all that I normally run for coon sets around here are "dry" sets with no drowner setups. Drowners work great, but most of the sections I have permission on do not have many drowner setups. I would be missing a ton of coon if I didn't set for them. (old pastures, abandoned farmsteads, weedy draws near crops and heavy timber, etc.)
I use strong or well-designed small traps, I like #11s but use other models too. I short-chain my traps to keep the coon in a rather small, confined area. I also take steps to clear the set catch circle area (envision about a 6-10 foot circle around your set) of anything such as brush, etc. that a coon can grab onto. use plenty of swivels in your trap attachments. I use mostly earth anchors but that is mostly to reduce weight of carrying equipment since I walk into most of these places...a lot of rebar adds additional weight but rerod works very well too) I make big dirthole sets or other sets with a lot of eye appeal. load them up with fish and good coon or fox lures and urines. I set my trap a bit farther back from the hole more like a coyote set than a fox set. A good well-swiveled trap that is anchored solidly will hold a coon very well. Put a little tension on the pan too so that you prevent toe catches with a better weight commitment to the pan before it fires, too.
Jim-NE
