The spike on the base is for placement not anchoring. I use fender washer anchors on mine with about a foot of 1/8 inch cable connected to the swivel. Rebar stakes work well also, length depending on your soil.
For bait I use the mini marshmallows and fish oil with some anise added for scent. Never caught any cats in mine but I don't set them in areas with cats... Skunks and possums will get in them. If mice start stealing your bait just place a small rock or walnut on top of the trap... a coon will knock it off to get at the bait. I spray paint my dog proofs as well as my conibears to keep them from rusting. Sometimes the first coon will have the paint worn off and the trap shined up and other times you might catch several in a trap and have very little paint worn off.
