Kalkaska "K-Fish" - "Yellow" Fish

Updated September 3, 2026

K-Fish (Possibly George King (1904-1976)) Kalkaska, MI 7" long The “K” fish, as they have become known to collectors, represent one of the more intriguing mysteries in the history of Michigan fish-spearing decoys. Named for Kalkaska, Michigan, where the group was originally discovered, these colorful fish are immediately recognizable for their remarkably consistent forms, bold paint, and distinctive geometric patterns. Their story came to wider attention during the rise of fish-decoy collecting in the 1980s and 1990s, including through the work of early collector and author Art Kimball, who published photographs and commentary on a large discovery in The Fish Decoy, Volume III, page 21. Much of what is known about the “K” fish has been passed down through collectors and family histories. One of Kimball’s leads was Vernon Fiedler (1932–1994), who recalled acquiring his group in trade during the 1960s from a man related to the neighbor of an American Indian farmer who had received them as payment for farm work. Fiedler maintained that the fish had been discovered in a barn in the Kalkaska area and were made by an American Indian named George King (1904-1976). Vernon's daughter, Vivian, later recalled seeing the fish hanging from the basement floor joists of the family home from her earliest memories until the house was sold in 1978. There is intriguing historical evidence connecting the King family to the region and to the outdoor life that surrounded these decoys. U.S. Census records place George King, born in 1904 in Rapid City, Michigan, in the north west corner of Kalkaska County. His grandfather, Peter Marks (1830–1926), was a well-known local trapper and fisherman; the 1910 census lists his occupation as “Hunt & Fish,” while his death certificate identifies him as a fishing guide. Whether George King, Peter Marks, both, or others within the family produced the “K” fish remains unknown. What is clear is that the examples, while following a remarkably consistent design, display enough variation to suggest production over time rather than and possibly hands. King’s family was never wealthy, and during the years following the Great Depression he worked as a woodworker through the Works Progress Administration. It is therefore possible that the fish served both as practical spearing decoys and as a means of trade or supplemental income. As Bob Poel explored in his 2015 article, “The ‘K’ Fish Mystery,” published in Hunting & Fishing Collectibles Magazine, the evidence may never provide a definitive answer to their maker. Their uncertain origin, however, is precisely what makes these vibrant antique Michigan fish so compelling and additionally wonderful to admire. Five applied metal fins with large metal tack eyes. Bold hooked tail with a softly cut mouth. Singular lead weight chamber in the bottom.Condition: Entirely original with even wear from use including paint loss to fin, mouth, and tail tips

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