These decoys are believed to be from a lodge in Wisconsin. They also show some design interest from New York. I have not seen another set like this since I started collecting fish decoys, which causes me to believe that these or any like them would be some of the rarest fish decoy items today. They were purchased from a dealer from New York who found them in a N.Y. estate sale.

These would be given for use or rented to a ice fishing spearing fisher staying at the lodge for a ice spear fishing expedition.

They are made of good quality construction as they would have to last in good condition for many years before they would need to be replaced. These show some usage wear but were retired in pretty good condition.

The yellow decoys look like perch, but the small hump on the back near the tail possibly is to imitate a walleye. The White Fish's tail has a bit of look of a Cadillac style, but the rest of the body does not relate to the Cadillac style.

I am lead to believe with the style in this box that these are river or fast running water type of decoys due to no side fins and straight bodies, which brings the thought back to New York upstate streams instead of Wisconsin. Whichever state they come from and whoever carved them did two things - one made a very capable set of decoys and two they are of high quality of the true fish decoy carver that knew his or her business.

The date on this has been appraised circa early 1970's

The Decoy Box measures

13" Long x 7.75" Wide x 3.25" Deep.

This set contained 7 Fish Decoys:

3 Dark Greenish Brown (3 - 6")

3 Yellow Walleye (2 - 6" & 1 - 7")

1 White (1-7")

From Larry Christy's
Private Collection