Diver Spread

[fowlshot]

we are gonna try to hunt over saltwater for the first time for some divers. i only have one diver deek and it is a greater scaup given to me by my dads friend. would one decoy work? is there any special calling i would need to do?

i already know a few people are gonna have fun with this, but i would like to know if i should paint a couple decoys or do anything else.

also, if i were to paint decoys, should i take them and tie about 1 1/2 - 2ft off the back of a decoy keel and then connect another decoy(repeat process several times)? or would that make too straight of a line? i know a lot of people use gang rigs but i dont have that many decoys, and plus, like i said, this is my first time for divers, and i dont wanna spend money getting a kit or something like that.
my idea for deeks below. (the anchor is the "O", the "x"'s are decoys.)

........X...X...X...X
O

[kquinn]

If you only use one, it won't take long to pick em up. Most divers will work into decoys without calls.

[SaltMuck]

Leave the call in your pocket.

I have friends (not in SC) who kill a lot of divers. They spray paint 2 liter bottles black on both ends with a white stripe in the middle. They also use crab pot bouys as well. I have shot more this way than over my bought deeks.

[fowlshot]

thanks for the advice, i didnt really say much in my post but i got the, watch the tide stuff and use heavy weights, just throwing that out there to future posters.

[Dook]

I have seen the black 2 liters work wonders on Scaup.

[fowlshot]

I have seen the black 2 liters work wonders on Scaup.

for the 2 liters, do you just take the label off and spray paint it all black? then do you just tie a weight around the neck of the bottle?

[BOGSTER]

take some old mallard decoys and paint them black and white.

[Dook]

for the 2 liters, do you just take the label off and spray paint it all black? then do you just tie a weight around the neck of the bottle?

yes, leave the white cap.

you can rig individually or in gang lines.

I have seen some folks put a little water in the bottle to settle them down.

A good wind and some current will make them puppies dance!

Good Luck!

[Goose4411]

Buffleheads will decoy like a son of a gun.

Spray paint some old decoys you have black and white.

Straight lines are not a bad thing. That is all I am saying.

[2thDoc]

dook is a diver hunter now? do tell!

[Dook]

You don't have a good grip on the chain.....wanker.

[puddlepounder]

ive killed divers over mallards just throw you out six or so in a line, they are usually flying so fast they dont pay much attention. actually had them set down on the water beside the front decoy in the line. they usually don't do the ole gadwall circle around and around they usually see them and buzz right over them.

[Salt Creek]

I'd go with painting old decoys or using the 2 liter bottle idea. Whatever you do, don't tie your decoys together. That be a will be a mess, especially when the tide changes. Rig the decoys on a long line using trotline clips tied to droppers. If you don't know how to make one, google it. Put the decoys out in a straight line and position your blind up wind of the spread. A bunch of decoys in a straight line doesn't look very natural, but the divers love it. It is crucial to play the wind. Divers will want to land into the wind and will often follow a line of decoys when they come into the spread.

[sprigdog]

thats crazy. decoys in a straight line wont fool anything except a merganser. ducks arent stupid.

[Rubberhead*]

thats crazy. decoys in a straight line wont fool anything except a merganser. ducks arent stupid.

It's hard to make a straight line with only one diver decoy.

[sprigdog]

good point.

[Take em']

Might be one bad ass decoy.

[fowlshot]

It's hard to make a straight line with only one diver decoy.

i have some painted hotbuys.

[fowlshot]

take some old mallard decoys and paint them black and white.

when you say paint them black and white, do you mean the whole thing black then paint white bars or something on it?

[fowlshot]

i got a couple that look like dis. will these work?



(i noticed that the fuel tank is red, we have a piece of green carpet that goes over it.)