Using a “long-line” rig for setting up a decoy spread speeds up the process compared to setting out single decoys with their own lines and anchor. While some hunters rig their long-lines with swivel clips and add a decoy to each clip as they feed line out over the side of the boat, guide Jennings Rose pre-rigs his decoys to the long-lines by using a monofilament loop crimped in place to the decoy keel’s tying eyehole and through a wire commercial fishing harness loop.
He ties the wire loop to a black crab-pot line using a double surgeon’s loop. This setup prevents the decoys from twisting and tangling while they are in the bag.
Rose rigs eight Homer Decoy blanks painted to resemble surf and black scoters on each long-line. To store them, he uses spring-loaded, collapsible decoy bags. When he is finished setting his decoys, he collapses the bags and moves them out of the way to leave more room in the tender boat as he picks up downed ducks or finishes off cripples.
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