Texas rig question

Blake K

Blake K

Active member
I just bought some 6' 4oz Texas rigs. I have used 3' in the past with no issues, but have one deeper hole in my marsh that the 3' will not work. Probably a dumb question with a simple answer, but how to you keep the 6' from getting all tangled up when you transport them via boat or jet sled? I rigged up a dozen decoys last night and it seems as if all I ended up with was a semi-tangled mess. Thanks in advance for any simple solution.
 
Linhardt said:
I have thought about trying to do a DIY version of this https://fnsproducts.com/...hilrod-shallow-water for my texas rigged 3' lines.

Here are some videos on it https://www.youtube.com/...MuHhNE64z-uOA/videos

You might be able to do it for 6' lines.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the information-Definitely gives me an idea for a DIY version.

I'm thinking a 2" 5' or so long lightweight PVC pipe open on one end and putting an end cap on the other end with a small holed drilled in the center of the end cap. Run a rope/cable/etc thru the hole in the endcap and attach a carabiner to the end of the rope. Pull the rope up thru the pipe with the texas rigs attached to the carabiner, then just need to come up with a simple way to hold the rope tight against the length of the pipe so it doesnt become a tangled mess(I'm thinking a low profile hook at bottom end of pipe or using a bungee cord and simply attaching bungee to the rope on one end and using the bungee cord hook and attaching to open end of pipe.
 
I have rigged 4 of 12 for a deeper set. I just put an overhand knot in the 4 to keep them separate . I also use slotted bags to hunt out of avoiding the tangle
 
Not TX rigged, but in a similar application, I grouped the lines in groups of 6, and simply tied a chain of slip knots. Grab the end and pull to separate. These tangle free lines were also 6-ft long. For deeper water I'd swap out for "H" weight with 20' of tarred line on them.



wirecloseup.jpg
 
Blake K said:
Thanks for the information-Definitely gives me an idea for a DIY version.

I'm thinking a 2" 5' or so long lightweight PVC pipe open on one end and putting an end cap on the other end with a small holed drilled in the center of the end cap. Run a rope/cable/etc thru the hole in the endcap and attach a carabiner to the end of the rope. Pull the rope up thru the pipe with the texas rigs attached to the carabiner, then just need to come up with a simple way to hold the rope tight against the length of the pipe so it doesnt become a tangled mess(I'm thinking a low profile hook at bottom end of pipe or using a bungee cord and simply attaching bungee to the rope on one end and using the bungee cord hook and attaching to open end of pipe.
Click to expand...

Looks like that plan might work.
If you do build it make sure you come back and update how you did with pics. I am sure there are others that might like to know if it works out for you.
 
Looks like that plan might work.
If you do build it make sure you come back and update how you did with pics. I am sure there are others that might like to know if it works out for you.[/quote]

Definitely will do--planning a run to the hardware store this evening to pick up some test materials. I will post pics.
 
Mine are 5 footers. I put the loops on all the lines in a carabiner, then tie up to a dozen lines in a large, loose double overhand knot. This keeps them from tangling in the boat, and I assume would work the same dragging a sled.

For walking, I forego the knot and just sling them over a shoulder, holding the carabiner in one hand. A half dozen or eight magnum plastic blacks are comfortable for up to a 1/2 mile walk. More than that and I'd rather drag a sled.


That long piece of 2" PVC will add a lot of weight, I think.
 
I have 6'ers that I use everywhere and they are Texas rigged. I do like others and add a twist. I put 6 on a carabiner and then tie a knot on the 6 long lines towards the weight end. I then use that carabiner end and clip it a loop I have attached to the boat. No knots and no tangles ever.
 
Worked on this last night and was very pleased with the end result both on how it works and cost to produce. Headed out of town for rest of weekend--planning to post pics of the project on Monday.
 
First I have heard about the Hilrod system. Has anyone got one and tried it out? Just curious what your opinion of it is. Thanks
 
Dale Wilcox said:
First I have heard about the Hilrod system. Has anyone got one and tried it out? Just curious what your opinion of it is. Thanks
Click to expand...

I have not tried out an actual Hilrod system. I did construct something similar last week. I will try to take and post pics either later tonight or tomorrow. For my purpose, I believe what I constructed will work very well.
 
Below is a picture of my simple system which will work great in my Countyline 1038 layout boat. Simply cut a 1 1/4" round 10' PVC pipe in half to be able to make two of these. I cemented an endcap to one end and drilled a hole thru it(be sure hole is big enough to allow the loop knot mentioned below to pass thru). Ran a string(make sure it is a couple feet longer than the length of the pipe to start with) thru pipe and connected it to the carabiner. I then pulled the carabiner up thru pipe with the string, tied a loop knot towards the end of the string and simply attached a bungee cord from the loop to the bottom of the pipe. With the extra string a made a handle using a small diameter pipe which will help me hold onto the string as well as preventing it from pulling back out the hole.

If I were to construct more of these for 6' texas style rigs, I believe I would use 5'6" length pipe but for economy of scale, the 10' pipe cut in half made the most sense.

I will be able to put one of these at the bottom of each interior side of the layout boat for 2 dozen decoys and not have a tangled mess in the boat.


IMG_6890.jpg
 
That looks pretty good. I have not rigged any of my decoys with texas rigs before because of the various depths of water it seems I always hunt, they would not be long enough to hold in many places I hunt like rivers and lakes. When I used to hunt coastal waters there is little I like worse than leaving the blind to fetch decoys floating off, especially on stormy days with a south wind and extra high tide. I did hunt an area some last season that had shallow water, up in Kansas, so I plan to rig a few dozen texas rigs and see how it works out. I think I will try your PVC line/decoy holders too. Thanks.
 
Dale Wilcox said:
That looks pretty good. I have not rigged any of my decoys with texas rigs before because of the various depths of water it seems I always hunt, they would not be long enough to hold in many places I hunt like rivers and lakes. When I used to hunt coastal waters there is little I like worse than leaving the blind to fetch decoys floating off, especially on stormy days with a south wind and extra high tide. I did hunt an area some last season that had shallow water, up in Kansas, so I plan to rig a few dozen texas rigs and see how it works out. I think I will try your PVC line/decoy holders too. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have all my decoys Texas rigged, mostly on 3' so I don't use a PVC for them. I simply tie a knot to keep them from tangling up when storing. Only planning to use the PVC on the 6' Texas rigs. However with that being said, if I had to walk in some distance, the PVC pipe system would be much nicer as they will simply balance on your shoulder hands free

I really like how simple, quick, and easy I can throw out and pick up decoys, plus be able to stay much drier than the standard wrap around the keel weight systems.
 
If using a boat you might even be able to create some sort of rod holder that you could then put the end of the PVC in that would extend the decoys outside the gunnels for transport. Thus leaving more room inside the boat. Just something that I was thinking about when I first saw the Hilrod system.

decoys in boat.jpg
 
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That would certainly be an added benefit I had not thought about. It seems at least half the time I go duck hunting there is never enough room in the boat, so that it is cluttered where you cannot move around or find what you need at the moment. Like these boats. LOLhickory mnd.jpg
 
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