Decoy of the month... June 2014

[Neighbor_guy]

Well, it's already June. No matter how you look at it, half empty or half full, we are now only 6 short months from the December 6th get to gator/meet and greet/gab fest and the start if the season. It will be here before we know it.

Any ways, new month, new challenge. Like always we leave it up to the youth to make the blind choice...

And the selection is...

So between now and the end if the month create and show your idea of a "perch decoy"

Thanks to all those who follow these threads and especially those who participate. I look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with this month.

Examples to follow...

[Neighbor_guy]

This one has a lot of ways to look at it.

You could go with what we all know, "yellow perch"

Or you could go with any of the dozens of other "perch" options you get when you do a search for "perch"

Like a "European"

"White"

Here's one called a "pirate perch" looks like a bullhead to me...

"Red banded"

There are lots of them, so the options are endless...

[Neighbor_guy]

Here are a few decoy examples from my past...

"Off colors"

Or if you prefer a more natural color...

So there you have it... A wide open field of options this month. Let's see what we can come up with.

[Neighbor_guy]

Well we are at the half way point of the month. Goose finished the carving of her decoy today. Once again a tick outside the box for her. She is staying small it will be interesting to see where she goes with paint.

I am still undecided on this months decoy. Do I stay within my comfort zone and make a perch that falls in that 8/9" range, or go bigger?

I don't know....

I will have to get some blanked out and see what moves me.

[MJ1657]

Make a big one.

[mrklean]

go big or go home

[merkman]

I am still trying to get to the smelt....

[Neighbor_guy]

Hmmmm.....

I will have to check with the decoy of the month committee to see if we allow late entries.

Ah who am I kidding, there are only two of us and one is to young to vote. Even if she could I hold the tie breaker.

We will happily accept late submissions as in the end we just want to see new decoys and show off the artistic part of this sport. (Mostly the new decoys part cause decoys are cool)

[Neighbor_guy]

Well the goose got it all finished up and ready to be submitted. It's out there in right field a ways... Like picking dandelions off the warning track in church league softball out there. But she is as happy as can be and that is all that matters here.

After drawing the perch from the hat she was already diving into the bin to see what blanks were already cut. According to her she knew what she wanted she just had to find it. What she came up with and proudly began working on was a small 4" minnow blank that I call a teaser. She asked if it could be used to make a perch. I told her it could if she painted it up like one. She was in.

Flash forward to carving and shaping is mostly done and she is going to lay out fins and she says she don't want a tail, she wants a flicker tail... Kripes, well anyone who has or has had a 10y/o girl at home knows what happens when they get their mind set on something, and since this entire mess was to get some extra quality time with the kid (she doesn't know that, so mums the word) we set about making the needed modifications to her decoy. Tears avoided.

Another week goes by and another rain out of a weekend day. Time to paint. I tell her to lay out her steps on a piece of paper so she don't skip any and away we go.

The gooses June decoy of the month submission, the flicker tail perch.

It's got a goofy smile and almost looks upside down. But she loves it!!! Light blue body, with a lavender pink head, navy blue perch stripes, and a sparkle glitter coat. Truly a one of a kind.

Thanks for looking.

[Mike89]

good job both of you!!

[mrklean]

Very cool decoy you have taught her well

[jasonmichalski]

very nice work!!

[Neighbor_guy]

Ok, my turn, and while I did make a blue one, I did not want to post it after Sam posted that fantastic example of a "blue perch" that he picked up from the fair.

Then MJ said "make a big one"... So I did... and I created a European Perch:

And while my standard perch is a perfectly reasonable 7 1/2" and has accounted for many many fish encounters, the "Big Perch" fell at a full 9" long.

MrKlean chimed in with "go big or go home"

and unfortunately for me, if I take my toys and go home, there is a decoy shop in the basement. So I started asking around and tried to find out what would fall into that "jumbo perch" category. As such I made this and its a big'un at 11" nose to tail.

[Neighbor_guy]

[mrklean]

Very cool I love the different colors

[MJ1657]

Those are some of your best decoys yet Matt. Very nice.

[Mike89]

excellent work!!!

[jvm1]

Really cool, the green one looks great!

[jasonmichalski]

those are looking really great!!

[bowhunt]

As usual those are impressive decoys, and anyone would be happy to have them. I love all of the color schemes that you used, and the detail on the fins and scales is top notch.

[Neighbor_guy]

Thanks guys. A lot of time and effort goes into these. I know a lot of guys can turn their decoys out faster, but the two bigger ones were pushing 10-12hrs each with the scales. And being the first time for both those body shapes there was some extra time to create the patterns. But I enjoy doing it and it keeps my mind active. You can only watch so much tv.

These threads are a way to push my boundaries out and get my daughter involved. As well as a chance for the different carvers we have that visit the forum to compare and show off a little.

And if someone else's decoy collection grows a little bit in the process, well that's good too.

There's still a few days of this month left if anyone's got one in the works.

[Neighbor_guy]

End of the month...

Must mean its time for a drawing....

Seven names in the pool this month. Up from the usual five. Goose is pushing to have her name in the hat cause she hates to see decoys go. I told her its not right to change the rules after the game has started.

Who's it going to be???

MJ!!! Congratulations you are the random winner of the Decoy of the Month for June. This month being as I submitted a pair of decoys you will have a choice of which one you would like to add to your collection. Watch for a PM on the details to make arrangements for delivery or pick up.

Thanks to all of those who participate in the Decoy of the Month threads. I will post up details for the July challenge shortly.

[MJ1657]

Awesome thanks Neighbor Guy and Goose!!!!!!! its greatly appreciated.

I'll pick the green one.

Thanks again.