Texas type decoy rigs

Ed L.

Ed L.

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I'm reading where guys are using .080 weedwacker line for decoy rigs rather than the expensive 400 lb mono line. Anyone here doing that? If so where are you getting clips? Those that are doing this claim standard 4 oz or 6 oz egg sinkers can be used without drilling the thru hole.
 
I'm using .130 oregon gator line (round) weed wacker cord. Ordered a 3 pound spool (459') from amazon. Actually comes from Wisconsin, I'm on my second spool of it and both arrived in 3-4 days. Pretty slick.

Got decoy snap swivels from cabelas... not cheap, but the best deal I could find.

Using 1/8" cable ferrules from a trapping supplier - $7 for a hundred. Don't do the math... .130 is slightly more than 1/8" but they work.

So far they are going together nicely, but I haven't used any of them yet.
 
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Robin,

I've been using Tanglefree rigging for several years now. I haven't had any problems but I haven't rigged them Texas style either. I rigging up some decoys that will stay out all season and some have made comments about the PVC not holding up in cold water. That's why I'm considering options. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Mark,

Lowes carries bulk line but I'll probably check Amazon or Ebay. I've know about SNL for some time. I hope I can do a little better on cost.
 
Nick,

Thanks. Looks like you have it figured out. I almost ordered snap swivels from Basspro today until I saw your reply. Better price at Cabelas. I haven't used this style before but 20 bucks for 50 beats 10 bucks for 12 from BP anyday.
 
Just got a flyer from Knutson's today and they have multiple crimp choices on page 17. Sure is on internet also.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I found out my local source will be discontinuing selling Tanglefree components and will sell only the factory rigged kits after their remaining stock is sold. $25 bucks for 6 texas style rigs is highway robbery. I bought all the stock they had on the shelfs for half of what I would pay for the kits to do my decoys. I now have enough stock to re-rig my stuff a few times over. If I find I do have problems with using the PVC in a Texas style rig as some have mentioned I'll be switching to another source anyway.
 
I've been hunting late season Ohio for five years with some of the same texas rigged clear tanglefree lines without any issues I've found. But that's just my experience, and trust me, I usually change things at the moment it's not perfect or at least the best it can be. I change just to change. It's an issue.
 
Having several local sources of heavy saltwater fishing gear I have found that the decoy kits are more costly than the fishing gear. The crimps are standard black anadized copper crimps for wire line. I do not use any kind of swivel on Texas rigs. I am using 4oz bank sinkers rather than egg sinkers since I have a large supply of them from the old family saltwater fishing stockpile. I do not have a current or wind issue so the light bank sinkers work really well.
 
GEEEEZE, I was going to place an order with SNL...the shipping knocked them out of the park...maybe it was the weights...
 
I'm going to try both ways. Some with swivels and some I have the line mearly going through a hole in the keel. I'd like to see how the decoys "swim" in a current or sit in a pond with minimal wind for movement. My dad ALWAYS used swivels maintaining that a decoy needs freedom of movement with the slightist of breeze. Me on the other hand until a few years ago I used briaded line with a simple loop through the keel hole and no swivel.
 
I didn't think that Texas rigging and wooden decoys mixed well?? Just kidding Ed. Thanks for bringing this up as I have been thinking of changing my rigging system as well.

I have 12-18 rigs set up at varying lengths of 6-10-15 feet depending where I'll be hunting. I just take the decoys that I'll need and clip on the length that I'll need. This way I don't have to have 10 dozen decoys rigged all at once.
 
I crimp about 5' of 400lb mono directly to the keel and I crimp a loop on the other end. I use 4-6 oz. egg sinkers and keep up to 2dz decoys on a clip. When deploying I slide the egg sinker to the end and toss the decoy. When picking up I slide the egg sinker towards the decoy and clip the other end on a clip. Once I've picked up all 7-8 dz. I put them in the cockpit of my boat and stretch the lines out and attach the clips to a loop I have running along the grass rails on my Bankes.

I can set a huge spread in about 15 min this way and pick it up in about 25 min. I've never needed swivels and sure as heck wouldn't buy the pre-made stuff.

Remember all of the fishing line has a line class rating, but it should also mention it's diameter. Crimps are made by size not pound test.

-D
 
Mike,

That's one reason I'm going to use the swivels. I tried the push button clamps for adjusting for depth but was never happy with that. I typically hunt 3 locations with depths that vary from about 12" to 5'. I'll also hunt the open river where I'm looking at 10' occasionally. For that I'll gang rig some divers. For the marsh and ponds I want to be able to change out the rigs for proper depth. I'm down to about 7 doz decoys these days. I have 2-3 doz that will spend the season out at the river blind, 4 doz in the boat. 2 doz of woodies and teal which get used in the early season and 2 doz puddlers. Where I hunt other than the river blind large layouts aren't natural and seem to flare the ducks. In the couple of small marshes I hunt 2 doz are more than enough.
 
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