A fish decoy is an object in the shape of a fish or some other animal that is used as a decoy to attract fish. It is often used during ice fishing. [1] Unlike a fishing lure, a fish decoy doesn't have a hook. [1]
Fish were a common type of American folk art during the Depression era. [1]
Fish decoys can be used to attract predator fish but also sturgeons.
Fish decoys are primarily used when ice fishing with spears, although fish decoys have been employed during "normal" (non-ice) fishing to attract fish to where a fisherman may have placed several baited lines. Most common forms of fish decoys are weighted and attached to a line. The line is often attached to the roof of the shanty, some other stationary object, or a jigging stick. The fisherman will then "swim" or "dangle" the decoy to attract a fish in close enough to spear.
Another form of decoy that is sometimes used is called a "floater". This type of fish decoy is not weighted, but is attached to a weight that holds the decoy at the desired depth.
There are other fish decoys which have one or more hooks attached. In Minnesota, and some other states, these decoys are illegal and are referred to as "cheaters". In Michigan, a hooked decoy is legal and is simply counted as one of the number of lines that each angler is allowed to employ. These decoys are used since some species of fish, such as pike, are very aggressive and will attack the decoy. The application of hooks provides an additional method to ensure the catch.
Fish decoy carving dates back to the time of Native Americans who would often carve decoys out of wood, bone, or antlers. They would lie out on the ice and use the decoys to attract a fish. Modern ice fishermen will often use an ice shanty, which is sometimes also called a darkhouse or fish house, to protect themselves from the elements while fishing.
In modern times, fish decoys have been carved and collected for their artistry. Fish decoys are now considered a form of folk art and have garnered a growing following in recent decades. Many decoy carvers have also carved items to be used in decorating—such as plaques, vases, paddles, and carvings of other animals.
Among notable 20th century fish decoy artists are Gordon Charbeneau, Abe De Hate Sr, Gordon "Pecore" Fox, Hans Janner Sr., David Forton, Yock Meldrom, Larry Joseph Peltier, Oscar W. Peterson, William Jesse Ramey, Tom Schroeder, Harry Seymore, Andy Trombley, and Ted Van DeBossche. These carvers (and numerous others) are considered vintage master carvers because their work predates the modern "collector" phase of fish decoys. Their carvings were primarily intended as tools to aid the fisherman in harvesting fish.
A fishing rod is a long, flexible rod used by fishermen to catch fish. At its simplest, a fishing rod is a simple stick or pole attached to a line ending in a hook. The length of the rod can vary between 2 and 20 feet. To entice fish, bait or lures are impaled on one or more hooks attached to the line. The line is generally stored on a reel which reduces tangles and assists in landing a fish.
Fly fishing is an angling method that uses a light-weight lure—called an artificial fly—to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. The light weight requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. The flies may resemble natural invertebrates, baitfish, or other food organisms.
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle". The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Modern fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. Tenkara fishing and cane pole fishing are two techniques that do not use a reel. The hook itself can be dressed with bait, but sometimes a lure, with hooks attached to it, is used in place of a hook and bait. A bite indicator such as a float, and a weight or sinker are sometimes used.
Crappies are a genus, Pomoxis, of North American fresh water fish in the sunfish family Centrarchidae. Both species in this genus are popular pan fish.
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated enclosures, some with bunks and amenities.
An ice shanty is a portable shed placed on a frozen lake to provide shelter during ice fishing. They can be as small and cheap as a plastic tarp draped over a frame of two-by-fours, or as expensive as a small cabin with heat, bunks, electricity and cooking facilities.
A fishing lure is a type of artificial fishing bait which is designed to attract a fish's attention. The lure uses movement, vibration, flash and color to bait fish. Many lures are equipped with one or more hooks that are used to catch fish when they strike the lure. Some lures are placed to attract fish so a spear can be impaled into the fish or so the fish can be captured by hand. Most lures are attached to the end of a fishing line and have various styles of hooks attached to the body and are designed to elicit a strike resulting in a hookset. Many lures are commercially made but some are hand made such as fishing flies. Hand tying fly lures to match the hatch is considered a challenge by many amateur entomologists.
A hei matau is a bone or greenstone carving in the shape of a highly stylised fish hook typical of the Māori people of New Zealand. They represent good luck and safe travel across water.
Fishing tackle is the equipment used by anglers when fishing. Almost any equipment or gear used for fishing can be called fishing tackle. Some examples are hooks, lines, sinkers, floats, rods, reels, baits, lures, spears, nets, gaffs, traps, waders and tackle boxes.
Plugs are a popular type of hard-bodied fishing lure. They are widely known by a number of other names depending on the country and region. Such names include crankbait, wobbler, minnow, shallow-diver and deep-diver. The term minnow is usually used for long, slender, lures that imitate baitfish, while the term plug is usually used for shorter, deeper-bodied lures which imitate deeper-bodied fish, frogs and other prey. Shallow-diver and deep-diver refer to the diving capabilities of the lure, which depends on the size and angle of the lip, and lure buoyancy.
Striped bass are perciform fish found all along the Atlantic coast, from Florida to Nova Scotia, and are caught as far north as Maine. They are of significant value as sporting fish, and have been introduced to many areas outside their native range.
Fishing techniques are methods for catching fish. The term may also be applied to methods for catching other aquatic animals such as molluscs and edible marine invertebrates.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to fishing:
A duck decoy is a man-made object resembling a real duck. Duck decoys are sometimes used in duck hunting to attract real ducks.
Carp is a common name for various species of freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. They have been introduced to various locations around the world, though with mixed results.
Fish sculpture, fish decoys, fish carvings and fish trophies are the names given to a style of painted wood carving practiced by various artisans. The works are kept as decorations and collectible as folk art.
William "Jesse" Ramey is a vintage master carver of fish decoys. His work is sometimes attributed to "Jess Ramey", though he was known to his friends as Jesse. His work, along with Oscar W. Peterson's, formed the basis of what is now considered the "Cadillac style".
Oscar W. "Pelee" Peterson (1887–1951) was an American carver of fish decoys.
Oscar "Pelee" Peterson is among the best known and most widely imitated fish carvers.
Wood carving is a common art form in the Cook Islands. Sculpture in stone is much rarer although there are some excellent carvings in basalt by Mike Tavioni. The proximity of islands in the southern group helped produce a homogeneous style of carving but which had special developments in each island. Rarotonga is known for its fisherman's gods and staff-gods, Atiu for its wooden seats, Mitiaro, Mauke and Atiu for mace and slab gods and Mangaia for its ceremonial adzes. Most of the original wood carvings were either spirited away by early European collectors or were burned in large numbers by missionary zealots.
The ancient Egyptian culture is full of rich traditions and practices that until today we keep on learning about. Wildlife in ancient Egypt used to be very different compared to the wildlife currently present in Egypt for several factors and variables. Animals such as elephants, rhinoceros, crocodiles, and hippopotamus used to live in different parts of Egypt, however these animals do not exist in Egypt today. Animals were very much appreciated and important in Egyptian history; even some deities were represented as animals; as Hathor the goddess of fertility, love and beauty was represented as a cow.