Fish mount question

[Creek]

I promised my son that if he catches another 18" or larger smallmouth that we would get it mounted. My question is do we keep the fish for the taxidermist or just take several pictures so it can be duplicated/replicated ?

 

[muskyhunter]

the choice is yours. myself i like the real thing

 

[turkeyhunter64]

If you keep the fish freeze it in newspaper.

 

[stik]

If you keep the fish freeze it in newspaper.

or a wet towel.

 

[Creek]

Thanks for all the help. Which way is more/less expensive ?

 

[spitndrum]

Real Fish for my 9lber

 

[JA1234]

don't wrap a fish in newspaper..the ink can transfer to the skin...doesnt always but I have seen it happen....towels are ok but leave marks in the skin...your best to just double bag it and get it to the taxidermist ASAP


Replicas or skin is up to the person...replicas are more life like in most cases

however a good skin mount is nice too

Here is a Skin mount LM bass I did for my son
not a big fish but his first LM bass on his own.

 

[RUGER]

Beautiful.

 

[treestand]

Replicas are more life like. Did not know that. Have any pics.of any replicas

 

[stik]

a replica is just not the same to me.

 

[muskyhunter]

Replicas are more life like. Did not know that. Have any pics.of any replicas

guess it would depend on the taxidermist. most of them cant mount a fish worth a dime.

 

[Anonymous]

a replica is just not the same to me.

Yes!!! by all means let's kill the fish....cook that baby up with some griddle cakes and fried taters...Right???

 

[Creek]

Thanks for the replies. I didnt know if one method was a lot more expensive than the other but I can do some phone calling and find out.
I really would like to see some clear quality pictures of some replicated bass mounts.

 

[Jon]

a replica is just not the same to me.

Yes!!! by all means let's kill the fish....cook that baby up with some griddle cakes and fried taters...Right???

Lighten up man, different strokes for different folks...

 

[stik]

a replica is just not the same to me.

Yes!!! by all means let's kill the fish....cook that baby up with some griddle cakes and fried taters...Right???

sure. why not?

 

[JA1234]

skin mounts shrink and you have to depend on whether you choose the right taxidermist to rebuild it all...replicas are mostly made before the shrinkage starts...a replica has all the wrinkles and fullness of fleshy areas just as a real fish. Its just up to the painter to make them look real...the truly BEST mount is one where the taxidermist makes a copy of your fish. but That is JMO... Over time skin mounts can crack..a lot depends on how you care for it, and how well the taxidermist cleaned it; and how much they tried to make it bigger then you caught IE: stretched it.

Here is a replica ...I dislike purchased replicas because for my personal mounts I hate flared open gills. and I have no control on how the gills are positioned, but some aren't bad if you find the right replica company..these both came from the same supplier.

Price wise at most taxidermy shops you will pay more for replicas then skin mounts...I charge the same for either...and a little more for a custom cast.

replica smallie and replica LM

here is a custom cast pre spawn steelhead

 

[Creek]

Awesome those are some great looking mounts. Thanks for the pictues. We will consider doing it both ways. I guess we will look for someone with a good reputation in our area. Where do you live Joey ?

 

[vanleerbuckbuster]

a replica is just not the same to me.

Yes!!! by all means let's kill the fish....cook that baby up with some griddle cakes and fried taters...Right???


sounds good to me

 

[B.D.]

skin mounts shrink and you have to depend on whether you choose the right taxidermist to rebuild it all...replicas are mostly made before the shrinkage starts...a replica has all the wrinkles and fullness of fleshy areas just as a real fish. Its just up to the painter to make them look real...the truly BEST mount is one where the taxidermist makes a copy of your fish.

Skin mounts don't ALWAYS shrink - at least not enough to adversely affect the mount. I've got a 2.5 lb. bluegill mount done for my grandfather that still looks great; I've also seen skin mounts 5 years old that looked like garbage. A lot depends on the methods and talent of the taxidermist.

I agree that the best replica is one made from a copy of your fish (assuming the taxidermist knows how to make a replica mold well), but it's also extremely tough to find. The majority of taxidermists that I know of don't use a copy of your fish to make the replica. They buy a replica from a supply company based on your fish's measurements.

A high-quality commercially-produced replica can still look really good if done by a very talented taxidermist, since a good share of the skill in making a truly lifelike mount is in the painting, in my opinion. However, it's wrong to assume that a taxidermist is going to make a replica from your actual fish, unless he specifically says so.

As always, a skin mount done by a talented taxidermist will look better than a replica done by a hack, and vice versa.

bd

 

[JA1234]

Skin mounts don't ALWAYS shrink -at least not enough to adversely affect the mount. I've got a 2.5 lb. bluegill mount done for my grandfather that still looks great; I've also seen skin mounts 5 years old that looked like garbage. A lot depends on the methods and talent of the taxidermist.

I agree that the best replica is one made from a copy of your fish (assuming the taxidermist knows how to make a replica mold well), but it's also extremely tough to find. The majority of taxidermists that I know of don't use a copy of your fish to make the replica. They buy a replica from a supply company based on your fish's measurements.

A high-quality commercially-produced replica can still look really good if done by a very talented taxidermist, since a good share of the skill in making a truly lifelike mount is in the painting, in my opinion. However, it's wrong to assume that a taxidermist is going to make a replica from your actual fish, unless he specifically says so.

As always, a skin mount done by a talented taxidermist will look better than a replica done by a hack, and vice versa.

bd

They most certainly do all shrink, some fish like gar shrink less, but Bluegills even shrink too..and yes if that shrinkage is not built up then the mount is just a painted extremely dead fish anatomy wise. The top of the heads and gullet areas lose a bunch due to shrinkage The FINS even shrink a lot, maybe not the paired fins, but the caudal certainly does...come to my shop and I will show you the Great amount of shrinkage in the heads and fins...The SCALES even flatten out some, due to SHRINKAGE...best to keep your mouth shut sometimes.

That steelhead above is a custom mold. so dont assume that most taxidermist BUY blanks>>>>> but yes a lot of taxidermist cant mold fish and choose to buy... some simply don't care to even try to mold them that can...and some just think its cheaper and faster to buy....so do ask before assuming!

and BD the paint is a mere 20% of the equation..if the anatomy, skinning, form carving and rebuilding all suck, no matter what the paint is like, the fish will suck..... on a skin mount...on a replica typically its just the paint that sucks.

Awesome those are some great looking mounts. Thanks for the pictues. We will consider doing it both ways. I guess we will look for someone with a good reputation in our area. Where do you live Joey ?

I am in murfreesboro...I take very few in any more... and you can find a lot cheaper.

 

[B.D.]

They most certainly do all shrink, some fish like gar shrink less, but Bluegills even shrink too..

Allow me to repeat myself: They don't shrink, AT LEAST NOT ENOUGH TO ADVERSELEY AFFECT THE MOUNT.

In other words, there may be a limited amount of shrinkage but a good taxidermist will compensate for that so that it's not really a problem for the appearance of the mount. You're correct that shrinkage can ruin a mount if it's not dealt with, but some replica taxidermists give the impression that shrinkage will make ALL skin mounts look bad eventually, and that's simply not true.

Maybe shrinkage is a problem on your skin mounts; I don't know because I haven't seen your work other than the replicas you posted. I assume you know how to prevent it from being a problem. Regardless, there are plenty of taxidermists out there who do skin mounts that hold up for years or even decades without a problem.

Please try reading more carefully next time before you inject hostility into an otherwise civil conversation and start telling people to keep their mouths shut. That was uncalled for.

That steelhead above is a custom mold. so dont assume that most taxidermist BUY blanks>>>>>

Yes, you said it was a custom mold. Good for you for making them. I stand by my statement that the majority of taxidermists doing business out there today don't make custom molds.

If you get a replica from a taxidermist and he doesn't specifically say he makes custom molds, it's pretty safe to assume he's likely buying a form.

bd

 

[muskyhunter]

sounds like some people need to start taking pics of deer and having replica mounts done

 

[B.D.]

Here you go, muskyhunter:

Very lifelike. Not sure if it was molded from the actual deer.

bd

 

[muskyhunter]

COOOL!!! im going to take this pic to my taxidermist and see if he can make me one!