Those using Jacktraps

[Raptortrapper]

For those of you that have, or have had Jacktraps, what do you think of them?  Would you get them again?  What, if anything, do you not like about them?  My pet peeve is having rust ANYWHERE on a trap.  Do you have this issue with these traps?  Thanks!

[Light liner]

They are good, I have a few. Old technology. Honestly the best traps are heritage Lakers in my opinion.
Worst that I've seen Indian hills.

[Papa Sly]

I love Lakers also but sold mine for the Indian hills, best traps I have ever used in 40 years!

[Raptortrapper]

I haven't heard of the heritage lakers.  I looked at Indian Hills, but they aren't making them this year.  I'll check out the Heritage Lakers. 
Any others have thoughts on this??

[Papa Sly]

Jack traps are good but very expensive. The lakers are as good as any, I just bought the Indian hills because I like to support the local guys trying to make a living and the quality is great.

[Light liner]

Beaver dams are good too

[Raptortrapper]

Jack traps are good but very expensive. The lakers are as good as any, I just bought the Indian hills because I like to support the local guys trying to make a living and the quality is great.

I'm okay with paying a little extra as long as it is worth doing, and the item lasts a long time.  Old technology has usually proven itself if it is still around.  I come from German ancestors, so I tend to overbuild things in order to have them last a long time, so I don't mind paying for quality stuff I don't have to replace every other year or so.  I've been hearing nothing but good about the traps so far.  I've actually got an order for 2 in already, but then got to thinking, there HAS to be someone on here that has used them!  Should have asked earlier I guess, but didn't think of it till tonight.

Read some reviews that said there were some issues with rust on the spring steel flag shaft.  However, that review was several years old, and I figure they probably fixed this by now.  If not, I'm not to concerned about it as I have a buddy that can get me whatever steel I want, and I'll make my own shafts.

Yeah, I'd like to get some Beaver Dams also, but want the extra height of the Jacktraps.  I'll be getting some beaver dams before long though.  I'm colorblind, and getting an orange flag up high so I can see it against the trees / weeds on the shoreline tends to help.  Seeing almost any color on shiny ice or snow is difficult.

[Smokum870]

Ive got a set of Big Bobs, 26", and 31" with the big reels. I love em! Never had an issue with the quality. my 26" have the old spring steel flags and they rust but the new ones have stainless flags so no worries about rust. 

[NateD]

Love my Jack traps, my dad bought me one every year when i was a kid during his annual trip to moosehead until i had a full set. They are going strong with zero maintenance 14 years later, I have never had to buy a tip up in my life. Actually I have lost a couple flags but that's more my fault bending them when I put them in to my tip up bag.  They are expensive, but you most likely won't need to buy a trap again.

[Raptortrapper]

Ive got a set of Big Bobs, 26", and 31" with the big reels. I love em! Never had an issue with the quality. my 26" have the old spring steel flags and they rust but the new ones have stainless flags so no worries about rust.

AWESOME!!!  Thank you for this!!!  Is the spring steel on the new ones pretty substantial?  We like to put a small bell right under the flag with a zip tie, and it really makes some noise when used on tip ups like the beaver dam styles.  But without a pretty good spring factor in the longer flags, it doesn't work so well.  I would think it would work well enough though!  I'm trying to save up some money to get two of the 31" standard traps with the 4" reels.  Figure it's a compromise between the Big Bob and the 26" standard.  Do you find a need for the live bait holder that is advertised?  Sometimes we use some larger perch as dead bait, and the weight of them has tripped our tipups.  Perhaps the jack traps have a bit more tension and can hold these heavier weights without issue.

Thanks for your comment!!  Very encouraging! 

[Alex Delarge]

I just gave my neighbor a reel off of one of my old jack traps. I don't use them anymore. We discussed how much of a PITA it is to hook the trip mechanism. Little split ring on the end of spring steel you have to place in a bracket and then turn the trip mech, I could never do it with gloves on. The other thing I didn't care for was the way the flag sort of just floats around if it is tripped and windy... it's always windy.
Been using the heritage lakers for a few years now. You can set for heavy or light trip by twisting the spring/flag on the dowel to get it just right. Replacement parts are readily available. I'd give IH a look at before jacks but realistically, heritage lakers are all you need, they have a few different color flags also.

[Raptortrapper]

Thanks Alex.  It isn't all that windy here.  We do have our days, but not very often.  There are so few windy days that we usually just stay home on those days, and wait for a better one.  Taking off gloves to set the trip mechanism isn't a big deal to me.  I do that now anyway!  One of the things I didn't like with the Heritage Laker tip ups is that it looks like the flag is permanently attached to the top, and can't be collapsed for storage.

Does the flag come off of the Heritage Laker traps for storage without just bending it down and placing it in the trip mechanism?  I've had some go off like that from time to time on the beaver dam style tipups, and had one of them slap one of the kids upside the face while he was laying down in the sled.  Swore I'd never leave a tipup "cocked" in storage again.  Felt horrible for that little guy.  Scared me cause I thought it hit his eye.  Maybe I can use something to strap the flag down to help prevent that. 

[Light liner]

The only time my flags are down on my heritages is when they're being used.
I leave them up otherwise.
It ruins the springs if left down

[Raptortrapper]

The only time my flags are down on my heritages is when they're being used.
I leave them up otherwise.
It ruins the springs if left down

Can the flag be removed very easily?  Does it screw onto a threaded stud or something perhaps?

[Alex Delarge]

There is a clip to leave the heritage in the down position just beside the trip mech. I use it to and from the lake but not for long term storage. It all boils down to personal preference. They all catch fish. Each has their pros and cons. Try to pick the best for yourself in the environment you fish.