Somewhat curious what everyone's take is on mounting fish? Do you kill them or measure them for a reproduction mount? If someday all the stars line up right and pigs grow wings and I catch a mounter I am leaning towards the reproduction mount and letting the fish go. What would you do? Also what do you consider a mounter?
Just went through that dilemma last fall. Smallmouth over 5 or Largemouth over 6 from Michigan will go on the wall. There is a 5+ on my wall right now.
Years ago I put a 6lb. largemouth on the wall. Caught a 6lb. smallmouth and let it go after pics and measurement. My largemouth is starting to dry out and that won't happen with a fiberglass repro. If you have ever seen a taxidermist in action it really amounts to what kind of painter he or she is. They stretch a piece of bleached out skin over a plug so in my opinion I would go with a fiberglass reproduction.
I would go the reproduction route - it yields a better paont job, and dosn't dry out, shrink and crack over time . Measurements are key - length and girth(especially smallies) as well as many good closeup photos of both sides of the fish. Get this done quickly, and get her back in the water ASAP.
I would say anything over 6 is wall worthy in my house - room next to the jackalope from south dakota last year!
Jack
I have a 7 Lb Largie I had mounted a few years back. I've released another 7 Lb Largie and several 6 1/2 smallies and largies.............it seems that once I had one mounted......I lost all interest in having another mounted. Photos...photos...photos. I take all photos now. The photos seem to bring back the memories of those great fishing trips........more so than a mount.
I would have to get a real big one before I would do another mount.......and if I did.....it would be made of "glass" so I could release the fish........that is of course....after taking a few photos!
BS ;)
I struggle with this. I really want to become convinced that a fiberglass reproduction is as good as the real thing. I've seen some real crap that looks like it's been painted by a 6 year old. The problem is, that once you release the fish, if the mount turns out bad, you can't go back and get that fish and do a real mount. I'd feel better about a reproduction if I knew for sure they would custom mold the mount, not just use a generic fish shape to start with. I want an accurate reproduction. But I have never had one made, so I really don't know how they do it or who does a good job. I'm interested to learn about it though because I have already caught several mount worthy fish this year and really want to have one made.
Tom:
almost all the fish blanks come in multiple sizes, then they are hand shaped by the taxidermist. The paint job is the real key, and I would highly recommend references of previous work by the artist. Theats where the rubber meets the road in this job. Accurate measurements of both length and girth, as well as good photos of the markings both sides really helps the artist reproduce the exact fish. you would never be able to tell. shop on quality, not on cost in this case.
Jack
I would really like to get one done, maybe I can go up north in the fall and try to get a big smallmouth. :)
Tom, I know a guy who is semi-retired from it but he is a great taxidermist. I'll ask him Monday if he is still working, his painting is incredible.
I wouldn't worry about having the original fish. Like Jack said it's all in the painting. When they tan the skin of a real fish mount it comes back bleach white. Not any different from a fiberglass blank. In fact, they pin the skin to a blank all you really have is a thin piece of skin that is going to crack for sure.