Decoy Storage thoughts

Phil Nowack

Phil Nowack

Well-known member
OK... I have had several ideas of how to store and carry decoys in the new boat. Now that the boat is done I am finding that what worked out on paper isn't working in the real world. These are the limitations... I Texas rig my decoys... on 4' lines... I have 8 doz decoys that go with me... I want to have room of another hunter to be able to ride in the front of the cockpit.
I have never tried using decoy bags with Texas rigs.. I would think it would turn into a mess.
The cockpit is 9 1/2' x 63"

What are your thoughts?
 
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Phil,
You should have no problem with only 8 dozen, have 10-12 dozen in here then add the dog, hunting buddy and a couple dozen donuts with coffee, there is still a bit of room


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That, would be one method.... But sadly... Not one that I would find acceptable to travel the river....and more importantly down the hiway.

I guess I did not include all the parameters.... Lol...I don't like spending a bunch of time at the landing, having secure all my gear... When putting in or taking out.
 
Phil--

One of my buddies rigs his decoys on heavy coated wire with egg sinkers. The coated wire is stiff enough that he can bundle a dozen decoys, grab all the lines at the decoy end (so the anchors slide up to the decoy keels, and then tie the lines together in a loose overhand knot. The knot stays tied and prevents tangles, and it tight enough to keep all the anchors snug to the decoy bottoms. Would your mono lines would be stiff enough for that?

He carries them in a bundle like that, but I suspect you could stuff the whole bundle into a decoy bag.
 
The overhand not works pretty well, but not flawless from what I've seen after one season of a similar dilemma.

I've seen online some guys feed the lines through a PVC tube to keep them from tangling in transit, but I don't want a bunch of PVC tubes in the boat once the dekes are deployed. Maybe your boat has a storage spot for them like a gun box.

Have you seen these? https://www.niteize.com/product/Gear-Tie-12.asp
I got some for Christmas and they are pretty handy for a variety of purposes. I think some guys are using these like twist ties instead of the overhand knot and I think that might be a pretty good method.

My last thought is to get one of the huge collapsible leaf bags. I'm not sure what the dimensions are on mine, but I think 40+ inches in diameter and at least 36" tall. I've been using these and the normal size ones lately and really find them useful. There are also some huge poly-seed bags used by farmers that are similar or even bigger.
 
Not sure if you're out of room, having tangling problems, or what. Wish I had a picture of this but I hunt with a guy that has a system for 10+ dozen decoys Tx rigged. He will put the carabiner from the first dozen on a rail on the boat. The next dozen, he will put the carabiner over the lines of the first dozen (up near the original carabiner) and slide down to the decoy bodies of the first dozen. He'll rig 2-4 dozen that way, and start a new "chain" on another rail. The decoys run down the sides of the boat and stay basically tangle free.

One other tip he gave me. Ace clear weedeater line (I think it is the .095 stuff). Uses same crimps as 400# mono. (check that before buying a bunch). He always swore to me it was better, he'd used both ways. I saw it in action. The stuff is considerably stiffer than mono and even MORE hassle free than the original Tx rig.
 
That is/was the general concept. The problem comes when hunter #2 or #3 is in the boat. The best spot for them to be is in the front and/ or middle ... Depending on the # of people. Without a way to coral to decoys, they will migrate to the middle of the cockpit, and get underfoot. Stepping on or tripping over decoys is not good on the decoys, and it is not safe. So I am trying to find a way to contain them under the decks.
 
Alot of guys on my lease use the standard mesh bags you would for regular decoy storage. To carry two or three dozen depending on the size of the bags. The way to do this is once you have all the decoys on one carabiner you must pull the decoys as tight as possible together. Grab the carabiner in one hand with decoys hanging. Use your opposite hand and hold the lines together about mid-way. Pull the carabiner hand while using the opposite hand to tighten down on the decoys to group them as tight as possible. Once tight as possible tie a loose buntline (quick release) knot. Place them all in the bag. If possible to keep the line per dozen tight together use When you need to use pull them out and pull on the carabiner then whip all dozen decoys out at a time like a disc thrower.

If you have any loose sections of line sticking out your crimp or the weights do not freely flow down the line here are some suggestions:

-Take electric heat wrap and run over crimps. Two heat wraps per crimp is better. Make sure any section of line sticking out is under heat wrap.
-Use only "NO-ROLL" or Egg weights in 6 oz or bigger no matter how small your decoys you are using.
-If you using hand carved wood and cork birds stay above 8 oz for heavy current and windy conditions.
-Use Crown Royal bags or similar bags if using hand carved birds to keep from rubbing when not in use, covering the body is critical
-Drill holes in weights to allow the weight to slide freely up and down the line
-Throw as many decoys as possible at one time (it will look more natural then tossing one at time)
-Get the largest or around 400 lb mono/fluoro that you can get. The larger you get the less tangles you will have.
-Use a reusable tie wrap to keep the lines tight together for storage in mesh bags or where ever you plan to store.
-Cut a piece of canvas to cover each layer of decoys (when pancaked in the mesh bag it keeps decoys from sliding down between each other.)


Hope this helps!
Kristan
 
Phil, i used to layout hunt with a guy that made long "bags" for his longlines and the concept may work in your boat. They were about 4' long and held by a rack along the gunwale. His decoys laid in the bag side by side with one line making up a single layer. The layers were separated by a simple piece of canvas.

Just picture a long box shaped bag on the side of the boat held up by a frame. I used to have pictures and will dig around to see if i still do.
 
-Use Crown Royal bags or similar bags if using hand carved birds to keep from rubbing when not in use, covering the body is critical
Click to expand...



and just where does one acquire enough Crown Royal bags to cover all the decoys Phil has been know to put out? I suppose acquiring said bags is more than half the fun of this method.
 
Well if the acquired taste for these "Liver" Trohpies is not present in the decoy maker you can always find on ebay large quantities being sold by various people. My bourbon does not come in a bag or you would see a rig of "1792" bags covering my decoys.

Regards,
Kristan
 
And where do you find these huge collapsible leaf bins?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing I got them at Menards, but it was a while back. I still have one in the package and it says 10 cubic feet of volume.
 
As I am sure... everyone was wondering what I decided.... Well, I went with the knot and put the decoy into body bags... I had one, and bought another. I am not sure this will be my long term approach... but... for now, this will do. I call them body bags, because the are huge! 64" tall... I also put a section of burlap between the bundles...
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Northern-Flight-Square-Bottom-Decoy-Bag/707194.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Ddecoy%2Bbag%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=decoy+bag
 
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