Decoy gets big payday at auction

loading...

Over the years, waterfowl decoys have made an interesting transition. For some, they were – and still are – mere tools of the hunting trade.

But for others, decoys serve other purposes.

Some consider them rustic interior decorations. Others think of them as well-worn reminders of outdoor traditions their families have held dear for years.

Still others look at decoys and see … dollar signs.

In this everything’s-up-for-auction world, decoys are no exception. But the prices buyers are willing to pay for rare 80-year-old wooden ducks may astound you.

A story out of Chicago – with a Maine angle, of course – may send some old-time duck hunters scrambling to their garages this morning, looking for buried treasure.

On April 22-23, a rare eider drake hunting decoy made by Augustus “Gus” Wilson of South Portland was sold at the Windy City at the Guyette & Schmidt annual spring decoy auction.

That decoy, which was made in about 1920, fetched a record price for a Maine-made decoy.

Hold onto your hat: It sold for $126,500.

According to Maine-based Guyette & Schmidt, Augustus Wilson worked as a lighthouse keeper in Port Clyde and Goose Rocks Light, and he carved thousands of hunting decoys over a career of about 40 years.

A South Portland man received the decoy from his father, who lived on North Haven in the 1970s, and took the decoy to Frank Schmidt for an appraisal.

When he was told it would bring at least $40,000, he consigned it to the auction.

As the Guyette & Schmidt auction illustrates, decoys have become big business: The April auction grossed $4.3 million.

The top lot at the sale was a 100-year-old Canada goose carved by Elmer Crowell of Massachusetts. It sold for $605,000.

If that’s not enough to prompt you to head out to the garage in search of your great-grandfather’s decoys … I don’t know what is.

And if you do find a decoy you think might be worth an expert appraisal, Guyette & Schmidt would be happy to help. They provide free appraisals to anyone sending a decoy photo and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Guyette & Schmidt Inc., PO Box 522, West Farmington, 04992.

Get out there and start digging.

In many cases, finding reliable fishing information from secretive fishermen can be difficult. Some anglers are understandably reluctant to share their favorite spots, and others won’t even tell you what flies or bait or tackle they prefer to use.

Luckily, some of the best information comes from those who know the most about our fish and fisheries.

The best part: They share that information generously in the weekly Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fishing report.

According to Down East biologist Rick Jordan, Cathance Lake in Cooper has been producing good fishing and growth for landlocked salmon, with some fish weighing more than three pounds.

Jordan said a few other lakes and ponds have proven productive for salmon anglers thus far. Among those: Green Lake in Ellsworth, Mopang Lake in T29 MD, Schoodic Lake in Cherryfield, Nash’s Lake in Calais, Big Lake in T27 ED and West Grand Lake in Grand Lake Stream.

Biologist Paul Johnson, who is responsible for fisheries in the vast Moosehead region, issued an invitation to anglers who’d like to help DIFW staffers improve the fishing.

Johnson encourages anglers who fish Moosehead to keep records of their fishing, and to pass along that information to his office.

Those who want to keep a personal fishing record book can contact the Greenville DIFW headquarters; another option, he pointed out, is to log on to the Internet and take advantage of the new Trip Tracks Fishing Logbook.

Information entered on Trip Tracks not only lets anglers chart their fishing journeys, but also is shared with the DIFW to help in ongoing research.

The Web address for that site is www.triptracks.com.

If you’re an angler who likes to spend as much time as possible wading the state’s rivers, you know that there’s one sure way to have a day’s fishing ruined before it starts.

Picture it: The morning is beautiful. You drive for an hour or more … get to the river in question … gear up … waddle to the bank … and discover that the dam that sits above your “tailwater” fishery is wide open, and while whitewater rafting might be an option … wading isn’t.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find out about water levels in your favorite rivers.

One is an Internet Web site that many avid fly fishermen frequent several times a week: www.flyfishingonly.com

The site, which is run by Mike Holt – owner of the Fairfield fly shop called Fly Fishing Only – is a handy source for all kinds of fly fishing information.

Holt’s shop sits on the bank of the Kennebec, and as you might expect, his site gives lots of specifics on the popular Shawmut section of that river.

Conditions on that piece of water can change quickly, with access (and safety) determined primarily by the amount of water flowing over the top of Shawmut Dam.

Included on Holt’s site: A Friday report (which is often updated much more often than weekly) that tells not only how high the water is, but also which hatches are taking place, and what flies have been producing for Holt and others.

But there’s other valuable information available, even for those who have never fished at Shawmut Dam.

The “water flow” link can give fishermen up-to-date info from the U.S. Geological Survey on water flows at many Maine dams.

And if your chosen tailwater fishery isn’t on the list of USGS-monitored dams, there is a handy list of phone numbers for other dam keepers.

If you’re tired of having bright, sunny days turn into unexpected washouts, Holt’s site can help.

Coming up: Anglers much more seasoned than me always point out that there’s a sure way to tell when fishing is going to pick up.

When the leaves on an alder are as big as a mouse’s ear, they’ll say, it’s time to head into the woods to a favorite trout stream.

That time is nearly upon us, and I plan to get out there … somewhere … and find a few tales to share over the coming days.

On Saturday I’m planning on heading up toward Greenville … though where I end up is anyone’s guess. I may stop at the Piscataquis in Guilford or Dover-Foxcroft. I may wind up on the East Outlet of the Kennebec – one of my all-time favorite spots. Or the West Outlet. Or the Roach River. Or … well, you get the point. So many options, so little time.

If you see me … say hello. If you’ve got a tale to tell … I’m ready to listen. And if you can tell me how to catch a few more fish? I’m all ears.

On Monday, I’ll be heading Down East to the Narraguagus River. Word is, there’s a “new” fish in town, and I’m hoping to learn a few things in my first saltwater fly-fishing effort.

Of course, I’ll let you know what I find out.

Have a great weekend … and take a kid fishing.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.