. I always figured the mink just recently got caught and have been surprised at the depth they had to have been caught at.

Yep, someone stated mink swimming in an inch or two previously. Its a chore guessing the water depths with our fall rains. My best year was a year (I forget) that had very minimal rain fluctuation.

The high pan is is because once it starts falling its game over. P.S. you dont need a bigger pan, just a smaller pocket...

That bigger floppy pan is trippier, less pan tension

Couple things on that night latch, one obviously for setting at night. Two more control of pan throw. Three more room for error and extends the life of the pan. If you shortnotch and go too far you will need a new pan or do some welding.

Having the own above gives them a landing spot that they can see if the pan sticks out of the water a bit and for the swimmers on top edge sets. When you do have coon get caught the higher pan plus short throw helps get more of a pad catch instead of a buried one so chewing isn't as bad , especially if you add double jaws