Decoy of the Month... May '14

[Neighbor_guy]

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...

Goose...

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.

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.

[MJ1657]

I'm liking this months idea a lot.

[merkman]

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

.

[jasonmichalski]

I like this one to, smelts on my list for decoys!!

[Neighbor_guy]

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.

[BOUNCED]

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......?

[Neighbor_guy]

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.

[Neighbor_guy]

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.

[Neighbor_guy]

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...

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

[bowhunt]

That is shaping up to be one fine decoy. Keep up the good work.

Bowhunt

[MJ1657]

That is looking awesome Neighbor Guy!!

[Neighbor_guy]

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.

[MJ1657]

That is a great decoy NG

[Neighbor_guy]

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.

Buck teeth

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

[MJ1657]

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

[Mike89]

great work!!!!!!

[mrklean]

I want

[Dorkfish]

I will give you 20 for it Dealer

[Neighbor_guy]

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

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

[jvm1]

Way cool, great work! should go on E b a y for open auction.

[Neighbor_guy]

Goose....

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.

[MJ1657]

Mrklean got two great presents this month.

[mrklean]

Its been a good week I wont complain