Jerome "Brooks" Big John, Jr. is the son of Jerome "Jerry" Big John, Sr. Brooks produces several fish each year that he sells in several shops in the Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin area.
Brooks' "for sale" fish are very distinctive and easy to spot, his users however look completely different. A "user" is a fish decoy that has been used by a spearer to spear fish. Not all fish decoys for sale have ever been in the water. There are some Lac Du Flambeau carvers who will use fish decoys to test them. Once they are tested they maybe put up for sale as a "user". You can compare Brooks' "for sale" fish with one of his old users in the pictures above. The fish on the end is one of his old users.
Brooks has been asked and has traveled to the orient three (3) times. There he has shared his knowledge of carving and using fish decoys with young studnets.
You can find out more about Brooks, his fish and winter spearing on his web site at http://arts.state.wi.us/static/Folkdir/brooks1.htm.
Click on the picture(s) to view the larger image