Gang Rigging Decoys?

[cubbies11]

I was just wondering how to go about making a gang rig. I want to be able to remove my decoys from the rig, possibly clips or something. Does anyone use this kinda rig and if so could you explain how you made it?

Cubbies

[83walleye]

Get yourself 250' of relatively cheap poly rope, couple dozen decoy anchor(strap style), and 3 dozen shower curtain rings(you know, the ones that have a simple catch with big and smal loop). A big round plastic basket is good for storing - you can get these at Target cheap. Two downrigger balls(3lb), one for each end of string.

Attach 10' of rope to the downrigger balls, and a snap at the other end. Tie a loop into each end of your 250' rope, so you can snap the balls on each end of the rope. Thread the shower curtain rings right through the rope about every 10'-12'. Tie 4' of tanglefree decoy cord to each decoy, and make a loop at the other end.

Simply open the curtain ring, clip it on the loop at the end of each decoy cord, and put the entire string out, one decoy at a time. When you pickup, get on the downwind end, unhook the 'rigger ball, and "walk" your way up the line, unclipping each decoy, closing each clip, and neatly feeding line into the big round tub.

I said 250', enough for about 2-3 dozen decoys, but you could use less if you had fewer decoys. I forgot to mention the strap anchors - wind these around your main rope every 10'-12' as well - they will sink the line so your dog can swim out there and you can drive your motor out there without tangling the main line.

Remember, you're trying to create a line for the ducks to follow up to your "bunch" of diver decoys(maybe a dozen and a half or so), sitting right outside your blind. Many people make the mistake of putting their "line" decoys too close together - every 10'-12' seems to be about right.

Start at your blind and run it right out, hopefully downwind, from your blind. Divers seem to like open water to swing over as they follow the line up to, you might say, certain doom.

Giddyup!!

[Norsk Fisker]

I used extra heavy decoy cord with knotted loops every 10 feet or so. For an anchor, I used a concrete filled coffee can with a length of rope to attach the decoy line. I like 83's idea of shower curtain snaps, especially when you have cold fingers. I used a short length of line with a snap leading from the main line and hog rings on the decoys. The problem was the stuff getting tangled. I also like 83's idea of lead decoy anchors, good way to use the old ones that are breaking apart. I used fishing weights but that added to the cost.

I always put my drake decoys out on the end to increase visibility. I did not anchor the end, I let it move with the wind.

[whitewolf6647]

I made all my long lines out of tangle free decoy line and medium and large alligator clips. For my weights I use heavy duty braided decoy line I tried the tangle free but with the heavier weights sometime they break the tangle free line. Window sash weights work great for gang rig weights if you can find them. The 5 pounders are what I use on my really long ines 3 dozen decoys or more and the three pounder are what I use on my shorter lines 1-2 dozen. For my really short lines 8 decoys I use a tuna can filled with lead with 3 screws drilled in the sides with about an inch or so sticking out to catch bottom.

Here's what the clips I use look like:

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/products/full/2473.jpg

I also use those snaps that cabelas sells they work pretty good also but I like the clips better and there easiser to work with cold fingers.

[wyldewal]

I use the shower clip method tied to tangle free line. And for the wieghts I use a couple of 5 pounders from an old wieght set I had around the house. I don't use them for lifting, (maybe I should ) so I might as well use them for something.