Folk Art Decoys
I'm one of those strange people that loves winter. With winter comes many hours on the ice, spear fishing, watching natures television. The pure silence of a calm winter day out on a remote frozen lake is something I dream about all year.
I got introduced to spear fishing during college through a friend of mine whose father was a DNR warden and avid spear fisherman. I was amazed at all the custom gear that they used, especially the fish decoys. Each one was unique, hand carved, weighted to "swim", and beautifully painted.
Spearing is an ancient sport. Inuit carved decoys from walrus ivory 1,000 years ago. In 1763 a fur trader described Ojibwa Indians jigging decoys beneath the ice to lure lake trout.
It wasn't until years after I'd been introduced to spear fishing that I attempted to make my own decoy. Decoys are generally carved out of cedar, fins cut from heavy metal, the body cavity carefully weighted with melted lead, and then painted.
If you’re interested in my decoy work follow me on Instagram at instagram.com/ryan_ebert_art. You’ll also find my available decoys for sale on my Etsy shop.
Named The Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson - 2020
My decoy work has been featured on MeatEater’s Bent podcast (episode 82), The Wisconsin Sportsman podcast (episode 23), Friday Night Pikes podcast, Daily Jefferson County Union (newspaper), Channel 15 Madison.
Fine Art
