Catch-2-Carve Handcarved Smallmouth Bass

This one was well worth the carving time.
My Catch-2-Carve series takes me all around my home state of Washington to experience chasing new species with my fly rod, and though I have caught larger smallmouth bass on the fly, this one was very special to me.
Spending time on the water withy good friend, Pat, is always fun and being able to carve a 1:1 replica of this beautiful springtime smallmouth was a ton of fun.
Mixing power carving and hand carving, I walk through the steps of making a fish from a solid piece of basswood. Complete with acrylic fins throughout, this fish is one of my most lifelike creations to date.
#smallmouthbass #woodcarving #fishcarving

[@dw_carvings]

Fantastic job, thanks for sharing your process

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks! Happy to share and looking forward to jumping into some more carvings like this in the near future.

[@Danny_Harris-Arts]

Awesome work, makes me want to do another small mouth. I used acrylic for fins on the first couple fish I carved, then a friend talked me into entering a competition and they have to be all wood so I kinda got used to carving the fins out of wood and haven't used acrylic for fins since

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I’ve heard the competition carvings require the all wood approach and I really appreciate the time it takes to knock out lifelike fins for those. I’ve never entered a carving event, but would love to one day. Using the acrylic has been a fun change of pace and allows me to focus on the details and then get the correct “flow” to the fin after the fact.

[@Danny_Harris-Arts]

@@RiverbendWoodworks I did like the transparency I could get using acrylic, especially with transparent paint, and there wasn’t much difference carving it than wood. I’d take a small hand held torch and carefully soften the acrylic and bend it to give it a little motion. I just started carving a little over 3 years ago and your channel was one of the first I found on carving fish. I really enjoy your work.

[@PeacefieldStudio]

Very impressive work, hats off from one artist to another. I do replica work. I'm not a taxidermist, but I love to do my fiberglass creations. I call them "Fish Art" . You work in wood, I work in fiberglass. 👍 Kudos!

[@davidcook5560]

Beautiful workmanship amazing to watch.👍🇬🇧❤️

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@verdant2215]

Always love watching your carving videos

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks! Much appreciated!

[@zimmtex]

That turned out great! Nice work!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@creek_made]

Sheesh, what a beautiful fish. Thanks for the video!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulosilva6810]

I'm from Brazil and your works are a beautiful work of art congratulations

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you, Paulo!

[@markderyckere9725]

Beautiful work! Amazing detail and very realistic paint job!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@almightybot3176]

Rock on , awesome piece

[@christopherromina5445]

Really cool

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@agrifoguy]

great work

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@FragIncorporated]

damn. you are really an inspiration to step up my carving game.

[@fishskinleather933]

Good job man 🎉

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@CFOR-finarts]

Gorgeous piece!! I’ve been thinking about doing a smallie but I’ve already got so many projects goin lol

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Always room for one more, right?! Thanks for watching and I love your channel as well! Your largemouth bass series was fantastic.

[@zonadepesca7259]

Hola amigo, te saludo desde la zona sur de Costa Rica, tus trabajos son demasiado hermosos, te felicito es decir poco, soy principiante en el mundo de los señuelos artesanales, y espero pronto lograr algo similar a estos trabajos que haces, deseo fabricarle a mi esposa un pargo de manglar, me gustaría mucho verte hacer un pargo o robalo, o una Machaca, en fin salidos

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

¡Ciertamente tiene algunas especies de peces geniales para elegir en Costa Rica! ¡Espero algún día llevar mi serie Catch 2 Carve al extranjero y le deseo todo lo mejor para hacer una pieza única para su esposa! ¡Gracias por mirar y la mejor de las suertes con tus tallas!

[@zonadepesca7259]

@@RiverbendWoodworks muchas gracias por su atención y respuesta, si aquí tenemos muchas especies gracias a Dios, bueno yo pienso que aquí en Costa Rica te deben mirar más personas, admito tu trabajo y pues deseo seguír deleitandome mirando más videos tan lindos como esos, muchas bendiciones. Tienes Facebook o Instagram, o WhatsApp 😁

[@garryderish2465]

Have you ever thought about entering your work at the WORLD FISH CARVING CHAMPIONSHIPS ?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I’ve actually not considered it, mainly because I’ve seen the talent in that competition and WOW! They are next-level in my opinion. Perhaps someday, and maybe more to meet fellow carving geeks like myself 😂

[@adriennemcmillan7719]

Killa work. Love the fins in this carving. The eyes you use in your carvings I was wondering what they Were? Thanks

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

These are Wayne Cooper Flex Eyes from McKenzie Taxidermy Supply. They’re super easy to work with and I’ve used them on most of my carvings!

[@shawnouellette767]

I’d buy it! That’s amazing work!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks for watching! This beauty is for sale! If you’re interested, please send me an email at: [e-mail]

[@timbuffington5717]

No greens???

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I’ll be carving up a big ol’ largemouth bass in the pretty near future, so stay tuned!

[@BOSN_BAITS]

What attachment did you use to burn in the scales

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

For this carving I used the Colwood burning tip in 3/16” and 1/8” to match the sizes on the actual fish as close as possible.