Texas Rigged Decoys - Step by Step

This is reprinted by permission of the author who created it. 

This rigging style is great for quick set-up and pick-up and is useful for keeping hands dry on cold days.  The guide who wrote this posted it on a public forum and has given me permission to share it.

First, the required materials. You need 300-400# monofilament line available as leader material or thru long-line suppliers. Second you need some weights, they can be strap weights, egg weights or bank sinkers. All will work fine and with strap weights you can wrap up the decoys in a traditional manner if need be. Third you need some crimp sleeves and there are several different styles. I use the aluminum and they do get dull in a hurry, I don't think they spook birds. You will also need a drill and a 1/4" bit and a pair of crimping pliers and a good sharp knife.

I will demonstrate on a Carrylite decoy which has to have a hole drilled in the keel since the loop to attach the anchor line is too large. This should illustrate what to do in that situation.

First you attach the weight to the line with a crimp sleeve. Make sure you trim the tag end of the line off completely. If you don't these tags will catch on the other decoy lines and give you headaches. If you use an egg sinker just stick the line thru the sinker and attach a crimp to it to keep it from sliding back out. If you use a bank sinker or strap weight do it like this...

Next you must cut the line to the desired length be it 3' or 10' I don't think it matters. What ever hunting depth you desire.

Then you need to prep the decoy keel. You want a big enough hole that the decoy line will slide thru it easily but small enough that the crimp sleeves don't get hung in it. I find a 1/4" hole is about ideal.

Next you run the end of the line thru the hole in the keel...

Now on the end of the line opposite the weight you form a loop. I will detail how I do it with pictures as it's easier than with words. Here is the start, you put a crimp sleeve on the end of the line and form an overhand knot making about a 2-3" wide loop...

Then you continue to pass the tag end of the line thru the loop 2-3 more times until you make it back around to the crimp sleeve...

The tag end then goes into the crimp sleeve and the sleeve is crimped shut. The tag end sticking out of the crimp sleeve needs to be trimmed flush with the crimp sleeve to prevent snags...

Now you have finished rigging a decoy.

Then you clip all the loops together, I use cheap aluminum carabineers in bright colors so I can find them if I drop one. I put 2 dz. decoys per carabineer. This is how I store them... & Here is a close-up of the carabineer full of loops.

When I get ready to hunt I tie an overhand knot in the bundle of decoy lines to prevent the decoys from wrapping up too much and to make them easier to handle. I can carry 4 dz. decoys slung over my shoulders or 6 dz. on the racks of my ATV. This rig works great for boat hunters.  You can run a rope across the front of the bow and attach them.

There you have it. When you get to where you hunt you just untie the knot, unclip the carabineer and chunk them out. When you go to throw them they throw really easily because the weight and the decoy are together, when they hit the water the decoy line slides thru the hole in the keel and the crimp sleeve/loop act as a stopper. When you pick them up you just grab the loops which are right by the decoy and clip them on a carabineer until you get however many you want on the clip. Easy as it can be.

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