Jerry Kelm

Jerry Kelm — Rockford, MN

Jerry is a retired Army Veteran from Rockford, MN. Jerry has been carving decoys since 1957! Jerry grew up on a small farm in Albany, MN where he began carving decoys primarily because he didn't have money to buy any. As he made more decoys, he began selling a few to people who had heard of his decoys by word of mouth. At that time he was selling his decoys for .25 cents a piece. Jerry's work has been featured in several books including Fish Decoys Past and Present. Jerry is most known for his unique and intricate styles of decoys which he carves with only simple hand tools.

Mike Kitt

Mike Kitt — Marinette, WI

Mike started spearing in 1986 after being invited by a Michigan Conservation Officer and immediately hooked. They used jigging spoons exclusively at the time.

Mike met up with another Michigan Conservation Officer whom he had known for quite awhile a few years later after he retired (Mike Holmes). Found out he was an avid spearer, and an extremely good decoy carver. Mike was president of the newly formed MDAA and actively involved in trying to promote and preserve the sport.

Mr. Holmes began teaching Mike how to make decoys, and showed him a lot of "tough love" along the way. Kitt uses white cedar exclusively because of its properties and availability in the north country. Kitt’s first hand at making decoys for others came in his 1st annual trip to N. Dakota. A group of WI Game Wardens participated in their inaugural season, and he made everyone a decoy. Everyone got fish and fell in love with the sport also.

Kitt began taking people spearing as soon as he had his own darkhouse, but didn't pass on the art of decoy making til around 2004 when a friend and co-worker asked to teach him for Winnebago sturgeon spearing. Mike Kitt has seen thousands of pike, speared a few, witnessed countless people spear their first pike, watched fathers and children share in real quality time together and it never gets old for him.

Otis Lael

(1929-2005)

Otis Lael (1929-2005) — Pine River, MN

Otis began making fish spearing decoys in the early sixties for his son and friends to use. He didn't carve from that time until the early seventies when his sisters in Washington State encouraged him to make some decoys and other folk-art pieces. Otis carved purely from imagination and did not try to emulate certain fish species. His carvings were primitive with a good dose of whimsical humor usually present. He also made other interesting folk art carvings including pull toys, Santas, birds, frogs, and other imaginative critters.

 He regularly attended local carving shows, and the "Gathering" each year in Perham Minnesota. The National Fish Decoy Association awarded Otis the Living Legend Award in 2001 and Folk Art Carver of the Year in 2003. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the Air Force Sgts. Assoc., the MN Dark House Assoc., and the National Fish Decoy Assoc.

Learn more about Otis at www.otislael.com.

Larry Lange

(1939-2021)

Larry Lange (1939-2021) — Perham, MN

Larry attended District 137 and graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1957. He then enlisted in the Navy where he spent four years and was honorably discharged. Larry spent over 30 years working for Barrel O’ Fun and was a member of the Perham Fire Department. When he retired, Larry had many hobbies such as playing cards, fishing, hunting, and shooting sporting clays. He had many friends that would stop by for coffee when he was in his shop. Larry’s greatest love was making spearing decoys which were called Uncle Larry’s Decoys. He will be remembered as a handyman who was always willing to help his friends and family with their projects.

Glenn Mergos

Glenn Mergos

Glenn grew up in Detroit and spent much of his time fishing Lake St. Clair. He and his father would fish off Belle River, Ontario. He began carving in 1996, carving with world class carver Hans Bolte and later continued with Bob Bolle. All while studying artists like Pat Godin and Jon Jones.
Glenn's accomplishments include many blue ribbons from shows across the country. His most notable awards are the Best of Shows at the North American Decoy Championships and The California Open Wildlife Artist show. He also won the Best of show int the World Cup of Duck decoys in Perham in 2018!

Luis Moreno

Luis Moreno — Alexandria, MN

Luis Moreno, also known as King Louie! Luis is a decoy carver from Alexandria, MN. When Luis is not carving decoys he plays in a band called 57' Chevy. Luis loves music and you won’t find him many places without a guitar in his hands. Luis moved from Brownsville, Texas to Alexandria,MN in 1987. He had been carving various things all his life, including mini guitars, ukuleles, crank baits and other various things. He believe it was around 1998 when he began carving fish decoys. Luis likes to do things his own way, using only hand tools. Mostly only carving knives, and hand drills, he even powers is air brush with an inner tube not an air compressor. He likes the freedom it provides him not being attached to a shop. To top it all off the "King" installs his very own hand blown glass eyes into all of his decoys. Luis enjoys the gratitude of luring fish in on his own lures and that is one of his big drives to keep on carving!

Rod Osvold

Rod Osvold — Perham, MN

Rod Bio

John Peters

John Peters — MN

John has been carving fish for many years. He originally got into carving through a local carving club. After the carving club attended one of the first decoy shows in Perham. He quickly made friends with Rod Osvold and the “Godfather” of Spearing decoys Larry Lange, who John credits as his early influences. Johns favorite fish to carve is a decorative sunfish. According to John, “they’re fun to carve and are sought after by collectors.” Some of his most notable achievements include Best of Show trophies at the Gathering annual decoy show in Perham and a 2nd place in the NFDA National Points Standings four consecutive years! Although John’s decoys are beautiful, his talent doesn’t stop there as he is also a gifted painter and craftsman with furniture!

John Pususta

John Pususta — Montrose, MN

John began carving fish decoys for his own use in the winter of 1994. Striving for a better decoy he branched out into decorative fish carving. By refining his decoys John began to get noticed by collectors. Soon after he began filling orders for clients. It wasn't until the internet came about, especially eBay, that John began selling his decoys all over the country.

John has since become a top award winning fish decoy carver. Winning several Best of Show's on a national level, and many other awards. John has also won some NWTF awards for his turkey calls.