Critter
A critter decoy are normally carved in designs of frogs, snakes, birds, spiders, dragonfly etc… They can be fish if it is a mix of fish and critter ie…fish with frog legs hanging from the mouth.
Month: May 2016
Copper
Copper is a metal used in fish decoys because it is highly malleable and designs can be worked into the skin of the fish decoy. Some examples of copper metal fish decoys.
Contemporary
Contemporary with regards to fish decoys is a more modern day or present day of fish decoy carvings. In the fish decoy arena many speak of Oscar Peterson as the father of contemporary/modern day fish decoy carving.
Coaxer
A fish decoy is many times called a Coaxer with the intent to coax a fish into spearing range in the ice hole.
Cheater Fish Decoy
A cheater fish decoy is one that employs hooks in the design like a fish lure does. The story goes that hooks were added when states outlawed spearing in fear of over fishing and depleting a specie or group of …
Cedar
Cedar is a common wood and is used in fish decoy carving because of its tolerance to not splitting or allowing it to rot from being wet a lot.
Bone
Using fish or other animal bone to carve is a very ancient material. Sometimes antlers and horns are uses along with the bones. Some of the earliest fish decoy were carved from whale bone or walrus tusk.
Balsa Wood
Balsa wood (Ochroma) is very soft and light with a very open grain and light density. This allows good carvings, but in fish decoy carving a lot of weight has to be added to sink it. It is low density …
Bass Wood
Bass wood is called by its genus name of Tilia or another name is linden which are called lime trees but not related to the lime fruit. The wood is soft and easily worked with knive or sharp tool. It …
Antique
ANTIQUE “Just how scarce and old is that folk art fish decoy you’re looking to buy” by John A. Gabriel © January 2008 The 1980’s brought a whole new life to folk art fish decoys and they quickly joined …