Duck boat heaven...

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Pat Gregory

Well-known member
Fellow waterfowler and decoy maker Tim Speight and I set out on a journey yesterday. We had a grand day. Our journey together included three legs into the great state of Wisconsin. The first was to pick up a load of decoy wood, good Wisconsin white pine. Secondly, we were going to meet local duck skiff and paddle historian Bill Haese to see his collection of duck skiffs. Tim and I also ordered 6 eight foot long skiff paddles. Lastly, of course, we had to pick up a skiff. I will be developing this into a more detailed article later on, so just wanted to get to the pictures of "duckboat heaven". We did journey through small Wisconsin towns like Neshkoro, Berlin, Omro and Winneconne before we ultimately ended up at the Blue Wing Resort to visit with Bill and pick up our paddles. On the way to Berlin, we stopped by Neshkoro and had lunch with fellow waterfowler and decoy maker, Mike Trudel. Mike shared some of his recent gunners with us. They were awesome!

After that, we met Bill Haese in Eureka to see his collection of vintage duckboats. Bill is a real gentleman and extremely knowledgeable about Wisconsin duck hunting history around the Lake Winneconne and Lake Poygan area. We highly recommend his paddles. They are all hand made by Wisconsin hands. If you want to contact Bill, you can call him at 920-379-6080 or 920-582-7462. Give him a call and plan a visit to Lake Winneconne.

Tim and I had a great day! We were blessed indeed! God bless!!

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Thank you Pat, that is really neat to see.
Worth Mathewson wrote an article about "stuff" a few years ago and think this gentleman could have fit right into that story.

Tim
 
Pat, thanks for posting. Sounds like a great time! I enjoyed reading it and seeing the pictures.
 
Pat,

Great story and pictures, thanks for sharing! A question: Is 8 foot a common length for a skiff paddle? They are meant to be used to paddle while standing, correct? I have seen a picture or two of others that, based on proportions, I thought those were more like 10-12 foot. I was thinking of making one at some point. I've made canoe and kayak paddles in the past, but wasn't sure of all the proper 'historic' dimensions.

Thanks
Chuck
 
Hi Pat,
Thanks for posting the pics.

Could you help me out though? Maybe a brief description of what I am looking at?
I confess I don't know what a duck skiff is or how they are used.
Help train the ignorant!! Please!
 
Pat,
Thanks for sharing and teasing us all with those great looking boats. They have one thing wrong with them though. They aren't being used for their purpose, hunting. Looking forward to the rest of the story.
 
Pat, did Mike hook up up on that wood or who did you get that from? Looks like a nice load. What sizes did you mainly get?

The skiffs are great, perfect area of the state to use them too. Glad you had a nice trip.

I saw Mike's new decoys too at Pete McMiller's 60th party, (if they are the woodies and the RH) thought they were mighty nice as well.

later,

Eric
 
Pat,
those pictures are a treasure trove of duck history.

I like the paddle. Same question as above, do you stand to paddle?

Pine looks to be just what the carver with a summer to work needs.
 
Guys - Regarding the paddles...

The way I understand it, there are two types of paddles. A regular skiff paddle which is like an oar. This is primarily going to be used as a paddle to push water and propel the boat same as an oar. The second type is a push paddle. This is a longer paddle that serves as both a push pole and a paddle. The push paddle can do both, paddle water to propel the boat but is long enough to be used as a push pole to push the boat while the blade of the paddle pushes off the bottom of the marsh. I believe this is where the term "pusher" comes from. "Pushers" were common in waterfowling before outboards and before rivers were leveed when they used to hunt back water.

Bill has 8, 10 and 12 foot push paddles. I bought two 8 footers, one for my jon boat and one for my skiff... each of them hand made from white ash, soaked in linseed oil and painted in olive drab Parkers oil paint...
 
Pat,
What you are calling a pusher paddle, we call a punt pole. The punter, pushed the boat into the marsh with the sport or gunner in the front of the boat. I have spent a few hrs. punting in my life and some of the private marshes here in NW Oh do not allow motors, and punt boats are the ticket. Want a real thrill punt into a marsh some time, you'll be amased at the wildlife that you scared out of there with a motor just hangs out and watches you pass by.
 
Chuck - Great info. My skiff takes me many places a motorized boat cannot. One time I was snow goose hunting at Emiquon Refuge, paddling in early in the morning. It was just starting to get light when I saw a bunch of white ahead about where I wanted to set up. I thought some hunters had beat me to my spot. As I continued toward them 40-50 migratory swans got up. What a sight!!!

I never would have seen that had I not been paddling in quietly in my skiff. I've owned a Fiberdome Widgeon for many years and still love it. Good hearing from you, take care and God bless! Pat
 
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