The differences between John Novak and Frank Mizera Trout Jigs

Airplane lures from Ely, Minnesota were used as fish decoys, sometimes called "cheaters" because they had hooks.  Many times these smaller decoys were designed to be used as Trout Jigs to fish for Lake Trout through the ice.  The flutter and stutter, in swooping arcs, in the water to mimic wounded bait fish that the Lake Trout stun with their tails as they hunt after slapping them... The trout circle back to snap up the wounded bait.  If they bite the cheater decoy/trout jig they are hooked and you've got dinner!

Airplane jigs come in all shapes and sizes, wood and metal.  Two of the coolest carvers from Ely, Minnesota were Johnny Novak and Frank Mizera.

Here are some pictures of Frank Mizera and John Novak Trout jigs.  Normally Mizera made fins that were not completely rounded on their edges.  His tended to have an angle cut to them.  Novak's were usually rounded until they began to get larger around the normal decoy size and then they seem to have an angular shape as well.  Mizera cut a rounded elliptical hole for his lead.  Novak usually did squared holes for the lead in the bottom.  Novak seemed to experiment with a wide variety of colors and paint styles including some examples with foil.

Mizera Trout Jigs.  Some have tails, some don't.  Most have fins that are "angular" with a "quarter circle" cut shape.

Top view of Mizera Airplane Lures.  Note the Cedar Blanks.

Colorful selection of Johnny Novak Airplane Lures (trout jigs)

Most of Novak's wooden trout jigs have rounded fins with square lead cavities in the bottom.

Big Antique Sale Tomorrow, Fishing Decoys and Lures, Saturday October 19th, ELY MN

MOVING/Multi-Family SALE

Garage Sale -- Antiques Sale

Furniture, household items, fishing decoys,

delta-rockwell table saw w/edger,

maple flooring ( from old finnish stock co.),

fishing stuff, guy stuff, tools, axes, tongs, knives, books,

lures, collectibles and much, much more.

240 N 5th Ave East

Saturday October 19th 9 am to 1 pm

New Fishing Decoy Trade Forum has begun on Facebook

Some of my fellow fish decoy carvers and collectors suggested that a page begin where collectors could trade decoys. The idea was started by John Werlich...

Here's what he had to say: "I have this idea... I am an idea guy, someone else is going to have to do it if people think its a good idea. My good buddy Rick Relander words to me last night were bye John, I love you. Ok this is 61 year old decoy collector saying this to a 50 year old collector. I was really moved and was thinking about him. He needs help selling high end decoys. We all have them and you know what I am talking about. If you but them on ebay a guy like me will swoop them up for pennies on the dollar. Because of this these types don't make it to ebay. So this is my idea... If someone could form a facebook group of decoy collectors/carver who want to trade. Showing decoys you have in your collection that you would like to trade. Put a value on the decoy (current 2013 value not the price you paid 7 years ago) And let others see what you have to trade and make an offer with another decoy. Maybe let others know the carvers you are looking for/have in your trading collection. If anyone can understand this idea and put it together this would be great."

So I thought... this is a good idea and a necessary project. Thus, it began (smile) Here's how it works, and this (click here) is how you get there. Tell your friends and post all you want. It is GREAT reason to be on FACEBOOK even if some of you don't like that idea. You can copy and past this long like in your internet browser if you like.  You'll need to log in to FACEBOOK when you get there and "LIKE" the page.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fish-Decoy-Carvers-and-Collectors-Trade-Forum/633153263365416?ref=tn_tnmn

Fish Decoy Carvers and Collectors Trade Forum

To Post: Post a picture or Album of the Fish Decoy you have for trade.  Title it (ie: Mizera Fish Decoy for Trade $350 Value or Folk Art Fish Decoy for Trade $125 value).  Subtitle could be something about the decoy and include your name.  You could copy this info or enter new info for each picture in the album.  If you Tag yourself in the photo it will also appear on your Facebook page so your friends can see and it will cause the decoy to appear in your photos.  You could tag other collectors that you know might be interested.

As administrator I could help you with this or create albums from individual photos.

This page is for trading antique fish decoys, fish decoy spears, jigsticks or other old ice spearing decoys.  It is also for Carvers to showcase and trade their contemporary fish decoy creations.

If you cannot come up with something to trade and want to pay full value for the decoy you are welcome to contact the owner with your offer.  This is not a firesale venue.  People using this sight are expecting fair market current value for their pieces (not what they paid for it at market peak and not a low-ball offer).  Trades should be made for "like value" decoys or groups of decoys.

As administrator I will delete posts that are spam, contain content other than fish decoy themes, bad language or non-family-friendly content.  Be on your best behavior.  I am not responsible for any transactions and will not be held responsible for transactions gone sour.  If you sell something as a result of your relationships here you are responsible for reporting and taxes.  If something is no longer available, please post in a comment.  Do not delete your posts as we will keep them for historical and value purposes.

We want to encourage young and old carvers and collectors to participate and in that vein please showcase and post your contemporary fish decoy carvings and feel free to trade/sell those as well.

As we begin I will not charge anything for maintaining this page or promoting it on my blog and websites.  I may at some point add some way to donate if you like and if you participate in transactions that are favorable you might consider sending me a tip via paypal or not.  You can message me in facebook to find out how.  If you don't want to that's fine, I'm doing this for fun and because it is a great idea.

I collect Frank Mizera fish decoys and trout jigs often called airplane jigs or cheater decoys.  I have an extensive collection of Otis Lael Decoys and Folk art and I love folk art.  I'm a carver myself.  I like carving and collecting frog decoys.

Let me know if I can help.  We can also collect info here and write history/collecting notes and this place can become a real resource for future collectors and carvers.

Tim Stouffer, Ely Minnesota


p.s. Thanks John Werlich and Rick Relander for this idea.

I collect Frank Mizera fish decoys and trout jigs often called airplane jigs or cheater decoys. I have an extensive collection of Otis Lael Decoys and Folk art and I love folk art. I'm a carver myself. I like carving and collecting frog decoys too.

 

Video Slide Show of Many of My Lures and Decoys

Video Footage of my Talk on Old-School Fish Decoys

Did a talk on Darkhouse Spearing in Town the other Day

A great way to share your passion for the sport and collecting.

Click Image for a larger complete view.

Fishing Decoys, the art of Carving, Spearing with and Collecting

Recently, I was asked to speak to a group of folks in Ely about my passion for fishing decoys and the art and sport of spear fishing.  I covered some history, how a decoy is made, and how fishing in a darkhouse works.

Spearing with Lucy and Old and New Decoys: Frank Mizera and Stouffer

Got up at 6 a.m. went out on the Ice with Lucy in the Dark and cut our hole. Dragged out the ice with the tongs, set up the pop-up darkhouse and put one of Frank Mizera's old Decoys down the hole along with one of my early decoys, an obvio...us take off on his. Lucy jigged mine, I jigged Franks. 9:15 the biggest Northern Pike I've ever seen came in under Lucy's corner, and looked like he would take up the whole hole. His back looked to be about 7 inches across down in the water. He was already turning away from the black and white decoy under Lu when I saw him and I lifted my spear to try for a shot he saw my shadow. It looked to me like he looked up at me through the water and with one flick of his powerful tail he shot off towards shore. The one that got away... Lucy didn't even get to see him. He was easily bigger than 36 inches.

Spearing my first Northern Pike December 9, 2011

I went spearing this afternoon. Didn't think I would make it in time. Six inches of ice here in Ely on most lakes. Arrived at 3:00, cut my hole and had the portable up in strong wind by 3:30. Sat down inside and put on one of my decoys, then one of my friend's Jay McEvers, then Harley Ragan's, then mine and back to McEvers (it has a "flasher" spinning blade attached. Let it sit in the hole. 4:05 a little one came in. I was so excited after not seeing anything but a sucker for 3 years that I threw at him. He got stuck between my tines, but not hurt, so I released him. He swam away fast. Put the decoy back in the hole, another one came in and nosed it and shot off like a rocket. Then a bigger one came in slowly. Sitting for a long time and making me nervous. Inching in... Inching in. I threw and pinned him to the bottom. I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Blue is a good color.

26" pike. Beautiful.

Musings from Wild Green Onion: New Beginnings with the Past

Musings from Wild Green Onion: New Beginnings with the Past: As I sit down tonight with Nutmeg, my cat, curled up in my lap to write this, I'm excited for my first blog entry. Her rhythmic purring i...

Unknown Fish Decoy

Just got this from a friend of mine.  Very nice woodburned accents.  Pin eyes.  The style looks familiar but I am unable to identify.  It has nice sweeping fins and evident age.  Natural except for some white painted gill accents that match the fins.  It also has markings over the eyes, like brows.  Could be Native American.  Could be something else.  Whatever it is it is a fantastic piece of Folk Art.

If anyone has a clue about I.D. and the carver's state, let me know what you think.  If you've got pictures of anything else, follow the links to the right and email me.

Always buying vintage decoys and lures, especially folk art, so feel free to contact me.

Tim

Enjoy...

My Sister just Started her own business! Handmade Soaps, Lotions and Oils

Announcing the birth of Wild Green Onion!

Featuring the art and handcrafted natural body products of Rebecca Stouffer!


Visit my Sister's new site REBECCA STOUFFER'S handmade soaps, oils and body lotions
http://www.wildgreenonion.com for the same fantastic body products that Snowfire used to make.  Made right here in Ely, Minnesota.

http://www.wildgreenonion.com

Fish Decoy Donated to Young Life in Ely, Minnesota

I donated this fish decoy to the Young Life Auction in Ely, Minnesota.  The Auction is at the Grand Ely Lodge in Ely, MN.  It begins at 6 p.m. tonight.  The fish decoy is valued at $150 to $175 and is handcrafted from cedar.  It has vintage Hills Bros Coffee fins and a copper tail that I salvaged from copper I found at the dump.  It has woodburned, then painted accents.  It is properly weighted to swim and is a fully functioning fish decoy.  It is in my folk art style and is the only fish decoy carved in the shape of an "S" that I have made.  It is signed on the bottom.

I've donated a decoy to support this organization for kids for the last several years.  You can support them by bidding at the Young Life Sweet Spring Auction each year.  Thanks.

FOLK ART NORTHERN PIKE DECOY BY TIM STOUFFER, ELY, MN
IT IS 10 3/4 INCHES LONG

Folk Art Fishing Decoy

My latest fishing decoy.  Frog in the style of a Leopard Frog with a little folk art touch.  Big Northern Pike love frogs.  Still want to swim test him one more time with my friend Joe before I position the line tie.  3 coats of clear coat, all hand painted.  Custom eyes hand-painted from vintage jewelry.  One of my new tricks for painting eyes is cheap nail polish.  It dries fast, hard and glossy.  This guy is $200.  SOLD Tack on a fiver for shipping, thanx.  Contact me by following the link to my website on the right hand side of this blog.  Thanx, Tim

A Froggermouse original

An original froggermouse.  Doubles as a fish decoy (cheater with hook) or a lure with a Bud Stewart style line tie on the side of the mouth.  Vintage tobacco tin tongue, metal ears, brush tail, vintage hook.  One of a kind inspired by the name :).

$125.00 plus $5.00 shipping.  Hit the link at the right for my website to contact me if you are interested.  Or post a comment below.

Tim

Unknown Fish Decoys

Here are some unknowns that I've collected.  They are small.  Most likely used for lake trout fishing, jigging as most of the airplane style fish decoy lures were used.  They dart back and forth in the water.  From the tiny to the "make-do" handmade.  A couple obviously have a factory look to them.  They just look cool, even in their various states of paint loss and use.

This has been identified as a "Johnson Silver Minnow" Trout Jig, made by Sheldon Ivor Johnson of MN.

Thanks for looking.  If you've got anything like this in the bottom of an old tackle box, hanging in the rafters of your grandpa's garage or sitting on a shelf, collecting dust, let me know.

Tim