Decoy weights

[hogsniper]

Just got a few questions for ya....i am wondering what kind of weights you guys use on your decoys?? I usually hunt about 3-6 feet of water with very low current and cant figure out what to set up with, seems to always get hung up on something or get tangled...thanks for you help...Justin

[hevi/shot]

I few years ago I sprang and bought a dozen of the DecoyL system that attach to the keel portion of your decoys. I love em because you pull out only the amount of line you need from 1 to 20 feet. At first I was a little worried that that spring system would wear out and rust up. But I've been using them for at least 3 seasons with no problems.

[Intruder]

I like the tangle free line like Miles suggests... I've got a whole coil somewhere that I've been planning on replacing all my old line with.

For weights I like the strap style that you can wrap around the head or keel.  If it is real low current or ponds you can even use pencil lead like you would for steelhead drifting.

[addicted]

i think just did the set up you mentioned miles. almost kinda sorta. its cool cuz all the stuff is made by duck hunting brand names. i also got some pinch clip things for the rubbery cord stuff since they dont tie knots very well(tangle resistant) 

[Dagster]

I just bought the tangle free line, weights, and clips. I'm planning on 10' lengths. How do you deal with the slack line from the clip when you are in 3' water? Does it just sink?

[snocohunter83]

I just bought the tangle free line, weights, and clips. I'm planning on 10' lengths. How do you deal with the slack line from the clip when you are in 3' water? Does it just sink?

Pretty much it just sinks. Sometimes i will wrap it around the keel a few times, but it's not hurting anything just hanging out there. I plan on rigging all the rest of my dekes this way in the off season.

[GOcougsHunter]

Dagster,
We have inserted a single small brass hook in everyone one of our 150+ decoys.  We run 30+ feet of line on every decoy.  You find the correct depth and then give the line two twists around the hook.  Perfect length and no extra line to flare the ducks.

[Dagster]

Not sure I understand what you do with the extra line. Is it coiled up or somethign?

[GOcougsHunter]

Extra line remains wrapped around the keel.  You only have to unwind the necessary length.

[Dagster]

Gotcha.

[scottr]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

[hogsniper]

thanks for the pics..those look great, i will def. have to look into them...i really appreciate it...Justin

[Jc44]

I have a bunch of decoy weights lead strap ones if anyone needs some.

[h2ofowlr]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

We have some of these on about 6 dozen decoys.  They are good for a few season until you have to replace the surgical tubing.  I have just about every weight imaginable on a variety of decoys.  Lead straps, tear drops, triangle, pyramides, mushrooms, etc.  For pond hunting I have just resorted to 1/4" pencil lead about 4" long.  Works great for packing in.  If you have current, you have to lead up.  For deep water I make it quick with long lines.

[terrellwa]

You can try something similar to these Texas rigged lines. Work great for quick setup and fast pick up. The weight sets itself to the right depth.

[L-ofalab]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

We have some of these on about 6 dozen decoys.  They are good for a few season until you have to replace the surgical tubing.  I have just about every weight imaginable on a variety of decoys.  Lead straps, tear drops, triangle, pyramides, mushrooms, etc.  For pond hunting I have just resorted to 1/4" pencil lead about 4" long.  Works great for packing in.  If you have current, you have to lead up.  For deep water I make it quick with long lines.

When the surgical tubing breaks use bungy cord, mine have been working good for 4 years.

[BiggLuke]

You can try something similar to these Texas rigged lines. Work great for quick setup and fast pick up. The weight sets itself to the right depth.

 

these texas rigs are awesome... if you only hunt the same area over and over. They dont work well in deep water or areas that have changing depths, like tide flats lol.

but if you consistently hunt 3-6' these are really east to pick up and put out.

We use a weight that my dad invented a long time ago that is perfect for deep water or changing depths, but they are a bitch to pick up.
Just remember though, its better to be able to place decoys quickly in the morning and take longer to pick up, than it is to have decoys that take forever to place when it's 20 degrees out and the ducks are ready to land.

 

[BiggLuke]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

I also love these Ace decoy weights....
but  i lose a lot of them.
They are nice because they stay put on the decoys in the bag, no tangles... but the elastic wears out over time.
Seem like they break just when I need them the most. lol.... like last weekend when I threw one in the air then plop, plop.... decoy hit water, weight hit water 10 yards further out. Never found it. lol.....

[scout/sniper]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

    These are all I use now. They actually have a small piece of string attached where his hand is to easily pull the weight from the decoy because they hold tightly to the decoy.

[brocka]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

+1 on the "J" weights

[cue772]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

We have some of these on about 6 dozen decoys.  They are good for a few season until you have to replace the surgical tubing.  I have just about every weight imaginable on a variety of decoys.  Lead straps, tear drops, triangle, pyramides, mushrooms, etc.  For pond hunting I have just resorted to 1/4" pencil lead about 4" long.  Works great for packing in.  If you have current, you have to lead up.  For deep water I make it quick with long lines.

When the surgical tubing breaks use bungy cord, mine have been working good for 4 years.

Bungee cords... great idea! I also read a post somewhere by a guy who buys a bicycle tire tube and cuts that to length... inexpensive and fairly durable. I would be fine with either method.. I usually change out my line every season anyway, but I am not rigging 100 dozen decoys either.

[WSU]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

We have some of these on about 6 dozen decoys.  They are good for a few season until you have to replace the surgical tubing.  I have just about every weight imaginable on a variety of decoys.  Lead straps, tear drops, triangle, pyramides, mushrooms, etc.  For pond hunting I have just resorted to 1/4" pencil lead about 4" long.  Works great for packing in.  If you have current, you have to lead up.  For deep water I make it quick with long lines.

I also use pencil lead.  Tanglefree line and pencil lead will cover you most anywhere you can wade.  You can also bend the lead to hook around the keel.

[jplmyers]

I just changed mine to Texas rigged, but I flipped it upside down so the running end with the loop was by the deke.  Added a depth adjuster thing to the line so I could hunt different depths.  The main issue with my old setup (strap weights) was that it was too tedious for a pack-in area and a solo hunter with dog.  Took all the fun out before hunt began.  We'll see on Saturday if the change paid off.

[Kola16]

I use these Ace anchors with greenhead gear rigging line. The rigging line is a synthetic material with little/no memory and is slightly stretchy. The anchor never come loose in my decoy bag. Cabela's sells them.

+1 on the "J" weights

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