tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Sept 11, 2019 11:18:17 GMT -5
I know, I know... BUT - I did use "search." Anyways, I've got my traps ready. Last week I adjusted the pan tension on all the footholds. First time I ever used a pan tensioning device, Sullivan's tension tester, I used to go "by feel" and boy I was off on some. For coyote only, 3-3.5#. The rest where they'll be used for coyote-coon-fox and fisher, I set at 2#. I may still catch some stinkers and grinners but hoping those catches will be reduced. Today I got to thinking, "Oops, what if 2# is too heavy for fisher?" We have a lot of them around, here we have the "long" season, and for the first time in a lot of years I MAY just have a trapline that I can run the way I want to. I don't want to lose any fisher in footholds. I'll be using Sleepy Creek #2 double longsprings, and various 1.5 and 1.75 for fisher as well of course 155 and 160 body grips, but the pan tension question obviously doesn't apply to body grips. I know it's been quiet as a graveyard around this site for a long, long time, so maybe I won't get any responses from the old timers and pros, but hey a guy can hope lol! Thanks in advance. - Tim
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Sept 11, 2019 11:21:50 GMT -5
Just thinking I might "adjust" one to what I used to use, then test it. But I'd rather have some good advice based on experience than my own seat-of-the-pants experiments. Thanks again.
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Post by Dave Morse on Sept 11, 2019 18:50:55 GMT -5
I can't keep them here but I run floppy pans and have caught quite a few in my fox sets. Also in my mb 550,s I think if I was to target them I would use 1.5 with a floppy pan.
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Post by walleyed on Sept 12, 2019 7:53:19 GMT -5
I can't keep them here but I run floppy pans and have caught quite a few in my fox sets. Also in my mb 550,s I think if I was to target them I would use 1.5 with a floppy pan. Dave, Serious question.........What's a "Floppy Pan" ? Never heard the term so I need a definition. w
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Post by Dave Morse on Sept 12, 2019 8:05:10 GMT -5
Free falling but also side to side movement kinda like a old victor pan
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Post by walleyed on Sept 12, 2019 8:08:45 GMT -5
Free falling but also side to side movement kinda like a old victor pan Thanks Dave, What's the advantage to the side to side movement, If any ? w
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Post by Dave Morse on Sept 12, 2019 9:33:59 GMT -5
I despise a track on the pan and trap didn't fire. Without the wabble trap fires best when weight is applied to pan at 90 degrees. With the wabblein the pan trap can fire when the angle is less .
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Sept 12, 2019 18:00:38 GMT -5
Well, I knew that I'd read it once, but couldn't remember where. Today I did recall that it was in a 2-part article on fisher in Trapper's Post, so I went looking through my old copies. May/June 2017, Bob Noonan, "Tread Gently," page 17: "Pan tension of about 1 lb. (about the same as for fox)…" Seems a bit on the light side to me, but he's caught more than I'll ever even hope to imagine, so I adjusted those that will be dedicated for fisher to 1 pound. Yeah, I know, overthinking it. But thanks for the replies! - Tim
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Sept 14, 2019 9:50:34 GMT -5
I'm one of those old guys and I'm certainly not an expert on fisher. 95% of mine are taken with conibears. I can't come close to someone like Bob Noonan, but only express my opinion. I think the # 2 Sleepy Creek DBL Longspring is about the best you can get. It is only my own thinking, but I don't think a fisher is near as careful as a canine when putting their foot down. I believe that as long as the trap is bedded well so as to not rock that pan tension is not critical. I adjust the pan from underneath, pulling down gradually on the pan. I like a light pan tension. I do feel that swivels are critical and I prefer cable over chain. In the past I've had big males break the chain. Bob Noonan uses a shock spring on his traps. I think that is a very good idea as fisher are wicked fighters once in a trap. I also now think that more fisher can be caught on the ground than on a pole, but I prefer the poles because of the threat of catching a dog. As for conibears I prefer the 160's. I've had females still alive in the 220's. I'm still not convinced about the 155's, but plan to experiment more with them.
Good Luck
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