Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

carving decoys

EatSleepFish

By EatSleepFish
in Bowfishing/Spearing - MN

 Share

Recommended Posts

EatSleepFish Rising Star

EatSleepFish

Posted
Posted

has anyone tried to carve their own spearing decoy? i looked all over the internet but couldnt find any info on it at all. if anyone has any info on how to carve decoys id like to give it a shot. thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamalex72 Mentor

shamalex72

Posted
Posted

There is a book called "benziejo" decoys(you can search it) that would be very useful for someone wanting to learn how to make decoys. It shows all the steps from start to finish.

I made my first decoy about 15 years ago. I had a lot of trial and error of how much lead and where to put the line ties to get them to swim right. If I would of had that book back then it would of made things alot simpler.

Here is a pic of some that I've made. The sunny in the front is one of the first ones I made, it just sets on a shelf now. The other one in the front is another of my older ones. I saw my biggest fish while using that one, that sets on the shelf now too.

DSCF1317.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hooliganz Enthusiast

Hooliganz

Posted
Posted

I think most people use like a basswood to carve. If you do a search for Michigan spearing assoc. They used to have a detailed document on there website for how to carve own decoys.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hooliganz Enthusiast

Hooliganz

Posted
Posted

I have started to carve one out of basswood, I started with a 4"x 4 x 6" block and its still just a rough shape of what it will be and think took around a 1 1/2 hr of carving to get to that. But this is my first one so taking my time. The detail work and paint will take the longest, also you have to weight them down, test them in the water to see how they swim. So I would think take around probably 20hrs. I am not sure. I am a rookie carver.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bassNspear Grand Master

bassNspear

Posted
Posted

see i would rather buy a Bear Creek for 8.00... reason that i say that is becuase i dont have the time of day to do that stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamalex72 Mentor

shamalex72

Posted
Posted

A couple more I just made. I use mostly scrap pieces of 1x2 or 2x2. I spent most of yesterday on these two.

DSCF1321.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wolfpaak Contributor

Wolfpaak

Posted
Posted

I bought a video from a customer of mine that was filmed for Prairie Public TV. Search for them, or "The Art Of Making Fish Decoys". It is a very good video that breaks the deak down very well. I paid 10.00 bucks for it and he thew in a piece of cedar to boot. He recomends ceader cuz it is fairly easy to carve and wont swell if it gets wet.

He also makes 25 to 30 deaks a DAY!! But he has many power tools.

I have the 800 number if any one wants it to order from Praire Public tv if you can't find the site.

Later,

Kenny

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamalex72 Mentor

shamalex72

Posted
Posted

Quote:

Pretty good work. Do you have any big red and white ones?

What do you consider big? I started two more sucker shaped ones which are 9". I am going to paint one of those red and white.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bassNspear Grand Master

bassNspear

Posted
Posted

how big of weight do you add. The decoys that i use dont have them, there is holes in them to load them with water, to sink.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamalex72 Mentor

shamalex72

Posted
Posted

no, it's in the bottom. I cover the lead with bondo. The left one is almost ready for paint, just one more coat of bondo and some sanding.

DSCF1324.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bassNspear Grand Master

bassNspear

Posted
Posted

looks like your having a good time and getting alot of decoys made. I dont have that time to be making them, so i get a sponsor to get decoys instead. tongue.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MPD068 Newbie

MPD068

Posted
Posted

Great Pic's on the weighting of the decoys. I weight mine the same way. I cover the hole with epoxy. Got my decoy carving info off of Michigan Darkhouse Association.

Just finished 2 and let my 11yr and 8 yr old do the painting. VERY interesting designs. They look very promising laugh.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stiff Community Regular

Stiff

Posted
Posted

Have you guys ever tried creating some more hollow pockets in your decoys, sealing them off, and then minimizing the amount of lead you use? It seems to me like the closer to neutral bouyancy you come - the slower your fish should swim.

How do you decide where the weight goes with respect to the fins, and where to attach the line? I assume these are the key things that create the "swimming" action.

I've never tried to make any before, but I'd like to try it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
shamalex72 Mentor

shamalex72

Posted
Posted

You need to put the lead towards the front so it will swim forward. I put the fins into the lead hole for a couple reasons. The first is because it is easier to make the slot where the wood is thinner. And the second reason is the lead helps to keep them in place(same as the line tie). Unless you know exactly where to put the line tie all you need is one, but it is better to have multiple so you can fine tune how it swims.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stiff Community Regular

Stiff

Posted
Posted

Do you have to make a slot in the wood to accept the metal fins in order to keep the wood from splitting? If so, how do you do that? What tools do you use?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      Big Kandiyohi

      By smurfy · Posted

      i cant help you with the weed thing, but i just came back form out that way......Regal, New London Hawick area. i dont no how big the swat of rain was but there is water standing everywhere. my buddy told me they had over 3 inches of rain yesterday/last night 
    • mulefarm
      Big Kandiyohi

      By mulefarm · Posted

      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Big Traverse Ice Free

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By leech~~ · Posted

      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      St Cloud Fishing Reports

      By Rick G · Posted

      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By monstermoose78 · Posted

      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      Moose's Report - Cambridge-Elk River-Foley-Milaca-Mora-Ogilvie Fishing Reports

      By smurfy · Posted

      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept