Where all my free time went this year!

[jasonmichalski]

The spearing bug got me bad this last year, so I thought I'd share a few pics of the results.

P2221168 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2211183 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2161190 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2161187 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2161186 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2161185 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

My 4 year old Lily painted this one.

P1131188 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P1131172 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

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I have just three more to paint and then I have to carve one more that I traded for a bandsaw.

[jasonmichalski]

The Decoys I carve all by hand with Knifes I forge myself and I made a lathe to turn the handles. I hand forged a spear for one of my first projects on the anvil.

P1131231 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2121261 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2121264 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2121262 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

After looking at all the great pics and advise on this site I was hooked so I hope this can help get someone else to go out and spear too.

[MJ1657]

Nice work!

I really like the big fins on your decoys.

[jasonmichalski]

I found the fins can really change the decoys action. The first few had a little rocking in the swim, but the last few with bigger and bent fins glid and turn wider and smoother and sink slower.

P2211172 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2211181 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2141176 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2211176 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P2161168 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

my first decoy

P1131179 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

P1131173 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

Tail was a little thick and it rocks a little

The old decoy is around 100 years old I got it fron my grandfather, and I tryed to copy it this decoy rocks too the lead was to far back, but it swims. I found if the lead is more at the center of gravity and it would sink level and the fins can make them swim with no rocking. The little perch is my hot decoy this year 90% of the fish I've seen come in to it. It has a slow tight smooth swim.

P1131202 by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

[Archerysniper]

Great work,We might have too do some talking I know a few of use have played with the idea of a Michigan spearing trip.

[mrklean]

Very cool work i like its all done by hand

[jasonmichalski]

I won't name it here, but the I'm on another site and we are planning spearing party like your GTG for next year time tbd and we may put lakes in a hat or pick white lake on the west side of lower MI. I live by some of the best fishing in Michigan, I would happy to help any of you find some fish if you make it this way. The spearing party is opened to all so it might be a good time, you guys that can make the trip. We are putting together a friendly contest of some sort too, there are some talented people going to make some prizes. I went to Michigan Tech in the U.P. in Houghton so I know a little about the UP but it's been awhile I wish I had speared back then, the Portage is full a big lake run pike. I go out on the lakes every weekend some where.

One thing about Michigan is we can spear from Dec till March 15th. a few lakes are closed but that is a small%. Most lakes have a 24" limit, but a few year a go there went from 5 pike to a 2 limit. The good part of that was they then made some lake have no size limit and 5 pike. I have 3 no size limit lakes within 20 minutes of the house. My Dad lives on the Saginaw Bay and I fished that My whole life there are some of the biggest most under fished pike there in the country, next year if we get good ice I'm going too try some spearing there. Higgins Lake is close it my house and it has same huge pike too. The other fishing is so good that no one targets them in these waters, and the guys that do pull out many 20+ pound fish each year. If you guys are making a trip let me know or if you are interested in the spearing party I can let you guys know when there is a place and time.

[gixxer01]

No offense (I couldn't do any better), but that spear looks like it should be killing wooly mammoths!

[Mike89]

Very cool!!!!!

[Archerysniper]

No offense (I couldn't do any better), but that spear looks like it should be killing wooly mammoths!

That's the whole point in hammer forging,no welders or fancy tools just heat,anvil and a hammer.

[jasonmichalski]

I took advandage of the storm we had and stayed home from work and finished two more decoys.

One more from last year to paint and I'm ready to start this years models.

[Gordie]

Outstanding and those decoys are great

[MN Shutterbug]

That sunfish looks almost good enough to fillet.

[jasonmichalski]

Thank you

I'm going to try to make another spear now that I have had lots of time in the new smithy I just built. Here is a link to more of my pics if any body wets a better look at what I'm up to. My other pics

[Gordie]

JM what type of forge do you have and could we see a few pics of it. I have got plans for one off of YT that I'm interested in building.

[jasonmichalski]

I make make my own charcoal and have a smaller forge from a grill and a plow disk, with a 3/4" air input it was set in a table, but I made a bigger one in the smithy. It has a 1 3/4" air in put and is 5" deep and about 10x6" firepan. the the table area is firebrick and concrete about 3'x6'. I can take some pics and post them later.

[Gordie]

Thanks I would really like that.

[Archerysniper]

Gordie if you need a piece of big like 10 or 12" schedual 40 or 80 steel let me know.

[mrklean]

awesome work

[jasonmichalski]

JM what type of forge do you have and could we see a few pics of it. I have got plans for one off of YT that I'm interested in building.

Here are some pics of were I make My carving Knives and My spear which were done on the smaller forge and I can now heat alot larger area to forge on, so the hammering goes alot faster.

New smithy has to be painted and walls need to be washed as it was a old walk-in freezer and the inside walls were from a old pole barn. I have been too busy with decoys and from just getting tools its a mess.

New forge.

forge by jasonmichalski, on Flickr

new air supply in the works

old air supply

fire pot

air out-take

ash dump

fresh air comes from behind the peg board

I have pics of my anvil and post leg vise and other tools too if you want to see them let me know. The fire pot brick is alitle mess to becuase I BBQ'ed some chicken on it a few weeks ago.

[jasonmichalski]

Here is the last decoy from last year I just got it painted and now on to next years decoys.

I planed on six to sale this year and 2 are on the list already, but the trout is so easy I may do a few more, and it swims great.

and here is a link to my new pics because I can put more on this site. my new photo page

[jasonmichalski]

Here are the the photos of the decoy I sold to my friend to give to his Dad for Christmas, (with the cap photo shopped).

[Archerysniper]

HAHA Jason I love the photo shop

[jasonmichalski]

Easiest way I could think of to make it meet the rules.