Decoy help
 

We have a big problem with losing decoys after a good storm. We put out 2-500 hundred with some painted 2 liters in the mix. We mix quick-crete and fill styrofoam coffe cups up and put a good size staple in them to tie to for an anchor. They usually hold good in the marsh mud, but swells gradually move them across the lake or the line breaks eventually. Anyone have any suggestions or experience with this? And no I'm not picking them up after every hunt. Thanks for any input.

We use to do the same thing in an large open lake. We would use 4in PVC pipe cut 5 inches long and filled with cement. Had to be about a pound and we never had any problems with them moving, only sinking.

how long are your strings vs water depth? what kind of string are you using?

Easy Fix...... We also plant 300+ decoys in open marsh lakes and the waves can get pretty nasty. We simply tie a lead strip weight (standard decoy weight) to each decoy with a 4-6 ft string, then bend the bottom 3rd of the weight into a "J" figure. We then get a 1/2 inch PVC pipe (4-5 foot long) and put the bent portion of the "J" into the pipe and we then push the PVC pipe about a foot into the mud.... When you pull the PVC pipe out of the mud the lead weight stays anchored under the mud because of the "J" design. I guarantee this thing will not come out the mud unless you pull hard on the string. Make sure to make your strings long enough for fluctuations in water depth, because if the water rises high enough. you will return to your decoy spread with only the butts of the decoys sticking out of the water!!!

Think I might go with this idea. Thanks for the feedback

I use clear weed eater string. .095 diameter. I use the 12 oz. lead mushroom weights. I, too, push each into the mud w/ a piece of PVC pipe.

We use to tied wooden stakes to the strings and push them in the mud. They never come out and are light weight and free.

Egg weights sink and hold pretty good. I wouldn't waste my time on cement

500 egg weights are expensive. Especially 6-10 oz ones.
Cement is pretty cheap

gotta stomp them ito the mud...the 4 ft long pvc is a good idea we will have to try it we always just use our feet

Who uses 6-10 oz egg weights? What are you anchoring? A boat? I can Texas rig with 4 oz weights with 4 ft 400 lb leaders for around a dollar a decoy.

I mean if you've got enough money for 500 decoys, you've got enough money for egg weights too just sayin

Not the case here. lol

if birds aren't decoying second split, it's obvious why they're not lol!

If we don't put out a huge spread we won't kill anything. The place is a gar hole, just in a good flyway. All I ask for is a look, they ain't gotta land lol

Gar hole location..

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lol if they land in my pond, it's because i was in the boat grabbing another beer or the bottle of hot damm, second split for me, i save 2 dozen of my BEST/NEW mallard DECs, put out a 18ish mallards, 8 teal, and roll with it

first split about 60-70 decs ( we have to pick up / put out every day )

Hurrd dat. lol