spearing decoys

[7 Tine]

I have gotten back into spearing the last two years after a 25 year absence,and I was looking for a little advice on finding a good source for decent decoys.

I am using a couple of plastics I bought at fleet farm.one of them works good,the other is a piece of junk,and moves like a brick in the water.I do not have the time or the artistic ability to make my own.

Any help you can offer I deeply appreciate.I have been getting a few pike,but I would like to have a decent red/white to use out there.

I always enjoy watching the forums on this site,and I have gotten some useful information in the past.thanks in advance!

[Archerysniper]

Laska decoys, you can post a question for him here and he will reply. He is a regular on this site.

[mrklean]

i use bruell decoys and love them depending on where you are little jims in annandale has them a good stock to

[Laska]

3 days red and white pike decoy I made and I've seen 12 fish biggest ill post when I get home I got a 31" that came in and tried slamming it 5 times had my limit by 1220 yesterday and started the day at 9am. If you want info on this decoy email me laskasmarine at yahoo dot com talk to mj about my decoys he'll tell ya how they work!

I'm guessing ur brick decoy is a dueys... but a lot of people use them. I'm guessing ur other deak is a bear creek. Let me know if I'm right

[Sunnie]

Bruells were available at Vados on hwy 65 Spring lake park I dont know if they still have any. I have been impressed with the red and white "brick this year"

also known as a Dewey I guess. It seems to circle nicely and stop on a dime leaving the pike dead in their tracks in the middle of the chase.And guess what happens next.

[shamalex72]

Paps Sport Shop in Little Falls has a pretty good selection of decoys.

[MJ1657]

I have a good story about a Laskas decoy that just happened about 10 minutes ago. I have his 11.5 inch Firetiger nord in my hole. A pike hits it full speed and gets the leader tangled up in its mouth. I pulled it up and grabbed it with my hand. The best part is that the pike is no longer than 15 inches! I have pics but Im not smart enough to get them on here. Maybe Laska will.

[MJ1657]

I have a good story about a Laskas decoy that just happened about 10 minutes ago. I have his 11.5 inch Firetiger nord in my hole. A pike hits it full speed and gets the leader tangled up in its mouth. I pulled it up and grabbed it with my hand. The best part is that the pike is no longer than 15 inches! I have pics but Im not smart enough to get them on here. Maybe Laska will.

[mrklean]

what do your decoys look like laska?

[Archerysniper]

Here it is MJ.

[Crm7290]

What exactly do you use the decoys for?

[MJ1657]

To attract the pike to your hole.

[merkman]

What exactly do you use the decoys for?

Here is a great article explaining darkhouse spearing.

http://gf.nd.gov/multimedia/ndoutdoors/issues/2001/nov/docs/darkhouse.pdf

[mrklean]

which one is the pike? jk

[Huey]

Cool pic.

I like the "S" curve in the body of the decoy - ready to strike. Nice work, Laska.

Is that a pink leader?

[MJ1657]

It's red not pink!!!!!

It swims really nice and slow. I really like it and you can see it brings the big girls in.

Seriously though I have had alot of nice fish come into it.

[Crm7290]

merkman, that is really interesting. Im going to have to try it one day. Not sure I would know what to do with the pike after since I cant release it afterwords

[BigRoy]

Laska,

I want to see some of your deeks-I will send you an email.

LeRoy

[Laska]

email sent back roy, I used to have some of my newer deaks posted on here someone can bump that thread to get back into it. I dont have it saved... That "S" shape deak has a sister that still hasnt hit the water, I keep forgetting to bring it...

[merkman]

merkman, that is really interesting. Im going to have to try it one day. Not sure I would know what to do with the pike after since I cant release it afterwords

Just like any hunting I don't recommend it if you don't eat wild game.

Same thing as hunting deer, ducks, or whatever other wild game.

Even if you are 100% "anti-kill" It don’t mean you can’t go out there and enjoy it.

You might want to try sight fishing or shooting the wild game with a camera instead of a gun.

[Crm7290]

Im by no means anti-kill. If i gut hook a fish I have been filleting them and sticking them in a bag for a fish fry a friend and I will be having some time (Pretty much relying on his fillets , its gonna take a few more kills) . Problem is I wouldn't know how to fillet it or how to cook it either.

If anything I would go out with someone who is in the know about it and go from there. A friend offered today to take me bow fishing come time for open water and I will definitely take him up on that.

[MJ1657]

Go to the popular video web site and type in northern pike cleaning. There are quite a few videos that show how to filet and de-bone them. Its easy.

As for the cooking part i'm no help with that.

[Crm7290]

Thats how I learned gills. Pretty sure if a warden saw my attempts he wouldn't be the happiest man. I got better towards the end of the couple that I had.

[merkman]

Problem is I wouldn't know how to fillet it or how to cook it either.

If anything I would go out with someone who is in the know about it and go from there. A friend offered today to take me bow fishing come time for open water and I will definitely take him up on that.

Come to our get to gator on the 5th of Feb

We will show you the ropes.

If you want to spear, sight fish, or tip up fish it is all good.

Cooking northerns is pretty easy.

Scrub them down really good

Cut the head off and gut them

Put tinfoil on a cookie sheet

Salt pepper and some lemon juice in the cavity

Then tent a piece of tinfoil over the top of it.

Put the whole thing in the oven and bake at 350 until the the flesh flakes.

The skin will peel right off when it is cooked.

Grab the backbone and that will pull right out also.

The y bones will be between the flakes of meat.

Once it is flaked and cooled, mix some mayo and sweet pickle relish with it.

Grab some crackers and enjoy.

[mrklean]

so you bake the whole thing merk?

[merkman]

Yepppers

Minus the head and guts.

Make sure to clean ALL the slime off the skin before you cut them.

I clean the skin with a geen scratch pad, then once it is clean rub the skin down with salt and leave it sit for a couple min to draw out the rest of the slime. Then rinse the salt off the skin, cut the head and guts out, rinse, and season the inside, bake, then flake it.

Works great and no waste

[MJ1657]

I might try that Merk so keep your email open i'm sure i'll have alot of questions.

[7 Tine]

You are correct about the bear creek,but I am not sure what the other one is even.They are shaped similar,but that is where the similarities end.

I am interested in seeing some of the decoys you are talking about.I was just at Cabelas,and seen they had some decoys.they had them in pink,red/white,green,and grey.I dont remember the brand though.Short attention span I guess!

I am thinking about trying to make myself a decoy or two,but I am not sure how that will go.Not exactly a guru with the wood crafts!

[shamalex72]

the other is probably a lakco decoy, I have seen those at FF.

[BOUNCED]

Do a search for the Michigan Darkhouse association. Mike Holmes has a nice article on how to make a decoy