long lines

steve y

Member
What is the distance between decoys when rigging Goldeneyes on long lines, and should I do multiple lines of say 6 decoys or just string them all up on one line? Will have 18 decoys total.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Steve
 
Steve,
You're going to get differing advice and it may depend on where you set up.
Most of the places I hunt are 20' of water or less. I would run a line of 10 and
another of 8 or three lines of 6. Place them about 6' apart on each line. I usually
don't anchor the tail end of the lines unless running 18 or 24 decoys per line.
Good luck, John
 
Steve,

Where are you located? It may help. Here in Michigan, I've been having good luck with just 5 GE off to one side of my diver spread. I had 2 right on top of the blocks last weekend. It's all about location;)
 
Like David, we have luck with just a handful of whistler decoys set out with our puddlers. We'll often set up on or near a point (lakes and coastal both) with the puddlers behind the point in a cove and 3-8 whistlers in a line off the end of the point. Some days the whistler dekes seem to flare black ducks, but mostly both species decoy well, especially the whistlers.
 
I would do three lines of 6 decoys each. it will give a little more depth to the rig.

I space my decoys at least 6 feet apart on the longlines. I have 3 foot droppers and shorter spacing could lead to tangles. Shorter droppers could be spaced closer, but the farther spacing gives the spread a relaxed look. If you're putting the goldeneye in with a large mixed spread than you won't need all 18 of them. But used alone they should be good. i know of a guy who hunts for goldeneye exclusively with a spread of 3 dozen.
 
I think all the ideas are good,especially listen to John's advice...I can say history of the areas I have always hunted have had currents running opposite to the wind direction...In this case, different from other suggestions here, it was best to anchor both ends of the decoys do to current...

Another suggestion here stated was to keep them seperate in the spread...Not to sound elementary because I am sure you have had many of outings with hunting whistlers, but they are pretty species sensitive...You can shoot blues over anything but Goldies like their own...

Regards,

Kristan
 
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