Layout decoy spreds

[grizhunter]

Going to try some layout hunting for divers this fall,sure could use some help on how to set up the decoys.
My main lines will hold 12 decoys each,just not sure on pattern.
I have a layout boat and a 18' boat,if the divers are not to spookey I might tryto hunt from the larger boat so all of us can get a little action???

[Jayson Wilt]

On your back is wheres it at brother!!!!! I take it you are probably going to be hunting a lake. I like to string my blocks so that the layoutboat is to the upwind side of the lines, and that lines work like runway strips to the birds. This will putthem right on the end of the barrel. If hunting from a larger boat or shore I like to set my lines to side of the blind with the top of the blocks just below the blind site. But hey thats just my way.

[grizhunter]

Yes we will be hunting on Lake huron.
So I guess you set the layout boat close to your lines,on the upwind end.
The problem that I might encounter is that I watch divers flying both up wind and down wind on the lake.
The spot I want to hunt they fly both directions.
Also later in the season I have watched large rafts of duck leap frog in front of each other and reland on the water in front of the raft.
How far apart should I space my lines???

[Jayson Wilt]

I personally like to set mine about five yards apart. and use a few droppers randomly to make it more life like as well. What species are you targeting?

[grizhunter]

Well I am not really sure what type of ducks are in the rafts because they are to far away to tell.
But that will be solved this fall once we are set up to layout hunt.
We do get scaup(Blue Bill) and Ring neck,the way we hunt now.

Is there anyway you or some one could draw a couple of typical layout spreads.
It would be so much easier to understand if it could be done.

[Jayson Wilt]

Email me at suskiedrake@aol.com I think I have some pics of spreads somewhere in my computer I can email them directly to you along with a few links I have found. I am fairly computer stupid or I would just attach them to the post.

[mndiverwacker]

i suggest you get some goldie decoys. they like to stick with there own kind.

[Jayson Wilt]

I couldnt agree more with mndiverwacker more. Whistlers like there own kind. Here is a pic of one of my spreads pic isnt greatest. But there are bills,cans, and buffies in this river spread and the pic was shot from the blind boat with a camera phone so the distance seems much farther than what it actually is. With this spread result in two of us shooting limits in about hour and a half mainly buffies.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2789/122405diverspread6tm.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=122405diverspread6tm.jpg)

Sorry it is really blury but the key is white and black. I have also started using wind spinners which have been extremely benefical. The whistlers and bills seemed to mezmorized with them.

[grizhunter]

Thanks for the replys they have helped alot.
The boat blind and the location were also very cool.
All the pics have helped
For some reason I have the fever really bad this year cant wait till this fall.
Spent most of the day yesterday making layout anchors.
Now that project is finished, I think I will start working on how to retrive and store the motherlines.

[Jayson Wilt]

I use a 12X18 inch piece of 1/2 inch plywood to wrap my mother lines it keep me from untangling knots in the dark. Friends of mine keep there blocks right on their motherlines and store in garbage cans or drake stand up bags.

[Max4Gooser]

Griz,

You should try hunting Geese out of the layout boat also. We used to hunt them a lot out of a layout, set up 200 to 400 yards off the refuge line at Rend Lake in Illinois, and knock the snot out of them. We would put out 12 dozen dekes, kind of surround the layout boat in an oval direction, and the geese would waterwalk right into or through our spread. Lots of fun.

[grizhunter]

Suskiedrake
Like I said thanks for all the help.
I think your idea of using a piece of wood is simple and will fuction without getting high tech,Thats what i will use.
Only live a 100yds from the big water and this afternoon as I drove down the lake road,I kept looking at the ducks moving back in for summer.

Griz

[grizhunter]

Max4gooser

Hell I can see that this layout hunting is going to get out of hand(great)
I am glad you brought that up because I see geese skirting the shore quite often.Also hear them talking in the morning and evening.
Could we set up two spreads 1/4-1/2 mile apart and use same tender boat???
Getting away from the small lake that I have hunted for years and moving to the big water is gonna be a rip.

Griz

[Max4Gooser]

Griz,

I don't see why you couldnt, as long as it is legal where you hunt, we usually hunt one guy in the layout boat, (we have both a one man and a two man boat), and then use the tender (chase) boat as a blind to hunt another 3-4 guys out of. We use those Motorola Talk about radios to coordinate between the boats. Usually run 30 to 45 minute shifts in the layout, and draw straws for "batting" order.

We haven't hunted this way in a few years now, harder to do with the stake blind setup used on most lakes here now, but when we did we used to clean up on geese.

Good luck with this set up, and don't forget to post up on your success with this method next season.

[grizhunter]

Max4gooser

I will check our laws here in Michigan.
Incase I was not clear enough One set up for ducks with one layout boat,Second setup for gease with one layout boat.
If it would not be to much to do or unsafe it would give the guys more time in the layout boat rather then in the chase boat.
But first I will have to somewhat master(or try)big water hunting in general.

Thanks Griz

[mndiverwacker]

well since we cand hunt open water in mn im forced to hunt a point but what we do is like this

the dots represent decoys

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/lukemichels45/spread.jpg