How to make a wildfowling Rig

Tom Sykes explains how to rig duck decoys so that they can be used on motherlines or individual weights
There are many different ways to rig up decoys. Over the years I have used a variety of cords and techniques on a range of decoys until I found what I believe is the perfect combination for the job.
You should start by choosing the best decoy for your price range. The UK decoy market is always improving, though we don’t have as wide a selection as the States, there are still a lot of products making it across the Pond. I have been using Green Head Gear (GHG) decoys for the last five or so seasons and really can’t complain about the quality. Even to this day my original decoys still look great on the water, which takes some doing as they are out on average for two or three flights a week throughout the season.
The GHG decoys are also easy to use and rig up as they have numerous holes to attach cord and have a notch in the keel that firmly secures the decoy cord in place when the cord is wrapped up. The keels are weighted so that the decoy should sit correctly on the water and they do a great job of adding movement to the decoy spread with the slightest of currents.
Rigging
There are many different ways to rig decoys. The GHG’s have numerous holes in the keel to attach them. The conventional way is to tie cord to the keel and then wrap it around the decoy’s neck. This is fine, but prolonged use can wear on the paint.
The ‘Sykes’ rig
This takes elements of the Texas rig, but makes it more versatile for UK ‘fowling, be it tidal creek or inland pond. The basic principle is the same as the Texas rig, however as most of my decoying takes place on tidal creeks and rivers I have no need for a weight to be permanently attached to the decoy cord as I rarely use separate weights systems. I have replaced the weights with heavy-duty long line fishing clips so that my decoys can be easily attached directly to a motherline without the need for loops.
When it comes to using this system with weights, simply thread a loop of para-cord through a fishing weight and attach the long line clip to it. The para-cord is the key to this technique, as unlike a snap swivel, which can be looped on to the weight and re-clasped, the long line clip has to bite down on some form of cord.
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[@fullstrutn]

very very nice always something new to learn

[@jamisonsinclair4946]

Nice job!

[@DavidMiller-dv1or]

Hi Tom, watched this video a few years ago and now I'm in the process of creating your rig to use on my local ponds and floods. What do you use for your motherline?

[@brexithappynewyear7191]

born of frustration

[@robbiecampbell9831]

cool