Fish care for mounting

[fishmounter]

Getting that fish to the taxidermist in top shape is the first step for a quality mount. Caring for that fish is vital before delivery.

If putting it on ice while still fishing ,always place fish in a plastic bag to omit a blotchy pattern that can develop due to ice contact against fish skin without any barriers or protection. Wet towels will have the same effect.

Once at home first wrap the fish in a plastic bag or 3 to 4 layers of saran wrap. This will omit a blotching discoloration of fish skin.

Second ,wrap fish in 5 to 6 layers of wet newspaper. That will help prevent freezer burn and once frozen, will protect fins from becoming damaged from items in the freezer shifting against the fish.

Third, wrap fish in a second plastic bag and freeze. Fish have remained in excellent shape going through this process for me for over 2 years.

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[TonkaBass]

nice tip!

[250XB]

Another way is to take a picture and measurement and put the fish back in the water for someone else to catch and then get a replica done. I would hate to see all the fish that get wasted because people thought they were going to get a fish mounted and then find out how much it cost to get it done.

[fishmounter]

Replicas are more expensive but the fish is released and the next fisherman has the joy of catching it. Also if you're wanting a replica mounted remember to not only to get a total length but the girth also and take several good close up pictures to get good color reference pictures so that replica can be duplicated when airbrushed.

[ricqik]

I say choose what you please. Skin, replica, as long as your happy. Some are happy with replica's, some prefer skin mount. I personally prefer skin mount at this time. I just don't see the replica's having the quality art work I see in a skin mount, not yet anyways.

[goblueM]

I saw some amazing replica mounts at the Musky Expo... buddy had a bass done by Joe Fittante in Wisconsin and it was amazing. I've seen pics of a skin mount, then compared to the actual mount - didn't really care for it.

I'd say take a few pics, get length and girth, the let her go! Sickens me when people keep huge fish - they're not great eating, so keeping them just for mounting is a little bogus in my book

[tunrevir]

Sometimes there is no recourse other then to keep the fish or feed it to the birds. Yes, it would be nice if we could let all of the big ones go but if it is just going to float up on someones beach then keep it. Prime example, large muskie caught on Mille Lacs this past fall. The fish wouldn't or couldn't swim away. Another example the muskie caught through the ice this past winter on Tonka. Don't pass judgement on people for getting a skin mount done. Chances are they did the best they could to get the fish back but if it comes down to being bird food or not, I say keep the fish and do it proud. Every one of us has our benchmarks, some are reachable and others aren't but if you get that fish of a lifetime and it appears that it won't make it, what is the harm in keeping it for a skin mount?

Tunrevir~

[jwhjr]

If I ever catch anything worth mounting, I'll take the measurements and photos and get a replica. I'd rather have the fish swim another day and hopefully someone else will catch it as well. However, I have no issue with anyone who chooses to keep a big fish to mount as long as it's a legal fish. My $.02.

[rodmaker]

Good photos are very helpful..Although, Artistic Anglers does not need the girth of the fish, just the length.