Texas Rigged Decoys ...

[Kevin Hall]

I attended the Duck Hunting Workshop in Lake Mary today. When we were on the subject of decoys ... I brought up "rigging". I also took a dozen BWT that were "Texas-rigged" for an example. Several people were interested in the idea ... so, here's more information.

Original discussion thread ... http://www.drundel.com/hunt/texasrigged/

This information was transferred to an actual web page at TX Waterfowler. http://www.txwaterfowler.com/html_pages/duck_hunting/texas_rigged_decoys/texas_rigged.htm

Mono & crimps (& crimp pliers) can be ordered from http://www.snlcorp.com/, a commercial fishing supply in Sebastian, FL.

Virtually, any type of weight can be used ... egg or bank sinkers, or strap weights. I use "tanglefree" weights ... because they are almost weedless & they actually crimp onto the decoy line (eliminating purchasing extra crimp sleeves). These are the ones that I use ... https://www.tanglefree.com/store/product.php?productid=16891&cat=301&page=1

Good information on proper crimp technique can be found here ... http://www.leadertec.com/tipsandtechniques/crimp_techniques.html


Enjoy! :)

[snookduck]

How long to you make the lines?

[Pinman]

I liked the Texas rigged idea but found that decoys, especially water keel, would turn over on their sides easily in a stiff wind due to the decoy line pulling on the side on the keel instead of straight out from the front.

Anyone else have this problem?

[whistlingwings]

Yep, but I've converted all the water keel to weighted with sand and hot glue to seal the keel

[Kevin Hall]

Snook ... that depends on how deep the water is. ;) Yeah ... I know, smarta$$ answer.

My puddlers have about 5 feet of line ... divers are closer to 8-9'.

I agree with Winston ... ALL of my decoys are weighted keel! Although, most of them were originally water keels. I went about it in a slightly different way ... I used strap weights to shove inside the water keels & use a stainless pop-rivet to secure.

[snookduck]

Very funny Kevin. I noticed that the prerigged deals are short, say three feet, I thought that was a little short even though easy to store if you hang by the loop.

[duckmanJR]

Kev, If you want anything from SNL..let me know and I can save you the shipping...we can hunt your super secret lake again. :)

[D Duck]

I liked the Texas rigged idea but found that decoys, especially water keel, would turn over on their sides easily in a stiff wind due to the decoy line pulling on the side on the keel instead of straight out from the front.

Anyone else have this problem?
No, I have my lines going through the same holes (front or back) of the keel. Although most of mine are weighted.

I also think the that Tanglefree line (not the Avery or other immitation) works better than the mono. I have done both and will be converting all of mine with mono to Tanglefree eventually.

[BlindHog]

That SNL website doesnt seem to be working. Wanted to price the mono.

Also what is the minimum lb. mono that is good for this? I think they are saying 300 lb.? Wouldnt something lighter (cheaper) work? I guess stiffer is better but man, 300-400?

[duckbone]

I use 250# and 1.9 crimps. I don't use the slide thru the hole with a loop method I just crimp them right on the decoy hole with a big loop to allow the decoy to swim better. If you slide thru the holes to bring the weight up and tie the big overhand knot they tend to remember that and become alot less tangle free. I just put them all in the bag one at a time.

[Pinman]

I bought some clear Tanglefree line last year. Very cool stuff!

[D Duck]

I used 200lb mono and it is a little too stiff. I think that 100lb would be fine.

Like Pat said the mono can get a little memory if you do the overhand knot - that's another reason I prefer the Tanglefree.

[duckbone]

You need it stiff thats what makes it tanglefree. 250# I wouldn't go less.

[Keith Yates]

I never could get the hook to stay in so I Carolina rigged some.

[Kevin Hall]

Mine are rigged with 400# mono ... 2.2 double crimps, I believe. The guys at SNL will know what you need.

[Kevin Hall]

Kev, If you want anything from SNL..let me know and I can save you the shipping...we can hunt your super secret lake again. :)


The "super secret lake" doesn't have any food this year. :(

[duckmanJR]

Nothing is "super secret" to the spray boys :angry2:

[Kevin Hall]

It wasn't from spraying ... this time.

It was the SUDDEN rise in the water level. Everything, in this section of the river, was completely innundated when TS Fay came through. The "food" was completely covered by water ... & coupled with the resulting lack of sunlight ... it all died. The lakes are pretty barren compared to "normal".

[CUNCRT]

Mine are rigged with 400# mono ... 2.2 double crimps, I believe. The guys at SNL will know what you need.

I use 200lb flurocarbon instead of mono so the ducks cant see my line. :booty:

[Mudfoot]

I took a tip from a friend and rigged my with green weed-wacker line, then rigged the rest of the way as shown in the link. Out of a small spread of eleven, (kayak hunting so I'm limited on how much gear I can take) only two splashed bad. Both were hung on a long tag end that I had left that pinched the keel between the main line and tag causing them to lay over. Got home and clipped all the tags flush with the crimps then tossed them in the water by the house. No more fouling during the test. I think I'll spot spray the line with black paint to break up the green line though.

[Randy Clark]

I took a tip from a friend and rigged my with green weed-wacker line, then rigged the rest of the way as shown in the link. Out of a small spread of eleven, (kayak hunting so I'm limited on how much gear I can take) only two splashed bad. Both were hung on a long tag end that I had left that pinched the keel between the main line and tag causing them to lay over. Got home and clipped all the tags flush with the crimps then tossed them in the water by the house. No more fouling during the test. I think I'll spot spray the line with black paint to break up the green line though.

now thats thinking great idea