Decoy Rigging
Decoy rigging is the part of the spread nobody photographs and everybody needs: line, weights, crimps and the stakes that hold field decoys upright. Higdon and Zink split this shelf. For water, choose a line and a weight that suits your bottom, then crimp it. For fields, match stakes or ring bases to the decoys you run. The Zink rigging kit and Texas rigs save time when a new six-pack needs rigging tonight.
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hunting decoys · duck decoys · goose decoys · mallard decoys · motion decoys · silhouette decoys · decoy bags
Decoy Line and Crimps
Line is the cheapest part of a spread and the one that ruins the most mornings when it tangles in the dark. This shelf carries Zink braided cord in a 200-foot spool, Zink PVC decoy line and Higdon Nylon Non-Tangle Decoy Line in several lengths. Crimps from both brands close the loops so you are not tying knots with cold fingers. A crimping habit also makes it easy to swap a line later without cutting the keel.
Cut each line to the deepest water you expect to hunt, then add a little for wind and current. Too short and the decoy drags its anchor or tips. Too long and it wanders, wraps a neighbor and turns a neat pocket into a knot. If you hunt the same hole all season, rig to that depth and stop guessing.
Choosing Decoy Weights
Decoy weights come in three shapes on this shelf: strap weights from Zink and Higdon, Higdon Egg Weights in six-packs, and the Higdon J-Weight Decoy Anchor with Rubber Strap. Choose by the bottom you hunt and how the weight rides in the bag. Soft mud and flooded timber forgive a small weight. Moving water and wind on big water ask for more grip, so read the weight listed on each product page before you buy a season's worth. A strap design keeps line and lead wrapped on the decoy between hunts, which matters when the bag holds three dozen.
If you would rather skip part of the build, the Zink Texas Rig in 36- and 54-inch lengths and the Zink Decoy Rigging Kit cut down the tailgate work. They pair well with duck decoys bought by the six-pack, when rigging a whole bag on the tailgate is the last thing you want to do.
Jerk Rigs and Long Lines
A jerk rig puts a few decoys on a single line that you pull from the blind, sending ripples through the spread. It is cheap motion with no batteries and nothing to charge. The Higdon Battleship Jerk Rig and Battleship Rig are built for that job, with Battleship Jerk Rig Clips sold separately in six-packs. Run one alongside a powered unit from our spinning wing decoys shelf and the water looks alive from every angle. Give the string a rest while you work your duck calls, then pull again as birds turn. Check your state's rules on motion decoys before the season, since some states restrict powered units for part of it.
Stakes and Bases for Field Decoys
Field spreads need rigging too, just pointed down instead of out. This shelf carries Higdon APEX Decoy Stakes and APEX Ring Bases, the Alpha Wobbler Stake, and FLATS Motion Silhouette Stakes in tall and short for silhouette decoys. Stakes are built around specific decoy bodies, so confirm compatibility on the product page before you order replacements or spares. A layout blind in the middle and goose calls in the pocket finish the field setup, and wader gear handles the water side.
Decoy Rigging FAQs
How long should decoy line be?
At least as long as the water is deep where you set the decoy, plus some slack for wind and current. Rig a few longer lines for the deep edge of the spread.
Strap weight, egg weight or J-weight?
Start with your bottom and your bag. Small weights suit mud and timber, heavier anchors suit current and open-water wind, and strap styles store wrapped on the decoy. Check the listed weight on each product page.
Do I need crimps, or can I tie knots?
Knots work. Crimps are faster, hold their size, and are easier to undo with pliers when you want to re-rig.