Long line knots

I like that system, maybe more flexible than needed, but I'd sure like it when I want to set my rig really deep. I thought about making up some 50' extensions for one end for when I want to set deep in heavy current, but I dont' do it often. Last year there was one set that I'd have liked to made one day that I didn't have enough length without clipping 2 120' lines together.

Long lines work well with clips on a spool, I think you are overthinking it a bit. I'd go clip to ring on the spool (and make sure you ahve the last line attached to something on the spool - otherwise....)
 
Good to know. I'll strap a clip to one of the girls and have them tug on it with all their might as a trial run. And yes, likely overthinking it for sure. I pretty much hunt all of the northern portion of LIS (not LI itself), but NY to RI, so flexibility is beneficial. Also, it seems easier in my mind to tell someone new on the boat, everything is a standard length. No thinking. Clip and dump. I trust people on the boat more handling decoys than I do driving the boat- which may be a precarious method in itself. Needless to say I'm usually barking orders from the steering wheel.

And I know all too well the tying of the last line to the spool. The last days of the season last year I managed to just finishing tying the line to the spool that I must have forgotten to do but didn't have enough time to hold the spool itself. It went flying out of the boat, Barely missing Andreas head, and thankfully landed floating in the water where we could grab it quickly.
 
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I use this spool for anchor lines and may go to them for longlines. Clips would be no problem in the spool.


Life changer for me with anchor lines since I often set bow and stern my myself. You can drop an anchor and leave the spool in the milk crate and motor to drop the next anchor (the line pays out easily as the spool rolls in the crate), but also have the flexibility to hand the spool to someone. You can also easily drop the anchors (with a float) to get birds if needed.
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01JRHJXAE/


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There are a lot of people who use the spool, so it obviously works. I use something a little different and each line can cover 0-75' (as I run some slope in the line due to current) I can also easily add additional weight if need be. It is simply bent rebar with window weights attached in the middle. Each coil represents 2' of longline rope. I use Rig em Right 1/4" main line and have never had a problem. So...if I'm in 25' of water, I take of 20 coils, which gives 40' +/- (again, to have some slope due to tide and current) then do a half hitch over one of the ends to prevent it from uncoiling when retrieved, attach your decoy line and you're good to go. For storage in the boat when not used, I simply put them on end in a milk crate.






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Troy Fields said:
There are a lot of people who use the spool, so it obviously works. I use something a little different and each line can cover 0-75' (as I run some slope in the line due to current) I can also easily add additional weight if need be. It is simply bent rebar with window weights attached in the middle. Each coil represents 2' of longline rope. I use Rig em Right 1/4" main line and have never had a problem. So...if I'm in 25' of water, I take of 20 coils, which gives 40' +/- (again, to have some slope due to tide and current) then do a half hitch over one of the ends to prevent it from uncoiling when retrieved, attach your decoy line and you're good to go. For storage in the boat when not used, I simply put them on end in a milk crate.
Click to expand...

As a user and lover of "H" style anchors, I love those. If I used longlines a little more, I'd be all over designing something like that. Like those a lot. How often do you get one stuck?
 
Troy,

I like your anchoring style....so your lines are free floating on one end so they move with the current? They aren't anchored on both ends?
 
Hi Tod,

I've been using that design for 20 years now and not lost one yet. They anchor really well in rocky areas, I need to add extra sash weight in sandy bottoms with a lot of current.
 
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Hey Dani, I very seldom anchor both ends. I always play current direction for my anchor location, both long line and boat.
 
What is this trickery? I like it. My only concern is I need minimal edges to catch on stuff, Space limited in the 16' boat. We have some rebar around, I'll rig one of these up and give it a whirl
 
Dani I use just shy of 3' droppers off my mainline. Mainline is 1/4" Sinking. Dog can easily swim thru decoys plus I can pass thru with boat if need be. Those droppers stay attached to decoy with 6" stainless longline clips with swivel. Can grab and drag deployed longline with decoys attached to put bends in it or just adjust easily . 5lb. window weights on front and 2 lb. window weight on rear.
 
Nick,

I run that identical setup for my longlines. The only difference is I put my decoys in rubbermaid totes. About 8 decoys fit in a tote. I used the cheap carabiners from Home depot I think they were a buck a piece at the time and they are about 10 years old now. I have about 3' of mainline past the decoy dropper on the ends. I keep my mainline extensions at about 15' on an extension cord reel. As far as attaching the carabiners to the mainline I have done 2 things. Just tie it directly with a clove hitch and then an ovehand knot for good measure. Or tie a swivel to the carabiner using a clove hitch and then tie the mainline to the swivel with a bowline. The clove hitch to the carabiner is key so the mainline is secured to the carabiner and does not move. Otherwise the carabiner will inevitably be backwards as you drift in the wind bobbing up and down trying to clip it onto and anchor or another line. I tied the carabiners directly to the line with a clove hitch and then a overhand knot for good measure. I use 120 tarred twine for mainlines. If I am in less than 6' of water and minimal current I can get away without the extentions. I hunt a lot of different areas and conditions and this setup gives a lot of flexibility. I may have some pictures somewhere of my setup. I will see if I can find them, otherwise it may have to wait until fall when I get them out of storage.
 
Nick, I might also suggest to use carabiners at both ends of your droppers instead of a ring. This way you never have the wrong end. You can very easily clip two carabiners together. Then just put a loop on your anchor to clip onto. The carabiners do not bind up when attached together and wound around the electrical cord spool
 
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