Hi , my father is the old man with the large brown trout on your photo page...Fyi there is a company in Worcester MA. INDIAN HILL ICE TRAPS built with the best features from both heritage and jacks
Great breakdown Chris. I've fished Jack traps for years and agree with every point made, both the positive and constructive. I have a set of the "trout traps" they built that I've been holding off fishing until I could give them their inaugural bath once our son was old enough. I'm a bit hesitant about the smaller reel and hope it doesn't scare off wary trout but beautiful looking traps. My father has a set of the old "Moosehead" traps, the design very similar to the Jacks. However, instead of the split ring, the tripper attaches with a solid ring - much easier to set and friendlier on the hands, particularly on the colder days. I may have to give those Forest City ones a try.
I have both. I favor my Heritage traps as I have had them for years I do a lot of fishing up in Northern Maine and I have the tall ones and it is easy to see them when they go up. I stained the wood black and put felt Green flags on them and they have been great. I have over 30 of them and don’t need any more. I have had wonderful luck with them. Had them for at least 30 years 😊💃I do take good care of my traps and rap them and put them up for the summer in a cold dark dry and dark place. If you spray your flags with silicone to water proof them.
I have a set of Jacks and I just installed the bolt the opposite way so the nut is on the reel side to get some tension adjustment. And I just carry the correct combo wrench in my pack basket if I want to adjust the tension.
Hell ya! Jack traps for me, but have also had issues with the tripper bending and reels freezing. I’d pay more for a better reel, it’s usually not sunny and 75 out there.
I fish with Jack Traps (26 inch and the 43 inch Big Bob traps), the Heritage lakers (came finished in pink) and some beaver dam tip-ups. Jack Traps are easily the best quality and have held up the best, but I enjoy using the Heritage Laker tip-up a bit more I think. They are easy to set and easy to see and easy to put away. They seemed to be lighter as well. They have had some issues with lost nuts and bolts and the springs bend so flags don't always stick up straight ( not really an issue unless they are set a long ways away -- you want that flag to be straight up for easier viewing). Jack Traps are more compact, fit in a basket a bit better and still look like new. And the trip is very light but the flag gets wet and freezes and the natural colors, whether it is the stained wood or the red, orange and green flags, are harder to see from a distance. Beaver dams are my least favorite. Pain to reel up at the end of the day and put away, the hook keeper system never works great, and the flag material isn't at all robust (I actually use duct tape as a flag on a couple of these). I would be interested in the forest city traps but ice is a rare thing in the Northeast these days.
Great video on the trap difference could you tell me the brand of orange braid you are running I'm looking to respool all my traps and I really like the color on yours it looks like it would have great visibility underwater thanks again and keep the great videos coming
One additional Heritage “issue” is if you are hurrying and don’t pay attention, if you don’t set the tripper properly, you can have a bite without the flag going off. Unfortunately I can attest to it after being spooled and only noticing because trap was leaning! Fortunately fish was still there but 200’ out 😂😂
I have two sets of traps I bought over 50 years ago from (1 set) Dakins Sporting Goods Bangor and (2nd set) from Indian Hill In Greenville(Called Mooseheads) Both sets have stood the test of time and Im not gentle on them. Pretty and shiney isn't always the way to go. Granted...The Jacks and Heritage are nice and should last a lifetime as mine have from 50 years ago. Good video and lots of info. East Grand Buck Rub Hunter
Utah high elevation lakes capped last weekend. Hard water by Sunday for me 😁. Keep up the hard water videos. Did the guy that was putting a bearing in the reel/spool ever make it?
Great in depth video. On the Heritage trap they are likely using a quality brass grease tube, not copper. Copper is quite soft would certainly dent. I found Forest City Trap by accident a few weeks ago they look like excellent made tip ups. It is interesting the Forest City phone number is a 978 area code which is northern Massachusetts, but the address is Forest City, Maine, where are these traps actually made?
@@mainetroutwhisperer I talked to Bill this morning, he had posted on his FB page that he had a few sets of the less common, somewhat exotic woods that he found cleaning up the shop and he could make a few more traps so I ordered one. Everything about the Forest City Trap screams high-quality. Thank you for mentioning them.
Jack traps are beautifully made and a joy to fish. You can just not pull the flag all the way out for more trigger tension when you run bigger bait. Heritage laker x traps are far better for frigid temps. Put lots of urethane on em and they will last for ever. If you keep the x part opened way up and your spindle up against the ice you can open them up with a boot heal. Real easy to chisel out and see the reel that way. I’ve got both. I run the jacks on fair days and thin ice. Heritage lakers the rest of the time.
I just received my Forest City Traps 'cross style' trap and I am blown out of the water. Bill Beavers makes the highest quality trap available bar none. The multicoat poly finish es excellent, everything operates so smooth, the trap is robust in its hardware and wood, and just damn beautiful with the Rosa Pau and Rosa Paduk combination of woods. I have a Heritage trap and the fit and finish is lacking, the ends of each piece of wood are just saw cut not even rounded over like the other edges of the arms and mast, the trip mechanism is not my favorite, the plastic post that the spring of the flag attaches to came unglued from the hole in the wood the fist time I set the trap. I have seen Jack Traps up close and there are things I do not like about them like the felt flag and wood arbor on the reel. One issue I have with all of them is the reels are too big in diameter, there is no need for a 4"reel. I opted for the smaller than standard 3" reel from FCT and it is workable. For the past 75 years people have been using 2" diameter reels that were 1.25" wide and that held plenty of line for the majority of ice fishing. Now we have Spectra and Dyneema UHMW braided lines that virtually have no memory and 50 lb braid is the diameter of 14 lb mono so a 2" reel could be spooled with 300+ feet of UHMW braid and still be nice and compact for transporting in a fishing sled, in a pack basket, or in storage.
Heritage all the way… flags are way stronger. Always stand up straight even when u run bigger flags. Plus reels hold twice the amount of line of those jack traps. I still fish the same 5 i got when i was a kid. This year will be there 31st winter. Ill never fish anything else
I like the heritage due to being taller , when the snow is deep that flag is always visible ( when tripped ) even when 100 yards out . A hack i use is to take a chunk of black trash bag and staple it around the flag , makes it real easy to spot on a sunny day . Just sayin. $72 for that other trap ? I like fishing , buttt.......
I bought my jack traps about 8 years ago, I use them mostly for pike, I love them, best traps on the market, nobody even comes close, the others are inferior to jack traps
I have had my set of heritage traps since 95 absolutely love them!
Hi , my father is the old man with the large brown trout on your photo page...Fyi there is a company in Worcester MA. INDIAN HILL ICE TRAPS built with the best features from both heritage and jacks
I received a set last year of the Forrest city traps and after a year in use , I would highly recommend!!!!
Great breakdown Chris. I've fished Jack traps for years and agree with every point made, both the positive and constructive. I have a set of the "trout traps" they built that I've been holding off fishing until I could give them their inaugural bath once our son was old enough. I'm a bit hesitant about the smaller reel and hope it doesn't scare off wary trout but beautiful looking traps.
My father has a set of the old "Moosehead" traps, the design very similar to the Jacks. However, instead of the split ring, the tripper attaches with a solid ring - much easier to set and friendlier on the hands, particularly on the colder days.
I may have to give those Forest City ones a try.
I have both. I favor my Heritage traps as I have had them for years I do a lot of fishing up in Northern Maine and I have the tall ones and it is easy to see them when they go up. I stained the wood black and put felt Green flags on them and they have been great. I have over 30 of them and don’t need any more. I have had wonderful luck with them. Had them for at least 30 years 😊💃I do take good care of my traps and rap them and put them up for the summer in a cold dark dry and dark place. If you spray your flags with silicone to water proof them.
I bought 2 heritage traps from dags last year and one of mine won't fire off either
I have a set of Jacks and I just installed the bolt the opposite way so the nut is on the reel side to get some tension adjustment. And I just carry the correct combo wrench in my pack basket if I want to adjust the tension.
Hell ya! Jack traps for me, but have also had issues with the tripper bending and reels freezing. I’d pay more for a better reel, it’s usually not sunny and 75 out there.
I fish with Jack Traps (26 inch and the 43 inch Big Bob traps), the Heritage lakers (came finished in pink) and some beaver dam tip-ups. Jack Traps are easily the best quality and have held up the best, but I enjoy using the Heritage Laker tip-up a bit more I think. They are easy to set and easy to see and easy to put away. They seemed to be lighter as well. They have had some issues with lost nuts and bolts and the springs bend so flags don't always stick up straight ( not really an issue unless they are set a long ways away -- you want that flag to be straight up for easier viewing). Jack Traps are more compact, fit in a basket a bit better and still look like new. And the trip is very light but the flag gets wet and freezes and the natural colors, whether it is the stained wood or the red, orange and green flags, are harder to see from a distance. Beaver dams are my least favorite. Pain to reel up at the end of the day and put away, the hook keeper system never works great, and the flag material isn't at all robust (I actually use duct tape as a flag on a couple of these). I would be interested in the forest city traps but ice is a rare thing in the Northeast these days.
Great video on the trap difference could you tell me the brand of orange braid you are running I'm looking to respool all my traps and I really like the color on yours it looks like it would have great visibility underwater thanks again and keep the great videos coming
I think it’s Woodstock
One additional Heritage “issue” is if you are hurrying and don’t pay attention, if you don’t set the tripper properly, you can have a bite without the flag going off. Unfortunately I can attest to it after being spooled and only noticing because trap was leaning! Fortunately fish was still there but 200’ out 😂😂
Jack Traps - Didn’t even know there were other traps available.
I have two sets of traps I bought over 50 years ago from (1 set) Dakins Sporting Goods Bangor and (2nd set) from Indian Hill In Greenville(Called Mooseheads) Both sets have stood the test of time and Im not gentle on them. Pretty and shiney isn't always the way to go. Granted...The Jacks and Heritage are nice and should last a lifetime as mine have from 50 years ago. Good video and lots of info.
East Grand Buck Rub Hunter
Why can't you take the best of both traps and combine into one monster traps ???????
@@davidgrochmal6023 you can. Forest City
Utah high elevation lakes capped last weekend. Hard water by Sunday for me 😁.
Keep up the hard water videos.
Did the guy that was putting a bearing in the reel/spool ever make it?
Ya he did and they are amazing, small production when he feels like it basically… He might be all done.
Nope! Done for now
@@mainetroutwhisperer 😢
Great in depth video. On the Heritage trap they are likely using a quality brass grease tube, not copper. Copper is quite soft would certainly dent. I found Forest City Trap by accident a few weeks ago they look like excellent made tip ups. It is interesting the Forest City phone number is a 978 area code which is northern Massachusetts, but the address is Forest City, Maine, where are these traps actually made?
From what I understand, bill the owner will be in maine permanently if he’s not already.
@@mainetroutwhisperer I talked to Bill this morning, he had posted on his FB page that he had a few sets of the less common, somewhat exotic woods that he found cleaning up the shop and he could make a few more traps so I ordered one. Everything about the Forest City Trap screams high-quality. Thank you for mentioning them.
Just set up my old heritage for pike only and got new jacks for everyday. You are 100% spot on the x type just tip over and you look silly.
I have both brands and I like them both
You can use a closepin tape on the bottom with electrical tape and use large pike bait without setting the flame up
Great info!
Jack traps are beautifully made and a joy to fish. You can just not pull the flag all the way out for more trigger tension when you run bigger bait. Heritage laker x traps are far better for frigid temps. Put lots of urethane on em and they will last for ever. If you keep the x part opened way up and your spindle up against the ice you can open them up with a boot heal. Real easy to chisel out and see the reel that way. I’ve got both. I run the jacks on fair days and thin ice. Heritage lakers the rest of the time.
I just received my Forest City Traps 'cross style' trap and I am blown out of the water. Bill Beavers makes the highest quality trap available bar none. The multicoat poly finish es excellent, everything operates so smooth, the trap is robust in its hardware and wood, and just damn beautiful with the Rosa Pau and Rosa Paduk combination of woods. I have a Heritage trap and the fit and finish is lacking, the ends of each piece of wood are just saw cut not even rounded over like the other edges of the arms and mast, the trip mechanism is not my favorite, the plastic post that the spring of the flag attaches to came unglued from the hole in the wood the fist time I set the trap. I have seen Jack Traps up close and there are things I do not like about them like the felt flag and wood arbor on the reel. One issue I have with all of them is the reels are too big in diameter, there is no need for a 4"reel. I opted for the smaller than standard 3" reel from FCT and it is workable. For the past 75 years people have been using 2" diameter reels that were 1.25" wide and that held plenty of line for the majority of ice fishing. Now we have Spectra and Dyneema UHMW braided lines that virtually have no memory and 50 lb braid is the diameter of 14 lb mono so a 2" reel could be spooled with 300+ feet of UHMW braid and still be nice and compact for transporting in a fishing sled, in a pack basket, or in storage.
Sold all my Heritages years ago in favor of Jacks. Only thing I didn’t like about them like you said is the flag material. But that was an easy fix
Heritage all the way… flags are way stronger. Always stand up straight even when u run bigger flags. Plus reels hold twice the amount of line of those jack traps. I still fish the same 5 i got when i was a kid. This year will be there 31st winter. Ill never fish anything else
I like the heritage due to being taller , when the snow is deep that flag is always visible ( when tripped ) even when 100 yards out . A hack i use is to take a chunk of black trash bag and staple it around the flag , makes it real easy to spot on a sunny day . Just sayin. $72 for that other trap ? I like fishing , buttt.......
Is Josh a TH-camr, too? Throw a link to his channel in the video when you're talking about him, maybe?
Nope. He’s on my channel a lot.
@@mainetroutwhisperer Gotcha. I thought maybe you were talking about @PrecisionAngling
@@brandonbernard7525 ohhhh! Nope! Sorry
I’ve used orange gorilla tape for flag repairs
Jack Traps - 43” Big Bobs and 31” Standards. Always have…🤷♂️
Awsum!!!!!!! “;-)”
The flag steel on my son's Jack traps is junk. They are hopelessly rusted. I have 60-year-old tip-ups with rust-free alloy steel.
I bought my jack traps about 8 years ago, I use them mostly for pike, I love them, best traps on the market, nobody even comes close, the others are inferior to jack traps
I think I like the forest city a little better!
Jack traps for the last 20 years