How to Carve a Carp from Wood

How I hand-carve a common carp from a solid wood block. Fish carving is a fun woodworking project, and I hope this video, and others on my channel, might help you jump-start your carving journey.
I hope you like the video, and please leave any questions or video topic ideas in the comments! I really do love the feedback.
ITEMS USED IN THIS CARVING (Please Note: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I will receive a small commission of any sale. The cost of the product is not higher because of this, and each sale does help support the channel, so thank you! Each product listed is what I use and trust for my work.)
(affiliate) COLWOOD DETAILER WOODBURNER KIT: amzn.to/3vdDJVD
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COLWOOD EXTRA-LARGE SCALE BURNING TIP USED (3/8"): woodburning.co...
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(affiliate) Iwata Airbush Compressor: amzn.to/3vhOk1Q
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(affiliate) Iwata Gravity-Feed Airbrush: amzn.to/3p8qQZm
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(affiliate) FlexCut 3-Piece Carving Starter Kit: amzn.to/35qfd97
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(affiliate) FlexCut Deluxe Palm Gouges (9-Piece) : amzn.to/3Hh2Rxl
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Thanks for Watching, Liking and Subscribing!
#woodcarving #fishcarving #flyfishing

[@joeehrlich2898]

Hell yes!! Looks like a carp! More fun with an arrow through it!!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Oh man, bow fishing looks like so much fun! Thanks for watching!

[@RedBoatMark]

My amazing uncle got this for me. You have no idea how much I love it. It's even cooler now that I saw you make it!!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Glad you like it! It was an absolute blast to make!

[@bravoromeojohn]

Really enjoyed this, and watched it a several times. Hats off for tackling an often dogged on fish 👍

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Can’t go wrong with the ol’ freshwater bone fish! Thanks for watching!

[@MacCliver]

Nice work Jameson

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@paulcheeseman9307]

Absolutely brilliant....

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you! Much appreciated

[@robertoquinn7047]

Nicely done! Just finished a spawning pair of smallmouth bass also attached to “rocks” (3-7 different colors of acrylic paint sprayed by brushing my finger over the bristles of a toothbrush). Love fly fishing and especially the 14-lb. One two years ago. I subscribed and hope to share ideas and techniques in the future. Best wishes. Bob O

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Now that sounds awesome, Robert! Please do share any tips you wish in video comments or to my email (link in the About section of my channel). I love seeing and hearing tips/tricks! Thanks for watching and subscribing.

[@MCBWoodworks]

Beautiful piece! Nothing like how the clear brings it to life.

[@lureblanks]

Amazing work!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@lancespencer1894]

Thank you for such an awesome Christmas eve present, i really enjoy your videos and talent. Thamks again for sharing

[@arpadcarving]

Great job!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@Przynety.Victim]

Nice job

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@andrewdg90]

Have yet to catch a Carp on a fly. Hoping to pick up a 8wt this coming season and give it a shot! Great carving!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks! It's been a few years for me as well, but man is it a blast. Out here you target cruising fish that are feeding in super shallow water and it's just like bonefish fishing. Really surprised more people don't target these beasts!

[@dspaul666]

Awesome work. I have caught many carp here in the UK.....you smashed it!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you! Such a cool fish to catch and carve!

[@codym2903]

It looks great. I would suggest if you wanted to take it to the next level on fish like carp or walleye to add some powdered paints to your arsenal to really make the metallic fleck look really pop and give the illusion it's coming from under the scales.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

I've played with adding metallic silver to lure paints in the past and they really did pop! Great thinking. I just wish I had some gold for this project!

[@LaserPeckford]

Beautiful job!

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@jerrygiles1661]

Hi Jameson, may I ask what wood you used on the carpet body? And what die-type grinder tool? You do amazing work, a true artiste. Even good background music.... thanks. Jerry

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Hi Jerry, I think I may have answered this for ya already, but the wood is bass wood, and the grinder tools are a mixture of Dremel bits and some experimental 1/8” shank bits off Amazon. Always fun to try some new bits 😬

[@alejandrogarcia5375]

I have been wanting to make fishing net but don’t have a loopy thing

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The loop is actually pretty straightforward to make. Just start with a net basket from Amazon or wherever you find one you like, and use it to help create the form from plywood. I will be working up a video on this topic pretty soon, so stay tuned!

[@djacobs7169]

Awesome!!!! What were you using to burn scale details. Thanks for sharing. Turned out looking great.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Thanks! I have added some links to the description of the video to the Colwood Detailer Woodburner I use, plus the woodburning tip that I used for the carp. They have all sizes of burning tips for scale, from 1/8" up to 1/2" (I think), so you're covered! Hope this helps!

[@alejandrogarcia5375]

Hey I was wondering if you could ever make a model of the hoop for a fishing net

[@georgepetron1572]

When you were hand carving the scales. Were you angling down and scraping a thin layer off?! Crazy good man

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Yes, with the small gouge chisel I was basically doing 3 light passes per scale (thankfully they are big scales!) Basically, it is just a small taper, with the tip of the scale being the least amount removed and the base having the most removed. Hopefully that makes sense. Thanks for watching!

[@georgepetron1572]

It does . I want to try to do a speckled trout. I think I watched most of your videos already ! Thanks I liked and subscribed

[@justmetrent6812]

You could make these into big bass swim baits and sell them for like 2K

[@dk3ts]

First video I have watched of yours. You have a new subscriber! Your shop is amazing and I'm looking forward to watching all the videos on your channel. Looking forward to taking my wood carving in a more aquatic direction.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

So great to have you along, Dean! Thanks for stopping in and I do my best to whittle my way through some unique projects on my channel, so stay tuned!

[@RedBoatMark]

Also for any potential trolls, the fly is a headstand which is very similar to a carrot. My girlfriend was liaison to this and called it wrong thing however, she'll outfish any of you. Ha.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

Haha! Love it! I am for sure adding it to my carp setup in 2022!

[@djacobs7169]

Can you tell me where I might get basswood blanks large enough to carve fish this size?

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

So, much of the time, and this is one of those cases, I end up glue-laminating two pieces of basswood together to get the desired size. It’s rare (and expensive!) to get 12/4 material, so it’s often easier and cost effective to make your own. I source mine from local (in Washington State) vendors like Edensaw and Windsor Plywood, though you should be able to do a simple Google search for “basswood vendors in _____ area” and you’ll get someone with what you need. It can be ordered online as well, but I’ve not personally gone that route.

[@kosherartwerxllc]

What rotary tool do you use

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

The main one I use is a Dremel 9100, though I don't think I would recommend it. The reason is I was the flex shaft wore out much, much faster than I ever thought possible (the internal cable ground its way through), and it borders on impossible to get a replacement direct from Dremel. I finally stopped even calling around and happened to find a flex handle from Amazon that I modified to fit. It's still working, as you can see, but I am looking forward to upgrading to something heavier-duty, like a Foredom setup.

[@kosherartwerxllc]

@@RiverbendWoodworks right on. I use a wen flex shaft for my fish carvings and it did the same. For the price and as much as I use it I can not complain but also am always looking for the next level up for the price. I appreciate your time.

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

@@kosherartwerxllc No problem! I hear ya on the leveling-up thing. The amount of time I get to spend behind the grinder, or rather the enjoyment I get from making fun stuff, I feel I'm about due for a new setup. 😁 Or at least that's how I'm going to justify it!

[@kenoneal2263]

Too much green in it

[@RiverbendWoodworks]

It’s tough to see on camera, but the gold/yellow reflects across as you love the carving, so there appears to be far less green in person. The camera kinda picks that out because it’s darker, I think. Thanks for watching!

[@danreed2189]

Don't pay that critic any mind. I'm sure you went on-line and looked at carp photos. Lots of them have a great deal of green. Fish are as different as humans. No two are the same. @@RiverbendWoodworks