How big of a perch is "mountable"

[Laska]

I caught a 13 1/2"- 8 1/2" girth perch on winnie this last weekend and was thinking of getting it mounted-replicated, so my question is; is it mountable? I havent seen a perch that big besides on the tv. I think it is but Im no expert but she's a beauty!

[Norm1980]

nice catch.. if you ask me it all depends on what you want to do with it.. it would look nice on a piece of drift wood with a 30"+ walleye mounted in the chase position behind it.. Now just gotta catch that 30"+ walter

[GotALunker]

nice fish

[Hookey]

Not sure if you kept the fish or not but here is my two cents.

That is a personal decision that is best made before a line is wet and not after the fish is dead. There is no point in keeping a trophy or close to trophy size fish unless you know you are going to mount it.

I am not flaming you but I do think it would be a good idea for you to decide what size Sunfish, Crappie, Walleye etc you would like to have mounted and keep those numbers in mind so the decision can be made quickly next time you land a lunker. (if the fish will be kept).

If the fish will be replicated you have all the time in the world to decide.

That is a nice fish and you may not catch another that size again so I say go for it.

[magnum mike]

A trophy is a trophy in the eyes of the person who caught it. There is no magic number and you don't need to please anyone but yourself. I have caught many fish bigger than many people may ever catch and I have seen many fish bigger than anything I have ever caught. If you want to hang it on the wall, it's your call.

Years ago I would never consider mounting a perch. One of the best looking mounts I have ever seen was a perch at Woodland Resort on Devil's Lake.

[Bart]

Go for it, I really enjoy the fish I have mounted and none of them are the biggest of that species that I have ever caught. If I caught a perch that size I would have it mounted and I would enjoy it.

[gwiff100]

here are my 2 cents...recently i was out and caught a couple nice perchies, typically around my area we wouldn't see perch that size...(12" and an 11") kept them both and are planning on mounting them. Plan is to catch that elusive 30+ and have her chasing them on driftwood. I think it would awesome. Does anyone have this mount done with some pictures to share?

[leech~~]

On any fish I have mounted I use the "biggest I ever caught rule" It's really what ever you feel you want to hang on the wall. Sometimes people catch the biggest fish of a type that they may ever get and regret later that they didn't mount it!

[hawkeye43]

John, Its up to you to do with what you to. If I had the talent you have, I would carve one, in my eyes that would be a true trophy you would never forget. Nice fish kid.

Kenny

[irishwalleye]

I start mounting at:

Perch = 15"

Crappie = 16"

Sunfish = 12"

Walleye = 30"

Pike = 45"

Muskie = 52"

completed only 2 of those -- working on the rest

[muc33]

I don't care it the fish is 2 inches, if it is a trophy to you and within the law, YOU CAN MOUNT IT IF YOU WANT!!!! You do what you feel is right! And don't worry about what others may say! Nice Fish, call one of our great sponsors www.almbergtaxidermy.com He will give you an honest opinion, he gets that question all the time and turns business away all the time if it isn't right for the person!

[harvey lee]

+1 Mucc.

[Huntin&Fishin]

Simply would you regret mounting it? If no go for it

[MJ1657]

You definitely need to mount that Laska. It will always remind you of the experience which is more important than the size of the fish.

[TooTallTom]

I've heard of replicas for mouning fish. You just take lots of photos of the fish, and release it. Then the taxidermist will basically create a fiberglass replica of the fish. Obviously, it's not going to be "your" fish, but you also get to leave that great breeder in the lake.

Does anyone know how realistic something like would be? I suppose it varies based on the taxidermist, but generally are they lifelike?

[Gordie]

laska no should tell you what a trophy is. You are the only one who has the right to say that.

Here is a deffintion for the word trophy and it doesnt mention size at all .I know there are other deffintions as well but this one fits the best for your application.

memento of success: something that symbolizes a personal victory or achievement

Have the perch mounted it will give you the enjoyment of the memory that went with it for years to come..

BTW congrats on the personal best

[swmnlivetofish32]

i Would say the smallest any one should mount is a 15 incher i my self have a 16 mounted.

[Abndoc]

My kid caught a perch last year that was 6 inches...he came in second in ice fishing contest and won an ipod touch. I wished I would have mounted it for him...6 years old..cool memory.

[fishuhalik]

I would say mount it if you want, perch aren't too spendy to put on the wall and like stated earlier, a trophy is in the eye of the beholder.

BTW hawkeye, that perch in your avatar is ridiculous.

[NCLaker]

I don't care it the fish is 2 inches, if it is a trophy to you and within the law, YOU CAN MOUNT IT IF YOU WANT!!!! You do what you feel is right! And don't worry about what others may say!

+1 here. Maybe mount it in such a way that you can add to it later. Some of the multi-mounts I have see are awesome!

[Tom Buckles]

Not sure if you kept the fish or not but here is my two cents.

That is a personal decision that is best made before a line is wet and not after the fish is dead. There is no point in keeping a trophy or close to trophy size fish unless you know you are going to mount it.

I am not flaming you but I do think it would be a good idea for you to decide what size Sunfish, Crappie, Walleye etc you would like to have mounted and keep those numbers in mind so the decision can be made quickly next time you land a lunker. (if the fish will be kept).

If the fish will be replicated you have all the time in the world to decide.

That is a nice fish and you may not catch another that size again so I say go for it.

I totally agree with what is said above.

If the fish is already dead, you should go ahead and get it mounted. It sounds like a pretty nice perch.

As for replicas, make sure you get good measurements of the fish along with pictures prior to releasing. Length and girth is needed to get an accurate replica. With the pictures, make sure you get up close pictures of the fish. Take pictures of anything on the fish that may distinguish it from other fish. Personally, I think that replicas are the way to go. I think they look much better and from what I hear, they last longer. Plus, the fish can live to be caught another day.

[Laska]

Well I carve, and Im working on a 13" perch right now for competition, so I think I will give it a go at carving and replicatiing my own for now. I have about 10 different pictures of the fish and all the measurements. My ideas since my life revolves around Northerns is to make a table mount with a 40+" northern running at a school of perch. So this fish would be chased if replicated, along with the perch Ill carve. I should start on this carving at the end of the week and Ill post a finished product when Im done. Thank you, everyone for your opinions I got some good insight in what you guys think is a trophy and what to do with this fish, and I swear if I ever catch a 16" perch Im going to mess myself!

[Get'n Jiggy]

"You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself"

Rick Nelson

Nice Perch!!!

[TooTallTom]

Laska,

I'll be interested to see your finished product. It sounds pretty cool.

Like many others have said, it's what you think that counts. And like you said, a 16" perch is a "messing myself" fish. Your 13" incher is pretty dang big, and I'm sure it was a blast to pull through the ice.

[bobber_down_1979]

Well I am pushing 300 pounds so I would suppose, if a perch were to get that big, it would have to be about 500-600 pounds before it would be mountable. I don't recomend bareback as the dorsal fin would be a wee bit pokey.