Long line question

B

bob Petritsch

Active member
expanding the diver rig this year. Now use lines with 100feet between first and last decoy. Put a dozen decks on each line. Will need to put out six lines this year and think it might be too " wide".
Should I use fewer lines and put more decoys on each line.....use longer(over 100 feet between first and last decoy or just add more decoys to existing lines.
Also added canvasback to rig for first time. Should they be on their own long line or mixed into rig. If on their own line where should that line go in the rig?
I also put out a large pod of single decoys in front of the long lines.
 
Everybody has a different theory, My lines are about like yours with 12 decoys per line.
4 lines side by side makes setting and picking up easy, as you can do 2 lines at a time, with 3 guys, other times I'll take one line and use it to form a tail to the rig. The lanes between lines don't matter.
As for other species, I'd bunch them up at the head, or put them on a line of their own at the outside of the rig, especially with canvasbacks with all that white for visibility. YMMV
 
Bob,

I have put out as many as eight long lines....typically 4 on each side of boat or 4 port side 3 starboard side and one right up the middle from the layout. No issues and in my opinion not wide at all. As previously stated, its a personal choice and I don't think the divers really care about how wide your lines are. Have a safe and successful season!

Dave
 
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If i am doing my math right, thats about 9' between decoys on each line.
When I see a flock of divers feeding or loafing, they are a lot closer together than 9', more line 3-4' if not right on top of each other.
Why not put more decoys on each line, vs using more lines??
Just a thought
 
I would add to Carl's comments about density.... I usually have no more that 5ft between birds on the long-lines. The length of your droppers will somewhat dictate spacing. I have 30 inch droppers as I rig for a retriever. I use single line decoys to serve as stoppers in the gap, and define the drop zones for the birds. As far as cans, and where to position them? I have heard strong conviction that the cans will not fly over the other decoys. In my experience, I have seen that is generally true, but not always. I do set cans separate, and in most cases the cans will decoy to the cans. BBs, RHs, and Ringers don't seem to be so discriminant, they seem to fly over anything, but generally won't drop into the cans, but glide over and drop nearer the like decoys. Obviously BBs, RHs, and Ringers all wing and loaf together along with Wigeon in my area. Buffies like buffies.
 
That my experience also, I usually have 3-6 canvasback decoys set off to one side of the diver spread. Most times when cans actually decoy, they drop in right next to the can decoys.
 
Bob,

My long lines are the same as yours, 125 ft. so I have about 12-15 ft. on each end for anchor scope. I also have 12 decoys per line because that is how many of my oversized Toledos I can fit in the leaf bags that I use for each individual long line. Personally I don't think it matters where you put your cans in the group. I've tried moving different species around the rig and it doesn't seem to have much if any affect with the exception of GEs. GEs will sometimes come into an all BB or mixed rig but I have also seen them do a slow flyby looking for other GE and not swing in if they don't see any. Sometimes I will put the biggest, sharpest dressed bull can decoys on the end of the line as a visual draw.

All that said, I have hunted over a net rig where decoys are zip tied to a net 3 ft. or so apart and the whole thing is just a big wad of decoys - works great.

Probably the biggest factor IMO is where and how your set your gap to direct the birds into your preferred kill zone. Secondly, if you want to shoot GEs, you should have GE decoys.

Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, we still haven't figured out how to think like a duck though we try, and try every year[cool]
 
We usually change the density of the decoys depending on the conditions.
Typically tightening up the spread more more visibility in choppy water.

I usually use random dropper lengths to break up the pattern.

It took me a long time for me to get this in my head but don't be afraid to move the boat around the decoys if the birds aren't working.
It's great when your "plan comes together" but often moving your boat a few yards will make a big difference.
Try something crazy if the birds are flaring, you've go nothing to lose.
If you can get the boat "hidden" in the glare of the sun it often works wonders.

Don't get stuck on where the birds should land. Let them show you where they want to be on a given day and move the boat instead of the decoys.
 
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I agree with Mike Sheppard. Just moving the boat a few feet sometimes made a big difference in decoying vs. fly byes and we could never figure out why. I was taught by the guys who hunted Mitchell's Bay Ontario not to have the birds looking at the boat when they come in with the wind. Most of the times that held true, but sometimes it didn't make a difference.

Yet even off to the side there were times when moving left or right made a difference.

And there were days when no matter where you have the boat, the birds are edgy.

I'll let you all know why this happens when I start thinking like a duck instead of a preacher who loves to hunt ducks.

As to Bob's original question, that seems like a lot of space between decoys. Like Carl said, most of the time divers are bunched, even when they are calm and happy.

Good thread.
Larry
 
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