Mounting Fish

[WyoChris]

How big are your walleye mounts if you have them? Just caught a 6.5 lb/25 inch walleye out of white bear lake today.... debating whether I should put it on the wall or not. Thanks.

[saloonsoftball76]

to small. Should have let it go.

[harvey lee]

I personally won't mount a eye unless its past the 10# range. With that being said, I do have one mounyed that went 7 pounds that I caught with my father a few weeks before he passed. I knew it would be the last time I fished with him so I mounted it in his memory.

Many fish can have a special memory and then the size is not all that important. One needs to mount what they feel is a true trophy and not what others believe,

I believe the first one I mounted was 8.5 pounds. I caught a 11.5 and released it a few springs ago.

[Fishing Freak]

up to you like harvey lee said i mounted a 7 1/2 this year i memory of my great grampap

[croixflats]

Not to small. Thats a hog through the ice. Congrats on the catch.

Its not just the size that counts its the memory of catching it.

HarveyLee beet me to it.

[Sifty]

Each person has there own standards on the size of fish to mount.

Like stated above the memory is the most important thing.

Sifty

[chad austin]

Note from admin, please read forum policy before posting again, thank you.

[Sandmannd]

It's all up to what you want. I don't keep between 21 and up unless I'm gonna mount one. For me to mount would be 30 inches or over 10 lbs but that's me. As said above, that's a hog through the ice.

[fishandshroom]

Not too small you are the judge not anyone else.

[fish_on]

Ditto. I would not have kept a 25incher, but if you want to toss it up on the wall, and are proud of it by all means let er' rip. Like stated above it is the story behind it that matters. Anyone can look at a big fish someplace, but it is worth it when you can look at it and say to yourself "i rember when that fish hit.........." Congrats on the nice eye.

[JimBuck]

Personally, I'm only going to mount a walter over 30" and let everything go over 20". It just comes down to personal ethics. If you have a great story behind the catch or a memorable experience.....throw it on the wall.

[happy]

Go ahead and mount it if you have it. Its not worth eating and alot of people never catch one that big.

[BuckKiller]

If you feel you may not get one bigger I'd mount it. but if it were me I wouldn't cuz I get 10-15 walleyes ranging 25 inches-30 inches a year. I put a 30 1/2 incher on the wall a few years ago because I had always said that if I got on over 30 id mount it. But its totally your personal preferance and weather or not you have the money

[gopher_nation]

Everyone has answered this question very well. It's all up to you and that is what it comes down to. That's bigger than any walleye I've caught through the ice!!

[LOTWSvirgin]

Mount it if you some day catch a bigger one mount that one too. Its all your choice.

[snoozebutton]

If you still have it then yeah, go ahead and mount it. They look nice on the wall and you'll never be sorry you did.

Go ahead and mount it if you have it. Its not worth eating and alot of people never catch one that big.

You get the meat back after the taxidermist is done. Use a shake and bake and throw it in the oven or a friend of mine cuts 1/2 inch squares half way through the meat, spreads butter on them and bakes them that way. Don't get me wrong, I throw back the bigger walleyes but I do this to the thicker northern fillets.

[harvey lee]

Personally I would not eat any meat that came back from the taxidermist. I used to mount fish and know many shop owners and I would not want any meat that was removed from the fish. Tables not that clean nor the knives.

I threw away plenty of meat from skinned fish and also had buddies that wanted the meat and I threw it away. I did not keep the skinning knives that clean to eat the meat.

[IfIwasawalleye]

If you have fished throughout the state of MN, there is quite a broad difference between a northern MN fish vs. southern MN. My rule is 30" N of St Cloud and 28" to the S. My favorite mount is my 29" hog from a local lake vs. a replica of a 30 3/4" out of a Brainerd area lake. I really like Harvey's blog. To each his own.

[nate larson]

WyoChris,

How many years have you been fishing? If you have been fishing for 20+ years and that is your biggest walleye I say go for it. Chances are you might not ever catch one that big again. Personally my biggest walleye is 28 inches and I have been fishing for 20+ years...I took a few pictures and let her go. I think it would have to be at least 29 inches for me to mount one. I have a crappie at the taxidermist right now that is just a tad over 15 inches. A lot of people will say it should be 16 or 17 inches but for me I knew 15 was probably the biggest I would ever get.

Congrats either way, that is a heck of a fish!