Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: Pete112288 on December 07, 2018, 11:08:02 PM
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So I have been curious if anyone has any miracle tips for adjusting the length of decoy line for their floater decoys.
I hate having to do the half hitch on the decoys, esp on a bitter cold day when it comes time to pick up the decoys and undo the half hitch. And at least 1/3 of my decoys I rig backwards so a half hitch on the back of the keel is a pain with how my GHG decoys have the cap deal at the back of the keel.
I have 9 magnum carrylites that they dont make anymore, they have nifty little clips at the front and back of the bottom of the keel. This is super nice for adjusting cord length. Unwrap just the amount you need then you can clip it either on the front or the back.
I hunt varrying situations from tidal river backwaters that can get 8-10 feet deep and smaller areas where it would be nice to have 3-4 feet of line only. All mine are rigged up with keel grabber type anchors.
These are those carrylites I was talking about. You can see those little clips I was talking about on the bottom.
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Most of the new decoys have a notch or cut out of some sort in the front of the keel where you can cinch off your line at the desired length. I have also cut a small notch into the keel on other decoys for this same reason.
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Don't have any pics handy, maybe I can upload one later. I have a few spots where I bank hunt for divers and wanted to have a few blue bill blocks to drop in, but all mine where rigged for long lines. I was cleaning up after a season and thought i'd try something:
take a full length of decoy line (I use about 15' for all my floaters) and pass it through the hole on the keel (through it, not attached - like a texas rig). Attach a long line clip on one end and on the other your weight - I use keel grabbers with a length of shock cord.
I pull the top (or long line clip side) to about the lenght i want for long lines - a foot or two for me - then take that portion and clip and hold it with the same hand you will hold the keel or decoy then with your other hand wrap the rest of the line just as you would a normal floater. fold the long line tag back over and tuck it or clip it or however you want to leave it.
Now when you set the decoy - if its for long lines just free your leader and clip. If it's for floaters, free the leader, unwind your desired lenght and simply clip the leader to the anchor and your set. Workes with any type of decoy keel, depth notches or not.
It's a bit of a trick to figure out the wrapping of the line so that it doesnt come all loose when you free it, but wind it a couple times and you'll figure it out. I use 400# mono for all mine, not sure i'd try this with anything that could knot up real easily.
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I'm not rope know savy, but, with the rope/line do like you do a boat when at a dock to lock it under. Sorry it makes sense to me.
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Use the slider like you would use to cinch the top of a bag with two ropes if that makes sense. 92xj has this set up and i will definitely be changing all my set up this off season