Fish decoy

Some fish decoys could be classified under Fish Sculptures or Fish carvings; however, a large number of fish decoys are not in the shape of a fish. Frogs, ducks, insects, beavers, mice, snakes, crayfish, turtles, and rabbits are just a few of the animals that have been used as decoys to attract a hungry fish to the fisherman.

In the classical sense, a fish decoy is an object that is used to attract a predator fish. However, fish decoys have also been used to attract sturgeon. The reasons why sturgeon are attracted by decoys is a point of discussion, as it may be competition based (thinking another fish has found some food that the sturgeon might want) or might be reproductive - or just something as simple as plain curiosity.

Fish decoys are primarily used when Ice fishing with spears, although fish decoys have been employed during "normal" (non-ice) fishing to attract fish to where a fisherman may have placed several baited lines. Most common forms of fish decoys are weighted and attached to a line. The line is often attached to the roof of the shanty, some other stationary object, or a jigging stick. The fisherman will then “swim” or "dangle" the decoy to attract a fish in close enough to spear.