|
|
Post by mattjones298 on Jul 27, 2004 13:38:52 GMT -6
sam colt made all men equal.
i think desposable stakes made all trappers equal. here`s why
up untill about 6 years ago i ran all double stake rigs with 18 inch 1/2 inch rerod stakes. i had some longer for soft spots and some shorter for frozen ground but 18 inches was the norm.
before desposable stakes, most coyote trappers that gave me any kind of competition, ran the same setup.
we trap public ground part of the time all season. some of this ground has an opening and closing date that is not the same as state wide regs, so everyone pounds in the same day. the guy with the most sets pounded in catches the most coyotes, that is a fact.
most guys aint superman and only have so many double stake rigs that they are able to pound in a day
i`m about a 35 double stake rigs a day man, 40 on a good day, no more
with the desposable stakes, i can get 45 or better sets out in a day, with less wear and tear on my elbow and back. also after checking a line most of the day i still have time to pound in new sets while worn slap out.
desposable stakes are just that for me, desposable, i cut my trap off the stake and move on. with this system i can pull 100 coyote sets in one day, not be hurting, and not miss any skinning and be ready to go not tired the next day.
well thats how they make me money in my area as we have to hit and run to make a good season catch. i dont look at a coyote trap over 10 days ever, as i learned long ago that i`m way better off to move to new coyotes. i know some dont have that kind of ground, and dont like public ground as the coyote population is better in farm country, but even in low coyote numbers, we do well all scattered out on public ground covering a bigger area on a 24 hour check.
matt
|
|
|
|
Post by thebeav2 on Jul 27, 2004 13:44:43 GMT -6
Just say NO to Re bar.
Been using disposibles for about 8 years don't find to many spots where they won't work. And yes I also cut and run. The only thing I have to buy Is the cable and the stops. The rest Is free.
Beav
|
|
|
|
Post by mattjones298 on Jul 27, 2004 13:51:22 GMT -6
i know ya cut and run gary, you trap all over hells creation worse then me. we might be skinning coyotes today and tomorrow 300 miles away be sticking in 330`s for (big mink)... why the heck do we do it?
i know why, we can`t stand not knowing what left them dang tracks....lol
matt
|
|
|
|
Post by thefoxtrapper on Jul 27, 2004 13:56:17 GMT -6
For me pulling the sets is much more harder on me than setting them.....Last season I put out 40 sets the first day I trapped, probably could do about 10 more if I didn't have to drive back in the places so for and so forth, lose time like this, but during deer dog season, its hard to get a lot of places on the same loop anyways...
I will be running all disposables this year and Bill Kasten showed me his stake puller and it sure works and is not hard on the back at all.....if it doesn't come out super easy, I'll cut it, no great loss......don't know if it will save me much money because I don't have as much competition as it sounds like you Matt....but it will save my hands, back and knees on the pounding and especially pulling....
Winston
|
|
|
|
Post by 17kiss on Jul 27, 2004 14:00:35 GMT -6
Matt , why dont you get a puller? It is all about economics. Can pull most cable stakes in same amount of time to get your cutters out and cut. Ran the berkshires for several years cause of cheapness , but when you figure it out , you are money ahead to run a better head , pull , and recable. Just my thoughts , dont have to agree. Berkshires are $25/100 Iowas are $55/100. Figure first 2 years saved myself much money and the iowas drive better.
|
|
|
|
Post by MChewk on Jul 27, 2004 16:05:01 GMT -6
At about a buck a stake head I'm with 17 Kiss on pulling them. Heck, I'd rather just open the j-hook and leave them until spring than cut them. NOW if your running Pogo's washers cut them like Beav...probably. I run Minnesota super stakes and they do save me time money and headaches. Used to run SINGLE 36 inch half inch rebar on my yote traps very few pulled/problem....except snow mobile theives.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rob220swift on Jul 27, 2004 16:16:06 GMT -6
I set stakes ahead of season in hot spots and leave em for next year. Pulling or changing traps is just unscrewing a quick link. If I abandon a spot I will pull them in the spring and use them somewhere else.
|
|
|
|
Post by trappnman on Jul 27, 2004 16:40:08 GMT -6
Well- I can't leave them- the gropund gets turned up too often.
But..am contemplating some of those retrievable cable stakes- so slowly, I'm gettin modern.
but- rebar is a known quanity..but for every trap you buy, its 2 pieces of rebar.
|
|
|
|
Post by BrandonH on Jul 27, 2004 20:46:57 GMT -6
What about a set-up similar to Bob Young's in the NTA Master Trapper's Video where he used chain instead of cable on the bullet type "disposable" stakes?? I'd think that if you welded all rivets/swivels shut and used good #3 machine chain, that you'd have a reusable setup that is fairly indestructable. After the initial investment, it'd save you some $$ in the long run. Whatcha think??
|
|
|
|
Post by Edge on Jul 27, 2004 21:26:08 GMT -6
I am making 2 lengths of the same basic setup,have tested it and I like it much.
Reg Berkshire,15" 1/8 cable,2 links #3,swivel,2 links #3.
Other set up is with the HD Berkshire and 21 inches of cable,same on chain and swivel.
Heres what I like:they hold,HUGE,even in loamy soil.And with the chain on them,you pound em in,tug,and no cable showing;I am surmising that there will also be no cable showing after a catch;but even if it comes out 2-3"...still no visible cable(or LOOP).
I can pull the 15" one out of the loam,but 2 of them,I cannot.
The longer one finishes out at about 23 inches,this one has satisfactory bite in all types of soil;and if a spot is just too soft,I can quick link a second cable,no problem.
If its *still* not holding,I got grapples.
So do they save money,dont know,but if it can add a week to my season,energy wise,thy work for me.
Edge
|
|
|
|
Post by thebeav2 on Jul 27, 2004 22:34:42 GMT -6
The problem I see with chain Is If you get hung up and can't get the trap pulled you can't just cut and run. And also chain Is much harder to drive Into the ground then cable.
All my traps are set up with about 15" of cable, If I feel I need to go deeper I just drive In some of the chain.
Beav
|
|
|
|
Post by mattjones298 on Jul 28, 2004 8:20:01 GMT -6
i only run the cheap berkshires, i keep some bullet type in the truck but only used maybie 1/2 a doz last season.
i build my own stakes from 1/8 inch cable 18 inches long, i got about 40 cents a stake in mine. the first 2 nights coon trapping pays for all my bait and lure and stakes most years. it does not take as many stakes as a guy thinks. i run thru about 1000 desposable stakes coon and canine trapping a season.
it`s worth 400 bucks to me to not pack and pound all that dang rerod around.
like 17 kiss said, i guy can pull them if he wishes with little problem but you will bend alot of the cheap berkshires and once bent i dont trust them. thats why all mine stay where they lay.
steve, if you will take your grub and dig down on the stake about 2 good whacks, then cut it off the farmers can plow and disc right over them no problem and never know there even there.
matt
|
|
|
|
Post by CoonDuke on Jul 28, 2004 8:33:33 GMT -6
I am going to run a lot of Berkshires this season. I had only just "played" with them in the past.
If I can get them in our rocky soils I will think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. If I can't...I will go back to rebar and stay with it forever.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gasconade on Jul 28, 2004 8:33:37 GMT -6
Matt, have you looked at Berkshires new soft ground stakes? Do you think they'll work for otters on sandbars?
|
|
|
|
Post by mattjones298 on Jul 28, 2004 8:41:28 GMT -6
yep, i have some. yes i think they will and on yotes to. i just dont know what lenght cable i`m going to run yet. i have not fished the river this year yet as it`s still got current but should be on it within the next 2 weeks so i`ll give them a test then, i really like them though and i know they will work. i`ll probably retreve them and not leave them though.
i`m thinking 30 inches of cable
|
|
|
|
Post by trappnman on Jul 28, 2004 10:02:44 GMT -6
man- you guys are torturing me...I do like rebar..but it does get to be a chore- esp now with Lori trapping...at the very least we will have to give them a try.
Good idea on the cutting on the cable down deep. Just the head would rust away quick and as matt said, never be noticed.
After all, I DO own a fancy bolt cutter now....
|
|
|
|
Post by Iowa Badger on Jul 28, 2004 10:09:55 GMT -6
I don't own a bolt cutter and I use some disposables
If I do, I use a loop through the last swivel of my trap chain. Then, if the berkshire is damaged or I leave it in the ground, I just cut the loop and use the trap again with rebar.
|
|
|
|
Post by spiderclawz on Jul 28, 2004 12:03:20 GMT -6
In Cable Stakes. What length do you suggest is the best for our soil here in PA? I have 18 inchers, but think the 12 inch should do alright. Fox and Coyote?
|
|
|
|
Post by CoonDuke on Jul 28, 2004 12:41:16 GMT -6
Some guys say 9 inchers work in PA and I don't doubt them. I am making 12 inchers and I think they will be fine but I won't know for sure till the end of the season.  |
|
|
|
Post by 17kiss on Jul 28, 2004 15:02:34 GMT -6
I have used 9 inch berkshires in past and held everything that was caught. just have to use some common sense about soil conditions though. All the ones I have been making are around 12 inches. Good general length for all soil conditions around here. Made a whole bunch of 20 inchers for Ms. and did not need them that long. Cut them down to 12.
|
|
