Are any of you artists besides me??

[Doc Parker]

I have been carving and painting fish for decades and have many credits, like the world's largest hand carved Musky I did a decade ago in Prairie Du Chien Wisconsin that was 10 1/2' long and weighed in at 450 lbs. I just finished this chainsaw carved Bluegill today, carved from 2" thick pine. I love fish and fishing here in Wisconsin!

[dick tabbert]

Nice Gill Doc If I could only catch that on a fly rod. I've have been woodcarving for 15 years then put the knives away the time just wasn't there but before I put the knives up I started a crappie. That was 20 years ago now I'm starting to dabble again. I do have a couple pictures in my pictures if you care to look. My holdup at this time is this is my first fish I always done birds so I'm having to work through it and I'm trying to be a perfectionist and it's not working for me. Once I get over this hurdle I think I'll be OK. My biggest problem now is I have questions and don't know any fish carvers to ask. Anyway feel free to brows my pictures anytime you wish and again welcome aboard.

[Doc Parker]

Hi Dick! I figgered as much, you look like a lot of carvers I know! I carved birds for 10 years too, and decoys before that. I'd be happy to help you over any hurdles you encounter. Are you in Wisconsin?? Don't try to be a perfectionist, just make stuff and see where it leads. My bluegill isn't anywhere near perfect, but that keeps me going to the next fish. And they have more character if not like a photograph. I carved with gouges for a long time, but now I find a chainsaw gets me thru many pieces in a day, worst case scenario I get firewood!!! Is that a bad thing??

[dick tabbert]

Doc I'm in Swanton Ohio a little west of Toledo Ohio near Michigan and Ohio border. Most of my fishing is done in Michigan cause they have clear water lakes and I love fishing clear water.

[Doc Parker]

Yeah, clear is nice! We have clear and stained water here. The peat in the more swampy lakes makes it clear brown. Bass and pike seem to really like that!!