Decoy of the Month... September 2014

[Neighbor_guy]

Its a few days into September already and things are still feeling a little bit like summer. Surface temperature on the lake last week was 80deg. That's a long way from being able to cut a 2'x3.5' window in the ice. But it wont be too long now.

Goose do your thing please...

Its a little hard to read, but the word on the paper is "Clown".

So there it is, the challenge for this month is to make what you consider to be a "clown" decoy. The way I look at it that could go a couple different directions, you could make a clown fish decoy, you could consider it a painting challenge and give a normal decoy a clown paint pattern. Its all up to you.

Lets see what you got. Like always, participation in encouraged, and you never know, it may just be rewarded.

[Neighbor_guy]

a "clown" paint job... decoy maker unknown...

a "clown" fish...

a clown

(sorry couldn't resist)

a rodeo "clown"

Lets see what we can come up with. Have fun!!!

[jasonmichalski]

Here's the clown floater I made last winter.

[Jdawg sk1]

How does a floater work do they just bob around the top of your hole? Are they very effective?

Can't wait to see these clown fish I think I might actually try and carve one.

[MJ1657]

How does a floater work do they just bob around the top of your hole? Are they very effective?

Can't wait to see these clown fish I think I might actually try and carve one.

You put a line on them and a weight that rests on the lake bottom. I've never tried one but it would be interesting to hear from Jason about it.

[Jdawg sk1]

Well it has begun I decided to try carving a decoy and here is the beginning

I think it's turning out pretty good seeing how I have never carved anything before Other than a set of grips for my vaquero

[Neighbor_guy]

That's a fantastic start!!!

[Jdawg sk1]

What type of material do you usually start with? This was a 2x4

[mwal]

Looks cool to me. My attempts are much cruder than that. Keep going

[MJ1657]

That looks real nice Jdawg!

[mrklean]

cant wait to see the finished product guys

[Neighbor_guy]

I like to use clean pine or white cedar for my decoys. Be it 1x2 or 1x(x)". I also use 2x4 and 2x6 as well. The key is to find clean straight graining and a peice of wood that is clear of knots. Free salvaged wood is my favorite, but top grade from Menards is a good choice as well.

[jasonmichalski]

Your right MJ it has a line and weight and it just floats, the guy I made it for spear in the Great Lakes and like big live suckers but they tangle his fake decoy, so he sets the floater low in the water and runs a live above it so it can't tangle, he does well with floaters, but I researched floaters and they were popular years ago where spearing back water river areas with some current a normal decoy wouldn't swim right but a float would slowly bob back and forth in the current giving it a slight hands free action.

[jvm1]

Knowing this is the spearing forum this question is a bit off for here. But It's open water season and we're talking clown patterns so I'll throw it out there.

What's your favorite open water go to color?

I have a couple big rapalas (floating and flat rap) in clown. They are usually great for pike and have lots of teeth marks to prove it. However this summer my most successful go to lure when all else fails has been a pike looking minnow crank that is a third of the size of the FL-18.

[Jdawg sk1]

Well guys here is an update I've got most of the fins cut and slots cut need to make rear fins or do I even need them?

I also need to cut the lead hole and all that other stuff. I'm kind of nervous about adding the lead could you guys give me some tips on this ?

[jasonmichalski]

yes rear fins stop the decoy from rocking and give it a smooth glide!

[Jdawg sk1]

Poured lead today and epoxied in the fins.

Had the cooler full of water for swim testing and it did well after some adjustments.

I had to remove some lead from the rear and drill a small hole in the chin to add a little up front . Now it swims nice and level and slowly downwards.

I think I am going to drill into the top fin to attach the line. I drilled cross holes in a few places to put dowel through to support the fins

[bowhunt]

That looks really good, can't wait to see it all painted.

[mrklean]

Looking good so far

[Jdawg sk1]

It is complete

Now onto the next one

[MJ1657]

Outstanding!!!

[mrklean]

Looks awesome how does it swim?

[jasonmichalski]

sweet!

[jvm1]

This really gives me hope for when I try to make one myself. Great work!

[jasonmichalski]

It is complete

Now onto the next one

one thing you my want to do in the future is make the back fins slightly higher it will give you a smoother glide, and is easier to get a good swim.

[Jdawg sk1]

Swims pretty good could use a little more weight further ahead I did some testing earlier and added some lead to the chin and removed some from the rear but then I didn't take into account the weight of the wood filler.

Swims slowly forward going Down and smoothly on the way up.

[jasonmichalski]

Funny I have issues sometimes because my wood filler floats, so I make them a touch heavy and the filler slows them up a bit, lol!

It's all a balancing act, it gets easier with everyone you make, but sometimes you get one that will just make you want to burn it, lol!

[Dorkfish]

Jdawg that's a good looking decoy. Second of all keep up the good work. Third everyone places their fins in different locations. I makes it stand out a bit to being yours.

Last of all thanks Neighbour guy for calling me a clown.