Buying Canada Floaters: NEED Help!!!

[topwop]

Happy Holidays to ALL:

Looking to purchase a Canada "Floating" Rig (6-12 decoys). My choices are;
Flambeau Storm Front floaters with flocked heads, UVision paint, and adjustable keel tie off points.
BigFoot floaters with flocked heads with weighted keels.
GHG-Pro-Grade "Life-Size" floaters. Just read the reviews on Cabelas and they weren't good at all to my surpraise.

I am open to any suggestions and/or personal use comments from all. Thanks for all your help.

TW

[mikebig1]

you will get lots of answers and opinions on this one..(just like belly buttons, everyone has one)...in my experience, I choose the big foots.. have no desire to use any other brand.. bf's have worked well for me.. on both water/ and field decoys.. i use them in the field as converted sleepers.. work well in the late season.. a double-duty decoy .. can't go wrong with that... would like to see if the other brands can do the same...

[deano686kx]

I can only speak on the GHG floaters. I've had mine for 2 years. Allthough they don't see the amount of field time my full bodies do, they aren't showing any wear (except for the one that took a load of BB to the head yesterday from a fellow hunter that got a bit sloppy on a cripple) I also use the sleapers in the field for late season. Not sure what the reviews were on Cabela's sight, but I am more than happy with the 2 dozen I have been using.

[Jon McGrath]

Go with the Bigfoots. Or, another suggestion is Dakota's. Their floaters look really good, if I hunted water more I would be buying a trailer full of them.

[nr_gooseslayer]

Bigfoots are the best out there, and we have literally owned them all. My 2nd favorite were my G&H.

[goosechaser125]

Just sold my Dozen BFs, I love BF's in the field, but the floaters are just so big, In my opinion water decoys do not have to be that great. I kept 9 smaller HIDGONs with flocked heads. I am far from bashing Bigfoots as I am a dealer in BF decoys. They are a great product but the floaters are so big compared to the Hidgons.

So if room in the boat is not an issue, Bigfoots are great, but for smaller size I like the Hidgons

[imaduckin up north]

which ones seem to have the most durable paint?

[DSM16428]

which ones seem to have the most durable paint?

Big Foots and Dakotas...no question there.

[cashman]

which ones seem to have the most durable paint?

Big Foots and Dakotas...no question there.

X2

But answer the post, I don't really care for the bigfoot floaters. We hunt over those quite a bit and I think they're to big and don't move enough, which is why I like a smaller, lighter floater. I like the ghg floaters but the paint is ghg paint, not great, but ok with care. However, I don't think paint is as much of an issue on floaters as field dekes. My vote would be for the ghgs, but I'm curious about those other blocks too...

[topwop]

Thanks guys for alllll your help, keep your opinions coming!!! Appreciate it. Last time I bought "floaters"(Carry-Lite Aqua Vacs)was a looong time ago. So I have been out of the game on the water rig however, many of you bring up great points. Size and motion of the decoy(s), paint durability, possible head connection problems which I have discussed individually with some of you as well. This is a "run-n-gun" rig. My goal is to have at the most 12 dekes and the majority are GHG Pro-Grade sleepers shells 2doz(when the ice n snow are out) and 1doz Harvest Pack mixed in with 1doz Real-Geese silos which have been a killer for me for the past 3 years of hunting this "spot". Competiton and guys that have no edict at all (especially 2 HACKER guide services) have made me seek your help!!

Here's a thought though."Thinking outside the box". We wash and descent our clothes to bow hunt, eliminating UV rays in our clothing. Why not paint on our decoys??? These Flambeau Storm Fronts are advertised with fully flocked heads, UVision paint, and a 4 point anchoring system for attaching decoy lines for added movement ( little wind, wind against tide etc...) 23" long don't make them that BIG(BF's) or that small (lesser dekes) Head position(s) are important in my opinion and past experience with floaters to work and look real with less numbers.These don't come with an upright/sentry head, that's the only thing. I'll run these with 2 Higdon goose tip ups that Santa brought me that look realllly good. If I get the floaters in a ice hole or moon tide meadow grass, I'll roll with 2 Mag Quiver H2O's to keep them honest!!! Hopefully, I'll put some pics up once I get my $*it togehter.Thanks guys, gotta go cut grass...........so late but we haven't had good fly'n weather YET. Shoot straight n Happy New Year.....TW

[redlab1]

I to use Bigfoot Floaters and have since they came out. I still have and use the ones I bought 17 or 18 yrs ago. They are light to carry, the color and detailing is second to none, They ride very nice on the water and they are very durable. I just started putting them in 6 slot bags last yr and over all the yrs the paint looks as good as the day I bought them. I've hunted with GHG, but they don't hold up, the paint flakes off them, 6 floaters weigh as much as a doz BF so if you have a long carry its something to think about. I haven't used Dakotas or Uvision but I think if I were to change I would go to Dakotas. I think if you want something you won't ever have to buy again then get the BIGFOOTS!

[#4nitrosteel]

Bigfoots are my choice also...Cabelas has them on sale right now for $94 for 4

[goosechaser125]

which ones seem to have the most durable paint?

both the higons and bigfoots have held up forme, but I don't hunt water alot so I cant compare them fairly with my bigfoot full bodies

[SeniorCoot]

I have always used BF's but yeaterday bought a box of GHG to replace some lost BF's- why- cause Gander mtn had no BF's but also the Dakopta's they had were too big and I didn't like the color of body flocking- me also thinks that flocking would be gone quick knocking around in boat- GHG looked OK- I have issues with their old paint but the size will store better in boat and since it was only four I needed I will try them with my other BF's

[DmLGoose]

If anyone needs any canada floaters you guys have to get TFs. They have killed more geese than my shotgun lol. We put them in a mesh bag through this whole season and no major paint chips at all. We have on notch on the underbelly cause i wanted to see wat the base color was so i took a razor blade and look and its the same color. very easy to get heads on if u take a piece of sandpaper and sand it a little but just for 15 minutes to get great decoys at a low price thats fine with me. hope this a little.

[Take Em']

I have both GHG and Bigfoots and love them both. They both hold up very well but I would have to say GHG looks a little better in my opinion. Either way they will both bring in geese.

[dsapp]

I have the Flambeaus and love them... no problems.. they are big and versitile in the field or water.

and they were cheap!

[dakotaboy]

Hands down, go with dakotas!!!! best on the market!

[Duckman27]

The Big Feet look great and will last forever but I think the GHG's look the nicest

[Lonegoose]

Hands down, go with dakotas!!!! best on the market!

Agreed. My dakotra floaters look great...Just wish I got to use em this season.