Sturgeon Mount

[jwmiller33]

Anybody have any recommendations on where a guy should go to get a sturgeon mount done? Looking to reach out to a few different places and get some quotes as well as pics of previous sturgeon mounts done. This would be a replica, as I did not harvest the fish. I already contacted Artistic Anglers and am looking for others

Thanks

[Down Deep]

Randy Bowe on Superior and 60th Ave East in Duluth. He did a replica for me and did excellent work.

[Northlander]

Artistic Anglers for sure. I dont think Randy Bowe does replicas himself I think he just does skin mounts but something may have changed since we used him last. Miller if your serious about a replica Artistic Anglers gets my vote for sure. The painter they have is the best I have ever seen and thats whats important. Lots of places can make you a replica but can their painter get it just the way you want it?

[jwmiller33]

Steve, ya I am waiting to hear back from AA on a quote for my fish. It will bring a smile to my face everytime I look at it up on my wall and I'll have it for the rest of my life to tell my kids about. The only downfall is it was a huge fish (68 inches) and I am sure it is going to cost a pretty penny to get it done. I'm thinking about asking for it as a Xmas present for next year. I'm thinking if I order it now, it would hopefully be done around xmas time, as I know there is quite a long turnover time on big projects like this. I'm still waiting for my 30"+ walleye to get a replica made, as I seem to be stuck on 28" mark (have caught about a dozen or so). Eventually down the road I'd like to have a room in my house dedicated to fish and game mounts, and I don't know if I will ever break the 68 inch mark for sturgies, so I think this would be a great mount to start off my collection

[DTro]

That one's going to cost a bunch of $.

Why not spend a couple hundred on a professional poster size pic and frame job?

If it's one thing I don't understand it's fish mounts. The reason this was popular back in the day was that most people didn't carry a camera, and when they did the pic was lousy at best (if they even got around to developing the film) so it was was proof of their catch.

Heck, you not only have a great pic for proof, but a full length video of the catch. For me personally that takes the cake. I sure don't need a 6ft dust collector hanging on the wall.

Sorry, I know you didn't ask about mounting opinions, rather suggestions, but if I were you I would rethink the mount. I bet you can come up with a bunch of better ways to spend $750 bucks. Heck how about using it for a trip out West where that sturgeon you caught is a little fella?

[blakeb]

To each his own, personally i am going to start a mounts room,

Dtro makes a good point you could go on a killer fishing trip for moster sturgeons out west on the Snake river or upper columbia for >750$.....

[jwmiller33]

I'm with Blake, a room dedicated to mounts that I caught is my end goal. I knew it wasn't going to be cheap, and I wouldnt be diving off the deep end if I didn't know how to swim. The poster is another great idea. Eventually by the time I retire, I'd like to have my personal best of each species I've caught over the years mounted on the wall in a room with a bar and a fireplace. I think a fish mount is light years cooler than a picture, but I also understand why others don't like them. Like Blake said, to each their own. I really want to get a walleye mount, but I am going to wait til I break the 30 mark for that. I also have my eyes set on a king salmon mount from my anual Alaska trip, but the biggest I have caught is only a 30LBer, and I need to break at least 40 to justify putting it on the wall.

[DTro]

Yep, each to his own. Here's something to consider though.

You have a monster 68" object hanging on your wall taking up 150sq ft on your wall and next year you catch a 72"er. Huh...

I bet you could have 10 8x10's in that space that only one fish occupies AND a much fatter wallet.

at any rate, if I remember right, there is a sturgeon mount hanging up at Everts, (or at least there used to be) might be a decent place to get a look at one.

[Greybeard53]

A Quality taxidermy specimen is not just proof, it's a piece of art, no different than any wildlife painting or sculpture. I love good photographs from the field or water, but IMO they are not even close to a replacement for a quality mount or replica.

But to get back to your question. As mentioned, Artistic Anglers is a good option. So is Fibertech in Nisswa. Another is Lake Country Replicas in Hawick. You could also check with Lax, and Fittante replicas in Wisconsin

Most importantly, make sure you ask to see specific examples of Sturgeon. Each one of these artists are much better at certain species than others. Like any art piece, what one guy loves, another may dislike, so make sure you know what to expect and that it's what YOU want.

Just my two cents.

[Shack]

If I mounted a flathead for some reason or even a sturgeon, only place I would contact and send the beast to would be Almberg Taxidermy in Worthington, MN. This guy specilizes in alegator gar and huge mammal mounts:

Click Here for Almberg Taxidermy

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1896412/Almberg_Taxidermy#Post1896412

He was the creator of the Piking:

Click Here

The guy is built and looks mean, but it will shock you at how intelligent and nice he is. Give him a call. He will give a person the needed info prior to the hunt of trip to make sure the mount is the best and even costs the client less because of less he has to do. Good prices also and comes with a ton of props for references. Also he uses natural and traditional methods I believe to avoid the "plastic" look you get with some skin mounts. Do not quote me though.

[Shack]

OH yeah. He also does some very nice replicas.

[jwmiller33]

awesome Shack thanks for the link. I sent an email to Brian and am excited to hear back from him.

And Dtro, if I catch a 72, that will be awesome! I will have no regrets, and will put that one on the wall some day too (replica of course)

[Down Deep]

Miller33 - Go for it and get the mount. Then take a trip to Oregon. Planning a trip out there for 2012.

[MattL]

+1 for Brian Almberg. He did a skin mount of a longnose gar for me a couple years ago and it looks great. I can't speak for his abilities with sturgeon/replicas, but he is very intelligent with fish and game anatomy, especially with somewhat "untraditional" mounts such as gar and other rough fish.