Right Whale by Jim Stangland (the outlet fish decoy carver) wood carving!

(Note- I have many more Jim Stangland fish carvings / decoys at my shop! Click link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JosephsLures)

Right Whale by Jim Stangland (the fish decoy carver) wood carving!

This is the Right Whale, the Northern variety. They were referred to as being “right” to hunt. They were slow, floated when dead, and frequented shallow waters near shore where shore-based whalers could pursue them! And yes, they are that nasty looking! The head with it's callosities and huge curved mouth occupies 1/3 of the total length! See the last picture! Someone must have loved them, though, right!?

Aside from providing oil for lamps, the best women's corsets of that time were stiffened with strips of baleen from inside the whale's mouth. Do a computer search if you don't know what a “corset” is... Or was!

AND remember, I always refund all postage for more than $10 for any order!

This whale belongs on a stand- it just doesn't look right laying on the shelf like it's been beached! See my other listings for stands available for this carving, or any other!

Driftwood, books, stand NOT included in this listing! This is NOT a working decoy-- it is only meant as a collectors/decor item.


One of the few times Jim has gone outside his usual spearing decoy offerings and went with a purely decorative wood carving! No line tie, no weight, a whale's not even a fish! Somehow a whale spearing decoy just didn't seem logical! These are truly fine figures of the whale, done and signed by the maker. Scant few were made!

Take a look at all the pictures- they show what a great rendition the carver has done of this ocean-dwelling mammal!


Jim Stangland is a long time carver of contemporary fish decoys, modeled after the 100 year old ice fishing spearing decoys of NY, and the upper midwest. These are very popular fishing collectibles! His work has had followers for many years! These are handmade, shaped and painted, weighted, and the carving & painting is extremely detailed and realistic! Hand cut metal painted fins. Eyes are either glass or taxidermy quality acrylic. I am pleased to have had Jim join Joseph's Lures here at Etsy!

(Please remember- Each fish Jim does is hand carved and hand painted one-at-a-time. And, each piece of wood differs from other pieces in its grain and texture. As such, there will be minor outlet variations in the details of each fish he does and your order may not look identical to the one in the listing. These are not factory mass-produced in a mold, they are individually crafted. Each one is a unique piece of craftsmanship!)