Lucky Duck - pull string

[CP]

These must be new on the market; I can't find any reviews.  Sounds like a good concept if they work.  Just ordered one so we will see.

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/lucky-duck-lucky-air-force.html?utm_source=google_shopping&m=simple&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy9O_ooXS1gIVzYl-Ch1WdA5oEAYYAiABEgK2NfD_BwE

[vandeman17]

I have an aero outdoors version of this that is older and I want to upgrade. Let us know what you think.

[CP]

I have an aero outdoors version of this that is older and I want to upgrade. Let us know what you think.

Will do.

[eastsidemallard74]

We have something similar, same concept. Best thing I've bought. We put ours on a 10x10 floating base, anchor it with a downrigger ball and use it in the spread.

[Bill W]

CP, we must be thinking alike.  I just received a flocked Decoy Dancer pull string.

[TheHunt]

I have an aero outdoors version of this that is older and I want to upgrade. Let us know what you think.

I have an Aero Outdoors version that Paul Sullivan designed.  It works great.  It is pretty old but in good shape.  I take really good care of it.   

[h2ofowlr]

Doesn't look like it would be easy to fix in the field if you needed to.  The Whipsplash and Knotty duck are easy to replace bands if need be in the field.

[WSU]

What is the best pull string? I need to replace mine.

[EWUeagles]

What is the best pull string? I need to replace mine.

Decoy Dancer Whipsplash is my favorite. I haven't tried this lucky duck but for what they are charging I'm a little worried about how well they work. I guess I will wait for a review though.

[h2ofowlr]

What is the best pull string? I need to replace mine.

Whipsplash is my favorite.  Had 6 of them.  Purchased two more in the off season.  I ran the knotty duck for a while as well, but like the functionality of the Whipsplash better.  The only one I didn't like and wouldn't recommend was the Flutter-Wing by Aero.  It seemed this one was very loud and always had problems.  It was a pain to fix or work on in the field.  Only thing I did like about it was the full body option.

[full choke]

I did not like the knotty duck personally. I think the whipsplash is a better overall product. I have one, but rarely use it. I have two flutter-wings- and they do kind of suck...But... I have completely rebuilt them, and modified them to my needs, and I actually prefer them over the others now. I wouldn't recommend buying one- cause what you get from aero is sub par.
Get a whipsplash.

[fowl smacker]

I've been using my knotty duck for about 7 or 8 years and it's been great for me. 

[Stein]

I just about bought one, interested to see how they work.  I have a homemade version that works fine, just another thing to haul in, setup and pull on so it doesn't get used often.  I did like the price, $150 for the competitors seemed crazy expensive to me.

For my homemade version, I used some old braid fishing line on a fishing reel.  That makes it a bunch easier to deploy and put away as well as having a ton of line so I could run it wherever I wanted.  I also rigged a pvc 90 degree elbow on the pole so the cord leaves the decoy straight down and then under water so it doesn't show when you pull.

[goosegunner]

 The whip-splash by decoy dancer is my go to spinner. It seems every homemade version ive tried to come up with or have seen other guys use. You spend more time out in the spread messing with the homemade spinner vs actually hunting. No thanks  I will take the Whip Splash  any day,  they look great, many species to choose from and easy to repair the band in the field if needed.

[Bill W]

The whip-splash by decoy dancer is my go to spinner. It seems every homemade version ive tried to come up with or have seen other guys use. You spend more time out in the spread messing with the homemade spinner vs actually hunting. No thanks  I will take the Whip Splash  any day,  they look great, many species to choose from and easy to repair the band in the field if needed.

Funny you should talk about time out in the spread adjusting the spinner.  I made one last year and had the wings fall off even before I could get back to the blind.  Decided the 2.0 version should have better attached wings.

[Stein]

You haven't seen mine, it is money.  Every guy I have showed loves it.  Ducks couldn't care less unfortunately.

[CP]

Got the decoy today; it's better quality than I expected.  Comes with 2 sets of wings, one for wind mode, another for pull string mode.  But I do see 2 short comings right away:

1.  The string supplied isn't great; it will certainly break pretty quickly.  I'll replace it with something more robust. 

2.  Pulling the string rocks the mounting pole and it's bound to fall over after a few tugs.  The problem is the string pulls almost perpendicular to the pole near the top.  That exerts a large bending moment where the pole sticks in the ground.  I need to rig something so the force of the string reacts straight down, parallel to the pole.  Maybe an eye bolt.   

A couple small tweaks and it should work just fine.

 

[vandeman17]

Got the decoy today; it's better quality than I expected.  Comes with 2 sets of wings, one for wind mode, another for pull string mode.  But I do see 2 short comings right away:

1.  The string supplied isn't great; it will certainly break pretty quickly.  I'll replace it with something more robust. 

2.  Pulling the string rocks the mounting pole and it's bound to fall over after a few tugs.  The problem is the string pulls almost perpendicular to the pole near the top.  That exerts a large bending moment where the pole sticks in the ground.  I need to rig something so the force of the string reacts straight down, parallel to the pole.  Maybe an eye bolt.   

A couple small tweaks and it should work just fine.

Can't say anything to the string strength but as for the rocking on the pole, that is normal. With the pole down in the mud it's nothing to worry about 

[Stein]

I zip tied a 1/2" pvc conduit elbow (much longer and gentle sweep compared to plumbing pvc elbow) and ran the string through that.  It pulls underwater which is less leverage and no string visible.

I used old dacron line from a fishing reel.

[lokidog]

I zip tied a 1/2" pvc conduit elbow (much longer and gentle sweep compared to plumbing pvc elbow) and ran the string through that.  It pulls underwater which is less leverage and no string visible.

I used old dacron line from a fishing reel.

Sounds like a good idea. This would also solve the issue of the bird always having to face the blind.

[CP]

Field review:

It was very effective in pull string mode and once the wind picked up it was effective in wind mode as well, but ....

After about an hour in today's stiff wind both wings fell off.  Looks like the set screws backed off the plastic couplers.

[Stein]

 

Bummer, sounds like they didn't make any improvements over the durability issues with their normal wind decoy. 

[CP]

I think a couple drops of locktite will fix it up.

[Badhabit]

Just something to consider when deciding on new string for yourpull string. Dogs do get caught up in the strings from time to time. 100lb braid  that gets all knotted up is not going to break and could cut or injure your pup.  I use 25lb fire line. Monofilement has a shine to it and has spooked ducks.

[ballstothewaal]

I have both the lucky duck and the decoy dancer. Decoy dancer is nicer quality overall and easy to fix because of the open shell. always try and take extra parts because I have had broken rubber bands ruin a hunt! I have had trouble on really windy days with it because the wings can catch wind and fall off easily. The lucky duck is nice because its cheaper and lighter. The pull string is kind of a pain to fix if it breaks but still relatively easy if you have a screwdriver with you!

[CP]

The lucky duck is cheap enough that I can just bring an extra decoy or 2 instead of tools to fix it.  I reinstalled the wing couplers with some Loctite on the set screws and so far no re-occurrence of the wings falling off.