Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

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

Decoy of the Month... May '14

Neighbor_guy

By Neighbor_guy
in Bowfishing/Spearing

 Share

Recommended Posts

Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
Posted

With the end of one month comes the start of the next. I took all the suggestions from earlier and some other ideas and made a list.

Everyone in the pool...

8FD321D1-DC93-41B3-8BA9-19AEAD185D72.jpg

Goose...

6E0A1847-B955-4F3D-81EF-A317BFACA8A7.jpg

99CC7C1A-4824-46EF-B728-840037A26EA4.jpg

So there you have it, the decoy of the month for this month is the Smelt or Rainbow Smelt. Create "your version" of a smelt. Carving style, paint, its all up to you. I will post some examples and pictures. Remember, this is not a competition, but participation is encouraged. If you are a first timer and run into problems feel free to ask questions.

657C3DAB-50E3-452A-9589-34F9A92EAB49.jpg

E4E6FB10-48A4-40E6-8DBE-9373F8D7FF8D.jpg

E30E3729-A7A4-400D-A8CC-997145372BA8.jpg

Smelt were at one time a very popular bait fish in MN. They are an invasive species in most bodies of water and can damage the balance of a system as a result they can no longer be used as bait, live or dead, unless they are certified (usually as dead bait) Pike love em and they are a prime forage in those bodies of water that have them. All that said, they should make a very effective decoy pattern for pike.

I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with this month.

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Dern it....

I am going to have to bite on this one....

that will cost me a bottle of whiskey and a trip north of brainerd for a weekend.

more to come... hope I don't lose a finger!!!

-Merk

.

Hahaha! I guess next time I should add a "not responsible for loss or injury" to the start of the month posts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BOUNCED Proficient

BOUNCED

Posted
Posted

Dern it....

I am going to have to bite on this one....

that will cost me a bottle of whiskey and a trip north of brainerd for a weekend.

more to come... hope I don't lose a finger!!!

-Merk

.

Mmmmm someones getting Whiskey......? grin

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Back from my turkey hunt and starting to think about decoys and carp again. Nothing like having too many things going on and only so much time at hand.

So the goose and I began looking at pictures and settled on a couple that will make good decoy patterns. She will be going with a smaller more realistically sized 6-7" decoy while I think I am going to more to the smelt-zilla direction.

Not exactly racing from the gate, but we are on the way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

At the half way point of the month.

This months decoy is carved sanded and sitting on the table awaiting fins... I hate doing fins... (I think there are a dozen or more on the table waiting for fins)

The Goose is running a little behind this month but she is home all this weekend coming up so my guess is we will be in Bondo and sealer or perhaps painting by the end of the weekend.

Hope things are moving along for those of you carving. For those who are following along keep checking, my guess is we will start to see some decoys soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Please disregard the mess on the table in the background. I have multiple projects going on in my head and they all seem to find a home on the closest available horizontal surface.

Anyways, here is an update on the Decoy of the Month...

BE332DEB-55A0-4B4C-99B9-FB51697AF1EB.jpg

Sealer, fins, lead, and Bondo all done this weekend. I will post another picture when paint is completed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

195608F9-E5E9-4BC1-83F8-C51420012A04.jpg

A0CAD70D-40B6-488B-BB8C-1AF7B40CD7CA.jpg

0455260D-E838-4A52-AB37-BD5AD7CDC971.jpg

Well, goose is still working on getting hers finished, I will post it for her when its done. But this is my submission for May's Decoy of the Month. I dug up a picture of the Rainbow Smelt we used to catch on Burntside Lake in Ely. They were very gold in color compared to the ones you see on the internet, with green/purple/blue stripe running the length along the lateral line. This was also the first time I did the burned in scales.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here is the Decoy of the Month submission from the Goose. She went a little bit out of the box on this one. She said with a name like "rainbow smelt" it should look like a rainbow. She kept the shape and fins the way the original picture had it, but wanted to put her personal spin on it and that's what's fun about these challenges. We all get to look at them through out own eyes.

DC00616F-CB71-4496-B464-0630B5BB38DD.jpg

Buck teeth

B9E9B87A-8194-497C-8F46-3DDE726FEC64.jpg

Ended up a little more than 5" long and swims nice and slow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

That will be a great decoy! So does she like cash or does she like to keep her decoys?? laugh

I let her do her own negotiating. I will warn you, she can drive a hard bargain. She does get a little pouty lipped when one goes from the shelf to the mail box. But on the other hand she's always open for trades. When I told her that this monthly adventure would build her collection by 8 before next fall she was all in.

She will be tickled just to know you guys approve cool

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Neighbor_guy Grand Master

Neighbor_guy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Goose....

86BCE3F0-D7DB-4594-9D8E-3B69DEC2F312.jpg

8BCE73BF-8AEC-463C-BDCB-D30B563C4CC0.jpg

It's the end of the month, and this time it's Mrklean who is the random winner of the Decoy of the Month. The Smelt decoy I posted as my submission is on its way to your collection should you be interested. Watch your pm's to make arrangements.

Thanks for watching and participating in this months thread. I will post Junes challenge tomorrow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now ↓↓↓ or ask your question and then register. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      Random Daily Pics

      By smurfy · Posted

      Truly sorry to hear that duffman! I know that feeling.  Keep the good memories  
    • Duffman
      Random Daily Pics

      By Duffman · Posted

      Chamois passed away this weekend a couple days short of her 13th bday. What a great dog to hang out with here at home and on distant adventures. Gonna miss ya big time my little big girl.
    • Crow Hunter
      New boat question

      By Crow Hunter · Posted

      Sounds pretty sweet, alright. I will check them out, thanks.
    • Wanderer
      New boat question

      By Wanderer · Posted

      If you really want to treat your wife (and yourself) with a remote operated trolling motor, the Minn Kota Ulterra is about easy as it gets.  Auto stow and deploy is pretty awesome.  You just have to turn the motor on when you go out and that the last time you have to touch it.   24V 80lb.  60 inch shaft is probably the right length for your boat.  They ain’t cheap - about $3k - but neither one of you would have to leave your seat to use it all day.
    • Crow Hunter
      New boat question

      By Crow Hunter · Posted

      Wanderer, thanks for your reply. I do intend for it to be 24 volt, with a thrust of 70-80. Spot lock is a must (my wife is looking forward to not being the anchor person any more).  With my old boat we did quite a lot of pulling shad raps and hot n tots, using the trolling motor. Unlikely that we will fish in whitecaps, did plenty of that when I was younger. I also need a wireless remote, not going back to a foot pedal. We do a fair amount of bobber fishing. I don't think I will bother with a depth finder on the trolling motor. I am leaning toward moving my Garmin depth finder from my old boat to the new one, just because I am so used to it and it works well for me. I am 70 years old and kinda set in my ways...
    • Wanderer
      New boat question

      By Wanderer · Posted

      Dang, new content and now answers.   First, congrats on the new boat!   My recommendation is to get the most thrust you can in 24V, assuming a boat that size isn’t running 36V.  80 might be tops?  I’m partial to MinnKota.     How do you plan to use the trolling motor is an important question too.     All weather or just nice weather?   Casting a lot or bait dragging?   Bobber or panfish fishing?   Spot lock?  Networked with depth finders?  What brand of depth finders?
    • smurfy
      Time for a smoke

      By smurfy · Posted

      Nords!
    • smurfy
      Time for a smoke

      By smurfy · Posted

    • Crow Hunter
      New boat question

      By Crow Hunter · Posted

      We have bought a new boat, which we will be picking up this spring. It is an Alumacraft Competitor 165 sport with a 90 horse Yamaha motor. I will be buying and installing a trolling motor,  wondering if I can get some recommendations on what pound thrust I will want for this boat?  Also, I will be selling my old boat, is there a good way to determine the value on an older boat ( mid-80's with a 75 horse 2-stroke  Mariner motor)  I will appreciate any help with these questions.
    • smurfy
      What's on the grill

      By smurfy · Posted

  • Topics

×
×
  • 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