would love to see some pictures of bows back with Pike skin if ya have them?
Are you thinking of hiding that beautiful America Elm :confused: :nono:
This thread smells fishy...LOL had to do it. Are you talking abour the fish pike.
Yep, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel or maybe even Muskellunge.
I've seen Sturgeon before and it was amazing. There use to be carp skins (imitation) wraps too. Those predatory fish would look great!
I think that sounds great!....Just saw my first carp backed bow on here yesterday and really liked the look. I would really like to see a brown trout backed bow but with the ones I catch it would take something like 8-10 fish to get enough...can you scarf fish skins? :D
I don't believe they retain much color and or pattern after removal from original owner.
I've been trying to figure out how to get pike skins on bow limbs for about six months, if there is a way to do this I'd love to know it!
Thom
Me too, done hundreds of snakes but no fish yet. Seen some carp and a sturgeon, but no pike. Get the word out....let's see 'em!!!!!
What about gar? (I would think they may be nice also.
i know people have used them i just have not saw any pictures. myself and Adirondack man both want to try it. i have a selfbow built by Mark Baket that i would love to put a set of pike skins on.
Slimy as heck, cleaning must be the key to good adhesion and finish. I'm gonna try for pike through the ice and mess around a bit.
thats our plan too, great chance to take a big one through the ice around here.
how about a tiger musky!!! that would look awsome! im still waiting on ice here in PA.
QuoteOriginally posted by adkmountainken:
i know people have used them i just have not saw any pictures. myself and Adirondack man both want to try it. i have a selfbow built by Mark Baket that i would love to put a set of pike skins on.
I pretty sure one of the volumes of the traditional bowyers bible goes over this. It may have some pictures as well.
Yeah! I don't have many pike around here...tons of gar though. They are shaped pretty similarly....If carp works, its only right that gar should!
Scott
What is the procedure for preserving the skin? You're gonna need a 40 inch pike to get this done.
Martin
Ted Fry,(Raptor Archery) has done some with Sturgeon skin and they turned out great. Might touch base with Ted.
"I don't believe they retain much color and or pattern after removal from original owner."
It's true.Air drying or tanning removes all color and most patterns except for scale detail.That's why mounted fish are painted.Way different than snake skins in that regard.
The ones I have seen were at the Flint ridge Knap in and still had quite visible color. Don't know why or how....
I believe you wash the skins with Dawn dish soap to "degrease".
Like Tom said degrease with Dawn soap 2 or 3 times, let air dry like snake skin. Grass carp is much better than german Carp for skins. I have skinned two bows with carp and Keenan has one on the bowyers bench right now that was done with Grass Carp.
i have saw carp and they look great just really want a big Northern Pike. will be out on the ice after them soon and will be asking LOTS of questions if i get one big enough.
I have seen gar skinned bows at Mojam. The skin is really tough and heavy because you won't get the scales off. Gar would probably be heavy enough to affect bow performance but maybe not. Other fish skins I have seen are very thin when dry Sturgeon being the exception.
Don't use trout! I only say that cuz I'm an outfitter in MT for trout. Plenty of dumb pike to go around, carp too.
Ken - Ice looks safe. I hope this is the year. I have been trying to get one at least 36" long now for 3 years. My Elm Bow has been waiting patiently.