frying a tgon of fish for everyone.What a fantastic show 2023 was! Everyone was super excited as it had been 3 years since the last event. The buying crowd was supe heavy with loads of excitement.
   Friday, vendor setup  day was interesting as we added Early Buying for the afternoon with a $20.00 admission. We achieved 99% vendor set up on Friday with some heavy early buying.  Pretty sure we will do that again in 2024. The Friday night fish fry for the vendors was a lot of fun. Thanks to Ron Hamm for frying up a ton of fish. Friday is also carver contest registration, with over 200 entries showing up early.We had a great crew helping with 

Friday is and has been dealer day.  Vendors spend all day unloading and setting up. It is also the day carvers register decoys for the Nationals.
 In the past buyers have snuck in the back doors and did early buying without paying. This year we have gals at entrances and early buyers can buy a ONE DAY arm band for 20.00 They can come back Sat. and Sunday and pay 8.00 each day.
​ Set up runs until 3:30pm on Friday.

Well after surviving Covid we now have to survive the construction at the Community Center, and new management, both of which seem hostile to our event.
 The back entrance is not available for us to use, neither vendors or public. Also, you cannot go from the front gym, or buying floor, directly to the back gym, or contest area. 
 Entrance to the contest area is only available from the front entrance, or front desk, straight down the long hallway. It has always been tough to draw a crowd back there, now it will be impossible.

 Parking will be a problem all weekend. The Community Center is under construction.
VENDORS- you will find vendor parking on the far south side of the building. If you come into the front entrance, it is to the left. You can park clean on down to the ball fields.
 The back of the building will have some parking on Sat. n Sunday, but watch for equipment, etc., that is parked in back.
 There is a new thru street where vendors normally unload, left at the EYE DR. building. This new street takes you to the back parking area.

The Medina Decoy Show is coming up Sunday, April 3rd of 2022. Ofcourse, I lost my show flyer, so that is all I have this morning, other than you need to go early, like 9 am sharp. Always a good show- support our Industry.
In other news, the Little Falls Show is this Sat. March 5th, at the Falls Ballroom, Little Falls,MN. This is sold out show, should be good!!!!!!!
Check out  fishdecoy.net for some good fish currently on sale.


Perham info coming soon

The 24th Annual Park Rapids Decoy show was held Sat. Dec. 4th at the American Legion in Park Rapids Minnesota. As usual it was a great show, both for the buy public, collectors, vendors and carvers.
 While Park Rapids may be a small venue, it is historic as the home of the Bethel Carving family, and the 4th and 5th generation Bethel carvers were there selling fish decoys.
It was great seeing everyone again, and the decoy sales were strong.  Actually, the small shows have been having very good sales across Minnesota this year, as everyone is finally getting outdoors and active again.
There was a good selection of old decoys from several vendors, along with antique fishing tackle and general sporting collectables. Some nice early Pearl Bethels were on Andy Ripley's table, and a few walked out the door.

A big part of the show is the Minnesota Decoy Carver of the Year Contest.
The Best of Show went to Curt Soine from Granite Falls, MN., who had a replica Hans Janner decoy entered. This is the hard calss to win as it is only voted on by the other carvers- so congratulations to Curt.

In the Collectable Class first place went to Rick Wirth with his quilted decoy, second to newcomer Sam Coulson of st Cloud and third to Paul Sparks of Wadena.

In the Working Class first went to Paul Sparks of Wadena, second to Rick Worth of Detroit Lakes, and third place to Curt Soine.

​Curt Soine wins Best of Show in Park Rapids , MN Decoy Carver of the Year for 2021

Park Rapids does a great job with this fish decoy contest. In fact it was the first MN Decoy Carver of the Year Contest held in State. This is also the hardest of all contests to win.
 There are 3 ways to win. First class is the Working Class of decoys, which is judged  and swim tested by the public.
Second class is the Collectible Class, which is also judged by the public.
 Third is the BEST OF SHOW for the Title MN Decoy Carver of the Year. This is voted on by the carvers and vendors that are set up that day.
 The contest is open to MN fish decoy carvers and is held in conjunction with the Decoy Show held that Saturday, December 4th, at the American Legion in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Usually the show has about 30 quality vendors set up . Great show, hope to see you there.
 ​MN Fish Decoy Carver of the Year Contest to be held in Park Rapids, MN, Dec.4th, 2021

 The 24th Annual Fish decoy Show will be held Dec.4th, 2021, at the American Legion, in Park Rapids, Minnesota.
 This show is hosted by the local MN Dark House Chapter, and is an annual fund raiser for them. The show hours for the public is 9 am to 3 pm.
 About 30 carvers, vendors, and spear makers are usually set up. This is the Bethel home town with lots of history, so you never know what walks thru the door.
 The show also hosts an annual gun raffle. This year This year they feature a Tristar 12ga. o/u, a Ruger 30-06 with scope, a Remington 783 , 30-06 with scope, and several cash prizes. All proceeds benefit the community fish house, a great and worthwhile project.
 
​​24th Annual Fish Decoy show in Park Rapids Dec. 4th, 2021

The second annual Spears, Beers, and Fish Decoy Show will be held Saturday, November 20th, 2021, at the Lean To Tavern in Bejou, Minnesota.
 Show hours for the public is 9 am to 3 pm. Social hour is all day.
 Probably an admission as they had one last year. Show is hosted by Northern Spiked spearfishermen. They also have a MN Dark House Chapter up there, so this should be a very well attended show. Expect about 30 vendors, carvers, artists, and spear makers. Good little show at the right time of year.
 Concessions, beer , and gambling is available at the Lean To Tavern.
   I think Bejou is French . Story is that when the Vikings came up the Red River they stopped at the French settlement, Bejou, to trade fish decoys for live catfish bait. Sounds about right.
​Spears, Beers, and Fish Decoy Show in Bejou, Minnesota
 

 The 6th annual Fish House Festival is back after 2 years of covid interruptions.
  The New York Mills Cutural Center and the National Fish Decoy Association, along with the organizers of The Gathering Show from Perham, Minnesota, host the Fish House Festival every July, to coincide with Lund Boats Lund Mainia Fishing Tournament and Festival.
 Ron Hamm of Frazee, MN, builds his 4x6 custom spear houses and area artists gather to each paint a side. We have numerous pictures up on our sister site  www.nfdadecoys.org.
 This years painters are John Peeters, Jacob and Kim Sazama, Aryn Lill, Cheryl Bannes, and Nancy Valentine.
 While the painters are at work on the houses, other artists are carving and painting decoys for the upcoming 6:30 live auction.
 
 Lund Mania events start at 4 pm with the mini boat races, our auction, then the boat parade of tournament fishermen, the the beer garden and fish fry.
Great fun in a small community.
   ​6th Annual Fish House Festival comes to New York Mills, Minnesota