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So who is using the flapper splasher type decoys. Outdoor outfitters and Higdon both do them. There could be more ? Do they work any better than floaty decoys, how long do they run for on a battery. Do they last or is it a few days before they need replacement parts, can you get replacement parts besides battery and squirted hose. A lot of money for them to be no good. I am sort of newly addicted to this shotgun stuff:thumbsup: Whats your thoughts guys/girls
absolutely awesome bit of kit, Im a tight wad and really had to think long and hard before forking out the coin for one...but as we shoot same place each season and normally suffer from the dreaded blue sky and no wind syndrome...having one of these gives at least some movement out in the spread.
on smaller water/ponds if they tucked into one side of spread AWAY from where you are,they seem to divert ducks eyes from you...gives them something else to look out,but like all wing spinners they work best if cant be seen on a complete fly by circuit..25-50% of the circuit is best.....we really suffer in years where water level is low and nothing to hide decoys behind,but when level is high and willows are in the water,the difference is unreal,birds just come in and commit straight away.
mine seems to last best part of two days on single charge...buggered if can work out how to remove battery to replace it with another..... it will come out with a lot of pissing around...but recharge overnight is easiest.
I had a couple of decoys with a cord tied to the front through a milk bottle handle full of rocks and water. Give it some sharp pulls and the head dives under water popping back when cord is loose. Been on a few lakes after opening weekend where birds are weary (guess you are when things keep going bang) and thought this may be the dogs dangle's. The you tube clips look very lifelike for the flapper splasher. Just dont want to sell another kidney to buy one to find they just stop working (kaput) after the first week. Thanks for the feedback
the ol dipper decoys...yip we run two of them one each side of spread in ideal world...and we alternate which one is working...again to keep eyes away from us.
any sort of movement will help your spread look more alive and entice the ducks to come look and land. i found the splasher/flapper and swimmers very effective on open water, also found they didnt like the stationary landing flapper too much in recent years. remote ones are good so theyre not working when theres nothing in the air so batteries charge lasts days.
you could always just buy a butt up feeder decoy, order some parts and make your own, if you like tinkering and waiting for parcels to arrive. shipping delays from aliexpress are all that is holding me up from finishing a second one
Dunno where you shoot but the big pond i shoot on i tie a hook to my decoys and bait it with a bit of meat.Soon have eels swinging my decoys al round the pond.
picked this wind flapper up for $69.
Attachment 198492
mate we have deployed one of those for 15 years...and have only once had enough wind for wings to spin....then fell over as wind really picked up...we have tried wings backwards as yours are and just about every other trick in the book...but just not enough breeze to make them work.
The Higdon splasher is awesome and makes a huge difference. Set it up in amongst a group. I run 1 with 2 of their flasher splashes. I run them all day without the splasher-turned on as the wings create enough movement.Quote:
Originally Posted by chindit
The Higdon family are shooters so they know what they are doing. Man they are pricy but hopefully will last a long time. You get what you pay for
The lucky duck on water decoys are junk….don’t even go there
Have 6 of these, never had enough wind for them to work as they should at the dam when I'm shooting. Put it down to "climate change" by the bird lovers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Have a couple higdon xs pulsator decoys. Amazing bit of kit, so quick and easy to use and massive water movement. Very compact and no cords to worry about. Also use a jerk string.
Attachment 198501
Home made duck butt with bilge pump. 20m -30m of power cord run back to hide. W
ater proof lunch box container with battery and indicator switch in it with a toggle switch out the side.
turn it off and on when you want it.
Around $100 project, not a lot can go wrong
I soon got rid of the flimsey plastic stick as there was no motion for the duck to rotate with the wind.Added a heavy stake and slightly taller for more elevation to get the wind flow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Attachment 198542
As for those spoonzilla flappers they look worse than Adern with all those bloody teeth.:thumbsup:
I soon got rid of the flimsey plastic stick as there was no motion for the duck to rotate with the wind.Added a heavy stake and slightly taller for more elevation to get the wind flow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Attachment 198542
As for those spoonzilla flappers they look worse than Adern with all those bloody teeth.:thumbsup:
Ive got a spoonzilla LOL and it seems to work well,lasts full weekend with 4 AA batteries .Quote:
Originally Posted by Dundee
I run the first version of the higdon splasher flasher.. Has a big 12volt battery in box.. Timer buggered out so bout one on Aliexpress for 6 bucks and wire it up.. This year I added a $17 remote from surplustronics and wired that in. Now can turn off from where ever I put it round the pond. Seem to work well.
Good to hear it’s lasted that long. The latest ones have a 10 second timer which is awesomeQuote:
Originally Posted by Quackers
I’ve tried them all
The lucky ducks and the mojo on water decoys although much cheaper are just junk
It’s the old story you get what you pay for
Yeah still going hard.. One of my fav water decoys as the pole flappers seem to be on evey spot you. I've mounted some cable ties on my pole spinners on the wings... And put them close to the water.. That way they spray up a bit of water.. Or put it on a slight lean so thatvone wing just touches the water... Best of both worlds.Quote:
Originally Posted by omark
Been some wind here lately,so much my flapper flew off the pole and lost its bloody wings. Found the decoy on other side of pond.Will have to do a day break mission to search for the wings....:huh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
the old story...by the time there is enough wind for them to work,you dont need them to work as enough movement anyway...
The Higdon Flapper Splasher goes well, although pricey. I got the old model that has a seperate battery pack that also acts as the anchor. Works great. That and a jerk string setup are my two tools in the toolbox on top of static decoys. I also have a Mojo Wing Spinner which is now about 10 years old and still going. I only really use it for paddocks or quick low light shoots where I can’t use the Higdon Flapper Splasher. I would love a second Higdon so they can run together with the timer offset so when one spins the other is in pause and vice versa. Maybe next season if I have the spare coin.
