tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post115931968648033351..comments2024-01-16T17:40:13.951-05:00Comments on Somewhere in NJ: Have decoy, need jig and frozen lakeLauraHinNJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159586523410247262006-09-29T22:22:00.000-05:002006-09-29T22:22:00.000-05:00Deb: I responded to your comment via email, but h...Deb: I responded to your comment via email, but have to laugh at the idea of fish-watching. I imagine a fisherman, in the freezing cold, standing over a hole in the ice to see what swims by his decoy. Is that the way that it is?<BR/><BR/>Sandy: I agree, but the art that is decoy-making stemmed from its more practical uses. I read that fish decoys became most popular during the depression years, of course the natice americans used decoys for hunting also, but from there it has evolved into popular folk art.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Laura. I hadn't really thought of fish as pretty, but these decoys do make them so.LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159391543799855412006-09-27T16:12:00.000-05:002006-09-27T16:12:00.000-05:00They are too pretty to use, better to collect. But...They are too pretty to use, better to collect. But then, I think the same about duck decoys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159383435679014312006-09-27T13:57:00.000-05:002006-09-27T13:57:00.000-05:00Great post! Your questions inspired me to do a bit...Great post! Your questions inspired me to do a bit of research on darkhouse spearing. My thoughts are that MN, WI, and MI, with their large numbers of lakes and cold winters, had the biggest tradition of spearing. The numbers of spearers have gone down over the last half-century, probably due to the increased urbanization of society. At the same time, fish populations and average sizes were declining in heavily-fished lakes. "Conventional" anglers blamed spearing for the loss of big fish in lakes, and perhaps in states where there were fewer spearers it was easy to impose spearing bans. However, the tradition of spearing remained strong enough in MN, WI and MI that any attempts to ban the sport have been unsuccessful. It's still controversial in some areas.<BR/><BR/>Studies I have read show that spearers account for a very small proportion of northern pike harvested on lakes in this area. The spearers I know of are more interested in watching fish than they are in actually spearing them, although they will take home a medium-sized pike or two for dinner. <BR/><BR/>Personally, I'm all for a fishing method with such a rich tradition, that requires more skill than modern fishing with all its gadgets. I'd like to start collecting decoys myself.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07879771115420282834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159327524274758202006-09-26T22:25:00.000-05:002006-09-26T22:25:00.000-05:00I'm another who's learned something today. Never h...I'm another who's learned something today. Never heard of that before!<BR/><BR/>You're right about setting up a booth and having people walk by, or far worse, call the goods down right there in front of the vendor.Madcaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966173518099250557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159327155998286312006-09-26T22:19:00.000-05:002006-09-26T22:19:00.000-05:00I've never heard of a fish decoy. Thanks for givi...I've never heard of a fish decoy. Thanks for giving us the story--and as you said, "a peek into the heart of an artist." I'm sure they felt your warmth.Lené Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018280698586741856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159325382904626022006-09-26T21:49:00.000-05:002006-09-26T21:49:00.000-05:00Should have mentioned in my post that spear fishin...Should have mentioned in my post that spear fishing is only allowed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. At least I think that's correct. I'm curious about why it's only allowed in those places - maybe someone knows?LauraHinNJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329387562570495570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159323834829669642006-09-26T21:23:00.000-05:002006-09-26T21:23:00.000-05:00I have seen them on The Antiques Roadshow. But, ne...I have seen them on The Antiques Roadshow. But, never in real life. <BR/>They are great pieces of art.silverlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849509928715939847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159323264185726682006-09-26T21:14:00.000-05:002006-09-26T21:14:00.000-05:00Hm. I never knew these existed, either. Thanks for...Hm. I never knew these existed, either. Thanks for the interesting post.John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00163297234733313179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159323128772786752006-09-26T21:12:00.000-05:002006-09-26T21:12:00.000-05:00That is a lovely decoy. I think it's neat that yo...That is a lovely decoy. I think it's neat that you have a story behind your decoys. It is amazing the amount of work that goes into such things - my old boss used to make handmade fly fishing lures, it was amazing to watch him work on them, I would never have such patience.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09831072486479007970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159322406626962912006-09-26T21:00:00.000-05:002006-09-26T21:00:00.000-05:00Huh! Never knew they existed!They really are pret...Huh! Never knew they existed!<BR/>They really are pretty. And you are right about how hard it must be to sell something you made with your two hands.<BR/>Thank goodness for artists!<BR/>(Like Julie Zickefoose....here is your big LOUD reminder...go order one, girl!)Susan Gets Nativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18784445.post-1159321607026676992006-09-26T20:46:00.000-05:002006-09-26T20:46:00.000-05:00Interesting! I never knew about fish decoy. I'll...Interesting! I never knew about fish decoy. I'll have to ask my fishing friends if they know about these. Thanks for sharing!NatureWomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04272529400065960820noreply@blogger.com