Gang Rigging Part II

[cubbies11]

Ok so I made my setup with a little bit of everyones advice, now what decoys do I use on the line? I have 18 spots open in the line. Then what does the setup look like? Do I run a line back to a "V", "T", "J" or some other setup? Any advice is welcome. Thanks

Cubbies

[whitewolf6647]

On my longer lines I use all canvasbacks becasue the white really shows up at longer distances, on my shorter one I use bluebills and redheads. Then I use a mix of Bluebills buffleheads, goldeneyes, cans, and redheads as fillers. The pattern you use all depends on the wind and location you are hunting. If the wind is right at your back blowing straight out I use an arrow formation kind of like this one notice the pocket in teh middle this is were I throw my single decoys as fillers.

ddddd f I

dddddddddddddd f ddddd f I

f f ddddd <--- wind I blind

dddddddddddddd f f ddddd f I

ddddd f I

I

If you are set up and the wind is blowing from either sied of you I use the j formation kind like this.

dddddd

f dddd f

f f f dddd d <----- wind

dddddddddddddddddddd f

f f

___________________________________________

blind

Those are about the only two formation I use consistently because they have produced for me very well over the last few years. But you have to experiment and find what works where you are at and what you and the birds like best. ONe you get your spread out don't be afraid to rearrange as the morning or day progresses. example we were out this moring for onyl about 3-4 hours and I rearranged my decoys about 4 times to get them just right and of course it paid off. Another example last year I was out and had the standard j formation set up and the birds were coming in but breaking over the middle fo the ong line before they got in gun range so I moved my two shorter lines around and stagered them along side the long line and placed my fillers in the gaps and every other duck that came to the decoys came right in the pockets like they're suppose to do and we (3 guys) ended up shooting our limit in about 45 minutes after not having fired a shot all morning and making those few little changes. That setup ended up looking like this. So it wasn't really a J it was more of a wedge formation.

dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd f f I

f f f I

ddddddddddddddddd f I

I

<--------- ddddddddddd I blind

wind f f ff I

ddddddddd I

f I

I

OH one more thing don't buy cheap diver decoys they can really get beat up, paint scratched, shot and you want somthing that will last many season. If you can go with G&H cans and bluebills. Trust me you won't be sorry. If you can afford it look also at Herters those things are tough as nails and they can take some pellets thus lasting a very long time. I did buy 1 dozen of the Flambeau mag Canvasbacks and they haven't disapointed me but for $60 for 1/2 dozen theyre' a little spendy but they look GREAT and are quite durable. Also for fillers I would suggest getting some mags or even supermags to fill the gaps or the pocket. Also for fillers you don't need any more that 1 dozen I only use about 8-10 and that amount works fine plus it doesn't take nearly as long to put out or pick up that many. Good luck hope this helped.

[whitewolf6647]

Now why did it do that. That really sucks I spent alot of time putting down those diagrams DAMMITT!!!!!!! NOw I'm kind upset.

Arrow formation:

------\\\\\__

------/////

J formation:

ddddddddddddddddddddddd

dd

ddddd

dddddddddd

Wedge formation:

dddddddddddddddddddddddd

ddddddddddddd

ddddddd

dddd

That's the jist of it like I said all depends on the wind direction from where your set up.