Less weight, but similar method to H weights?

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Thank you all for the ladle suggestions.... I'll pick out a cast iron ladle as the stamped steel units get mixed reviews. I find myself making more weights as I move back to rigging every decoy with it's own weight. When I moved to the BBSB, I decided to try to reduce the weight of the bags by keeping the weights in a couple ammo cans, and clipping them on and removing them. I added droppers on all the decoys regardless if they were longliners or individual decoys. I lost a couple decoys at least when inexperienced hunting partners "helped" set decoys, and simply pitched the decoys with a longline clip, and no decoy weight! Just this weekend realized a Ringneck hen rigmate was missing! So the reason for the pouring party.... that and a buddy got a bunch of decoys in the off season and need to rig them.

So my H weight mold makes a weight around 14oz. I like the physical dimensions, but it is overkill weight for coots, buffies, and the 63 sized foamers. I like to be able to adjust the depth, and store the decoys/weights without a tangle. I use only slotted bags, though some do not have weight pockets.... I just set the weight in the bottom of the slot. I tried pouring a thinner weight with my current mold and that does work, but was curious if there was something out there to try instead? I won't wrap the line on the decoys, did the figure 8 on plastics years ago, that beats them up too much, and won't wrap line and weights around heads and bills for the same reason. Is there anything lighter than a traditional H weight, offers a line storage option, and might be handled with gloves? Not that I am successful with catching the line on the H weights with my gloves... typically have to take of my right hand glove.

I saw something that was sor tof C shaped, but had ears on it that I can't find now... anyone have some suggestions?

 

[Andy Grant]

What about use wire bent into a square (or other shape0 with the muffin tin method?

 

[tod osier]

I love my too heavy H weights. All my weights are rigged 2 birds per decoy - cuts some weight.

 

[dan howell]

I switched all my single weights to bank sinkers, 24 oz for goose full bodys and 12 oz for ducks. they are very easy to get grass off of, one or two shakes and any seaweed that is on the weight falls right off. got molds for each from do-it molds

 

[Matt]

I use the H weights. I use 16oz with about 18 feet of line. It seems like overkill but I have never lost a decoy to wind, current or ice. I use a half hitch around one of the corners to adjust line depth. If I'm hunting a spot I know well and know 8 feet of line is plenty, I unwrap a few wraps of decoy line, half hitch the corner and toss the decoy. The best part about the setup is they almost self adjust. If I just drop a decoy, the weight falls and unwraps the correct amount of line. When it hits the bottom it lays flat and stops the line from coming out. If its very windy or there is a lot of current the decoy "pulls" more line until there is enough. Picking up takes about 15 seconds per decoy. Wrap the line around the H, half hitch and toss into the slot. My decoys hold up well and I never have to worry about having enough weight or line. I hunt ponds, marsh, rivers and timber so the system has worked for me very well over the past 12 years. I did this in my sneakbox when I had it as well. If you want to save weight go with a smaller spread of super magnums or plastic birds.