Long Lines/ Dog Safety Questions

Tar Heel · 11-23-2007, 01:37 PM

A friend is taking me out in his sweet duck boat, and I thought I would show him how nice the long lines work w/ the tides. He has a nice young (9 months) pup that is learning fast, but hasn't around long lines. I have the nylon rope system w/ 18" drops on each deek.
Question is, has anyone had problems w/ their dogs on these systems?
I would think the goal would to be use enough weight to keep the lines taught down to the mainline, but I don't want to create a safety hazard for my friend's young lab. The one time I have hunted long lines w/ a dog, the guy had a lead core mainline that kept the droppers tight/safe for his pup. Are we taking a chance w/o a lead core main line? The fellow uses pretty long thin lines on his individually anchored deeks, which in itself seeems to create a dog hazard, but I wonder if anyone has some thoughts about dogs around these lines, ways to make it safer, whether it's a bad idea.... Thanks in advance.

duckboy · 11-23-2007, 04:35 PM

ziptie some weights (spark plugs, or old nuts or bolts etc) every 6 -10 feet to weight it down.

If you are really concerened, keep your boat close by to bail out your pup.

Or, if you want, you can run a hauler line back to the boat (or shore) where you are stationed, and just haul the whole thing in if he gets hung up (and the bottom is fairly smooth) got to watch logs and rocks with that plan.

on my ganglines, the ganyons are heavy enough to keep the main line down fairly deep (i run about 4-6 feet from the main line to the deek) because the deeks play in the breeze and chop better.

QH's Paw · 11-23-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckboy

on my ganglines, the ganyons are heavy enough to keep the main line down fairly deep (i run about 4-6 feet from the main line to the deek) because the deeks play in the breeze and chop better.

Yep, the stainless ganyons usually weigh enough to keep the main gang line well below the surface. Like every setup, that can change with a heavy tide or wind. We also use the clear tangle free for the dropper on the deeks because it isn't as visible when the tide gets low.
Where dogs are concerned, I'd say you need a minimum of 3' and longer is better like DB stated.

Tar Heel · 11-23-2007, 08:54 PM

Thanks, guys. Dont have time to re-tie longer droppers b4 we hunt, but may consider doing that in the future. Will try weighting the main at intervals and stand ready to bail! My Lab died (12 yo) this summer, and she never had a chance to hunt the long lines, and want to be extra careful w/ young pup Sadie.She treaded water for about 5-10 minutes sparring it out w/ a crip a couple of weekends ago, so I can't imagine that we wont be able to get to a problem while boat hunting. It seems that the long lines you buy are a little short for dogs--18''? However, given the line length needed to hunt tidal waters, long lining seems more dog friendly in the first place?
Man, it's cccold tonight! Just watched Grant come back from 3 TD's down in the 3d qtr. to beat Central w/ a last second field goal. Bummer.
Maybe some new uneducated birds in town w/ this cold?

Tar Heel · 11-24-2007, 02:49 PM

Well Sadie is fine, if not bored. Ducksonly's first blank ot the season, but he's sold on Long lines. I'm sure he will enjoy reading the earlier posts. Thanks agin, and better luck w a smaller tide and less MOON!

Gunner · 11-24-2007, 06:57 PM

Is this going to work this time???

Gunner · 11-24-2007, 07:08 PM

Ok I will try this again.

Here are a couple of other suggestions that help me keep the dog out of trouble. First train your dog to be steady to shot and obey whistle commands. Steady to shot will keep him out of the way when swatting cripples (among other things) and if they "handle" and obey the whistle you can redirect them around the set and even pull them off a lively cripple before they disappear out to sea (or in the fog

).

Second and this helps even if your dog breaks on shot, position the set even with or slightly ahead of your hide. This way the current has a chance to sweep the bird past the set (and work against the dog too) so that by the time the dog gets to the bird they are both in open water.

Also as mentioned above, when using long lines in deep water ALWAYS have the boat ready to be deployed. Good luck with your pup!

Tar Heel · 11-25-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunner

Ok I will try this again.

Here are a couple of other suggestions that help me keep the dog out of trouble. First train your dog to be steady to shot and obey whistle commands. Steady to shot will keep him out of the way when swatting cripples (among other things) and if they "handle" and obey the whistle you can redirect them around the set and even pull them off a lively cripple before they disappear out to sea (or in the fog

).

Second and this helps even if your dog breaks on shot, position the set even with or slightly ahead of your hide. This way the current has a chance to sweep the bird past the set (and work against the dog too) so that by the time the dog gets to the bird they are both in open water.

Also as mentioned above, when using long lines in deep water ALWAYS have the boat ready to be deployed. Good luck with your pup!

Thanks. My Pal's pup did fine last time when we got on em, this time stayed dry. He spent a fantasic duck day (not shooting) sitting w/ her last weekend and teachng her not to swim w/ "every shot"--good advice for her that particular day. She passed that test, and is on to sparring w/ divers!
What I dont get is why are the pre- packaged LL kits giving us such short droppers? I have the experts telling me to rn a 3-5' droppers, clear lines..., and everything I see at SW's is 18"? Now have 4 LL's, all w/ the pre tied 18'' droppers! I guess the rest of the world doesn't enjoy the clear waters of the PNW, and I can see how the lines would be visible at low tides or a clear sunny day! Oh well, Back to the drawing board....Thanks for the help!