mounting a fish

[korupt21]

I am looking to mount a Walleye that I caught this weekend.

I would like some referrals if possible around the twin cities area along with price. ( I assume most go by $ per inch? )

It is a 30" walleye.

Thank You

[Slyster]

Most people get replica's made so they don't have to keep the fish? Maybe I'm wrong there, but use the search feature for replica or for mount and you'll get lots of info!

[Willy]

Quote:

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Most people get replica's made so they don't have to keep the fish? Maybe I'm wrong there, but use the search feature for replica or for mount and you'll get lots of info!

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Not really. I would bet that 75% of the mounts people are getting are the real thing. The replicas are a good idea, but they are spendy. Nothing wrong with a real mount.

[gman2002]

boy that didn't take long to cap on a guy for catching a nice fish. nice catch korupt

[korupt21]

I did keep the fish.

It was a trophy fish and I'd do it agian.

I did not want to start a discussion on replica vs. mounting real fish.

I would still like some recomendations on where to have the fish mounted. Price's as well. Agian I would like the place to be in the metro area. Preferably, west, northwest or southwest.

Thanks.

[fiskyknut]

I second that, congrats on a great catch. My taxidermy guy is in LOTW county so I can't help you there.

fiskyknut

[Slyster]

I wasn't even thinking of a discussion on replica vs the real thing.. I just thought I heard replicas are better and the way to go these days and would turn out clean? I did say could be wrong!

[toonfish]

Nice fish. I have seen some stuff done by Barr Taxidermy in Savage. His stuff is nice and he is about $10.00 per inch. His turn around time is pretty good also.

[Remy]

Congrats on the fish. I'm still trying to get my trophy mount. I've never had a fish done before but I've had other work done at Jim's Lake/land Taxidermy which is just west of Excelsior on hwy 7 and he does good work.

[bigdog]

I have had all my fish done by Brad at Mid-America in Savage. Not sure of his price but they do nice, quality work. Have two Trout, a Bass and a full body pike (painted both sides, in a case) done by him.

[outdoor ran]

I would look at as many places has you can. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The paint job is the most important part. Find someone who can paint. Also if they have a freeze dryer it will add years to your mount. Good luck and nice fish.

Side note on Repo's. The price for a good skin mount is somewhere around $10-$11 an inch. A repo is around $11-$12 an inch. So I dont think a repo is much more spendy then a skin. JMO.

[stmichael]

A friend of mine just got one done by Jack Hanson in Coon Rapids. I do not remember the price, he is very reasonable.

He does beautiful work.

[korupt21]

Any more?

[Swamp Scooter]

I would go to John's taxidermy outside of Hastings. He is a Master taxidermist and does very quality work. You can look at a ton of stuff he has going on in the shop and then know who to go with. He did my bear, my friends turkey from this season, and has a couple of waterfowl of mine as well.

[nytelyter]

i have also heard good things about jims lakeland taxidermy, but i have had mine done by radde on lake waconia. he has been doing taxidermy for as long as i can remember. real good work. ... paul

[Down Deep]

What a way to get your season started? A 30 inche walleye is a true trophy representing a fish in the stratosphere of the available fish population. Anybody I know would be proud to display a fish like that.

As some FM'ers have suggested only hire a shop that will do a freeze dried mount. Ask the shop to show you some of their work and ask who will be painting the fish. If you are impressed make sure that that person will paint the fish. Most of the shops are small operations and the owner is the guy who will be doing the work. Be sure they are make a living doing it.

Up here in Duluth a skin mount goes for $10 an inch and I always tip my guy about 15%. Don't forget that you will have about a year before you have to pick up the fish so make some installment payments and then the cost will be less painful.

To perserve the fish until you decide - Wrap the fish in a big bath towel and soak it in water - then wrap in a heavy plastic bag. Improperly stored fish can freezer burn in just a couple of days especially it is stored in a frost free freezer.

I'd like to call you a lucky dog, but I sure this fish was a result of a well planned strategy, flawlessly implemented by a skillful angler with no self-doubt.

[nytelyter]

i used a vacuum food saver to preserve mine for the taxidermist. layed everything flat and neat and sealed it up tight. he said it was a great idea.

[pressman]

thirty inches is a nice fish, I had a 30 incher mounted by a guy ron shaleen 651-436-8913 [email protected] he mounted it on a piece of driftwood that was forked at the bottom so it could hang on the wall or stand by itself on a table or mantle. It's one of the nicest realistic mounts I've ever seen, and the best part is his turnaround time. He says four weeks but I got mine in less than three weeks. total price 270. His house is in Lakeland, Mn. just across the river from Hudson Wisconsin. He works out of his home and is loaded with fish,duck,deer and bear mounts to check out his work. I would use him again for my next fish mount.