NO MORE WIRE FOR ME!

[Bogmaster]

 I used to use a ton of wire when trapping,especially on my rat traps.Every year I would have to replace the wire from the year before.This became a real pain and consumed an awful lot of time.
 Now some of you guys will say--that wire will last for more than one season--and yes,some of it will.But some of it won't,so rather than risk any breakage ,and loss of an animal and trap--I replaced it.
 Not only have I gotten older in the last decade or so,I have also gotten a bit smarter(at least as far as I am concerned).Almost all my wire,has been replaced with cable.
 All my rat traps have a quick snap attached to the end of the chain,I have made adjustable quick connects out of cable.When I go to set a rat trap,the cable is slipped over my stake and tightened.One end has a fixed loop on it,this is where the snap clip is attached.It will last for years and allows me to set up quickly and easily.The same goes for when I pull traps---no more big wire messes.The cable is also strong enough to hold any coon or beaver that wander into my stop loss traps.(3/32 cable is used on these).
 My Drowners for coon and mink,and also beaver(though I haven't used a foot hold for beaver in years),are all made from cable---1/8 inch lasts a lot longer when used for coon and beaver,and is less prone to kinking than the 3/32.
 My 330's all have from 4 to 6 feet of !/8 inch cable on them(with 3 swivels added)0ne where the chain and cable are attached to the trap,one swivel in the middle of the cable,and one at the end of the cable,where I stake the trap.
 If you guys are looking for an alternative to wire--give cable a try.
 Tom

[Macthediver]

Tom
I joined your club a couple season back and couldn't be happier. I have my extensions made of 1/8th cable also. They are 3ft long and have a quick snap on one end and either an adjustable loop or two inch swivel ring on the other end. The swivel rings were made up custom for me by the same guy that makes the RBG "round body grippers" traps. The extension's save a bunch of time and mess.

Mac

[sdb777]

As I'm so completely new to what your talking about, could some one get me a picture so I could better understand what you are doing with the cable?  Is this the plastic covered cable, or just plain steel wire stranded stuff?  How exactly do you attach the swivels to the loops?

Scott (my chains are kinked sometimes) B

[Macthediver]

I can't speak for Tom I'm not sure exactly how he does his extensions. Here are the two types I use and tried to describe in my post. The one on the left has the ring which Bill made up for me. They are swivel rings the same as use on snares only larger. They fit nicely over the 1X1 or 1 1/4 X 1 1/4 stakes I use in the water. The extension on the left has a slip loop. It's a little beat up because it just came out of the river today and I kind of hit it with the ice spud. They are 1/8th cable with the quick snap. The one with the sliding loop is made by using a punch and just crimping one side of a double ferral.
Hope the picture works well enough to help you see what I mean.



Mac

[sdb777]

Thanks, the pictures are worth a billion words!


Scott (I see better then I read) B

[Chilachuck]

If you want to make up a lot of cables:

http://www.sailrite.com/19203

Nicopress installation tool, $33.40
1/16", 3/32", 1/8"

Good outfit, I've bought several things for my boat there.

[Bogmaster]

 Chilachuck,I use a hammer on all my cable stuff--for my own use and the cable products I make and sell.
 You will find my prices on cable and ferrules a lot less than theirs.(I wish I could get the prices they do, lol) a guy could really stack up some profits at the prices they charge.
 Tom

[tfyksen]

I too have quit using wire for the most part.  What I did is extend all the chains on my rat traps. They have a large ring on the end and I slip this over 1x1 6-7ft hardwood stakes that I have made.  All traps on shore still get wired.  This system is very fast and simple. However, I am concerned about non-targets escaping.  I am planning on using a cable system like tom's on some #2 that have too short of a chain. 

Tom,

when using your cable system are all of the cables attached prior to headding out in the boat.  Or do you attach them on the spot?  What kind of "quick-snap" do you use and what's the cost?  I am using s-hooks but I think a snap may be more efficient.

Thanks,

Teal

[Bogmaster]

 The cables for all my rat sets are attached at my trap sites.I to have some extension chain on my stop loss trap.My quick connecting cables are not real long.They have an adjustable loop for going over my stakes and a fixed loop on the other end(The quick snaps $12.95 a doz. plus s and h,are snapped on the fixed loop).This is a quick ,neat system.If you have back issues of the TRAPPER AND PREDATOR CALLER, I have an article called--NO LATHEING MATTER.It shows the system I use.
 I also did an article for them last year --on swiveling and cabling of my 330's.
 Tom

[RdFx]

Tom can you  post photos of your system for young trappers on this site?  Show them your ideas as im sure you will help them immensely.

[Bogmaster]

 Lee,I would love to--no scanner at this time.
 When I get one ,I will post plenty of pics.
 Tom

[tfyksen]

Tom,

I forgot to ask if this was the stiffer 7x7 cable or 1x19?

[Bogmaster]

 Everything I make is out of 7x7,so I do not know which is stiffer.
 Tom

[Bogmaster]

 OK-- 1X19 cable is stiffer.
 Tom

[Whistler]

I'm just getting in to using cable instead of wire but after I finish adding quick links, swivels, ferrules etc. it seems that I have more hardware and money tied (no pun intended) up in the trap retention than I do in the trap .     Just joking fellows but it does seem complicated to have all that prefabbed. It seems around here I have either too long or too short a cable and have to always worry about adding lengths or hiding coils of extra cable! All this takes more time than wiring! I only use my wire once and remove and replace when I pull that trap up and reset it again. When I'm pulling my line from a boat I just pull and put the Traps in one box with the old wire wrapped around them (will remove later), stakes in an out of the way place in the boat. If you have all that expensive hardware on the cable that removal and rolling up must be done at that time to prevent damage. Time saved in prior to setting traps is now lost when pulling traps or so it seems with the methods I use! Help me out here?  I do consider myself lucky but I have not lost a trap since I have been trapping due to failure of the wire. I'm not  condemning cable but  It's just going to take some time to learn an old dog a new trick! I think Macthediver stated he slid his cable loops over his stake! Is that all there is to that end of the cable or does it have to be fastened somehow! I guess I keep seeing that old coon on sitting on top of the stake and thinking somehow he could get that loop over if not fastened! Thanks to all

[Macthediver]

Not sure about your worry with the coon chewing or pulling cable loose. I use the cable extension's only when trapping in the water where I used to use chain.  I've had some pretty large coon destroy everything above the water line including the top of the stake. Coon was still there! As for putting the cables out, if it's to long I wrap the extra around the stake, or most times place the stake farther out in the water from the bank. Picking up is just a matter of unclipping the cable extension and putting it in a separate bucket or tote. I find it way easier than wrapping wire or clipping wire. Most of my extensions are at least 3 to 4 years old now. I have damaged a couple using them in the ice but never any in open water. I expect that they will last me many more years, unlike the wire I replaced each time out.
Also think about how many times you poke holes in your gauntlets working with wire. I know I've done more damage to gloves with wire than any thing else I handle.

Mac

[Whistler]

Poke holes in your gloves with wire, I guess that is reason enough to switch. Nothing will get gloves quicker than wire and being in a hurry!  . Not to mention how aggravating it is to unwind that short end of wire from the trap so you can get you pliers around it!!! Thanks

[Bogmaster]

 The quick connects I make(and sell),have an adjustable end loop.This is pulled tight when you put it over your stake.I have taken an awful lot of coon and beaver in my rat sets--and never had one pull my quick connects off(some of these coon were over 30 pounds).
 While it does cost more for the set up system I use--this cost is still less than wire in the long run,and this doesn't even take into account the time you save.Saved time is money in your pocket .
 Quick connnects,slidewires/drowners and my body grip connectors are all made from cable--all will last for years and I do not have to worry about them breaking.
 Sometimes an old dog does learn new tricks---ahhhhhhh to be a puppy again.
 Tom