Carver Profiles
In the book series "The Fish Decoy, Volume I, II, and III", Art, Brad and Scott Kimball identified and described major regions in different states where winter spearing was or is practiced and where major concentrations of carvers are located. More information on these books can be found on the Resources page.
Michigan Carvers
- Area 1, The Upper Peninsula: The main fish speared in this area is the Northern Pike.
- Area 2, The upper part of the lower peninsula: The main fish speared in this area is Northern Pike and sturgeon.
- Area 3, The central part of Michigan: Most noted by the works of Oscar Peterson and his Cadillac style of decoy.
- Area 4, Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron: The main fish speared in this region is Walleye Pike and Perch. This area saw intense spearing in the 1870s when there was actually a village on the ice, called "Pickerelville", complete with hotel and a mayor.
- Area 5, Southwestern Michigan: Dominated by commercially made decoys by Heddon Company and Paw Paw Compnay.
- Area 6, Far eastern area boardering Lake Erie and part of Lake Huron (Detroit, Port Huron, Monroe and St. Clair): The main fish speared in this reagion is the Musky.
Minnesota Carvers
- Alexandria Area, includes Osakis and Park Rapids:
- Bemidji Area:
- Detroit Lake Area:
- Winona Area:
- Wright County Area:
New York:
- Very little is known about Winter Spearing or Fish Decoys from New York state
- Lake Champlain Area:
- Lake Chautauqua Area:
- Finger Lake Area:
Wisconsin Carvers
- Lac du Flambeau Area: Native American reservation steeped in Winter Spearing and Fish Decoy carving tradition and history
- LaCrosse Area: Winter Spearing outlawed in the 1920s. Some of the best fish decoys were made in this region of Wisconsin.
- Lake Superior Area:
- Lake Winnebago Area: Home of the monster fish, the Sturgeon. Winter Spearing of Sturgeon is still legal and practiced.
Other State's Carvers
- In recent years fish decoy carvers have surfaced in states were Winter Spearing was never practiced. These carvers started carving for their own education, past time hobby, or family tradition. Most of the fish decoys produced in these non-spearing states fall under the category of Folk Art and will never be seen by a spearer, under the water on a cold winter day. None the less they all possess the features of a "fish decoy".
Commercial Decoy Makers
- Commercial decoy makers from all states