how big does it have to be for you to mount an eye?

[goose89]

I usually get a couple of good picture of anything over 25". I've got a couple of pix of 28-29 1/2"s that, I think, are more impressive / story telling than any mount. Blow em up a bit, put on fireplace mantle / bookshelf, hang the lure or any old lure on the frame... very cool in my book.

I am not against mounts, just think a well taken picture, blown - up and framed, with a smaller one of the release, is as much of a "trophy" as stuffing one.

[brdhunter]

Oh yeah it is in Canada.

Thats like going pheasant/duck hunting in SD or ND. Its just not the same sport. I'll stick to my MN pheasants and MN walleye. Much cheaper and just as pleasant.

[NEANGLER]

I am debating on this one since I C&R a 29" last year from Mille Lacs but I think it would have to be 30" unless she is just a pig. But I would release it no matter what- just get the measurements and get a replica. They look beter anyway and they last forever compared to skin mounts which yellow, crack etc. after a few years. JM$.02.

[TrophyEyes]

brdhunter, It was at my late friends cabin and it was just a long drive. No guide, no fees, just trophy fishing. I have many of my trophies in MN as well.

[rodmaker]

We need to hook up this Summer maybe Mille Lacs or somewhere else.

[JBone]

30inches here, biggest I have caught was 27!

[eyehead]

When I do get that 30". I'm gonna have a replica made. Cant seem to get past the 28"ers.

[JohnMickish]

Is this worth a replica? I let her go last year and if shes still around she will be bigger!

[rodmaker]

Very Nice!!!!! Is that your biggest Eye. It all depends on you. It would look nice on the wall. I would highly recommend Artistic Anglers. I have 3 from Matt!!!

[JohnMickish]

That one is my biggest but I don't think it's big enough (for me) to get a replica. I honestly probably won't ever get a mount. I guess the picture alone does it for me, that and the memory.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

big body little head. Nice fish, mnfishinguy.

[Ice-King]

I have one on the wall that is 29". My next one has to be 30" or bigger and it will be a replica.

[rodmaker]

did you get a chance to weigh it before releasing??

[Wallmaster]

The big 30"+ are usually big fat females. They hold thousands of eggs. Please practice C-P-R and we will all have a chance to catch them again and also have some eaters as well. We can't all rely on the dnr for restocking all of the lakes for us. The reproduction is so very important for our future anglers. Here is a 32" I caught a week ago and released and a couple from last winter --- Thanks WM

http://s476.photobucket.com/albums/rr125/Wallmaster_2007/?action=view&current=PC020050.jpg

[goose89]

did you get a chance to weigh it before releasing??

Unless you've got a sling, why hang it just to get a weight. Quick Length, girth, pic, release. I sorta cring watching BIG fish being weighed (hanging vertical), ulness laying in a tub / or sling. Unneeded IMO.

[Bulldoggr]

Echoing on what alot of others have said. My personal goal long before I ever een saw this thread was 30". And with that I would get a graphite made. I would let it go.

The best I have ever done was 29 1/2". I almost talked myself into getting a replica made of it. But Glad I kept to the standard I set.

[Dan189]

I think one has to consider more than just length and weight.

The people saying they may never catch a 10lb 30+ inch walleye, well lets drive on up to selkirk and bring in some hogs.

I think one must consider the lake, the trip, and most importantly the fish, does it look good?

[JohnMickish]

I didn't weigh it, I just wanted to get her back into the water. I kind of wish I would have at least taken a girth measurment. She was absolutly the fattest walleye that anyone in my group had ever seen. Judging from the pictures I have she is about 7 inches top to bottom when she is laying on her side so I would have to guess her girth to be in the 17-18" range which puts her on the high side of 10 lbs.

[DTro]

I look at it this way. I have several pictures of my largest eye 29"/10.5

The fish swam away and got a chance to dump that belly full of eggs.

Meanwhile I can get a replica made anytime i want to. I just haven't decided if that is how I want to spend that money.

[rodmaker]

That's the beauty of getting replica's made. My biggest Eye is 29" from Mille Lacs a year or two ago.

I have a few nice photos, and a replica may be down the road if I don't get anything bigger.

[croixeyes]

My mount is 29 3/4 only 8plus lbs,a postspawn fish that I tried to release but came back up.I worked that fish for a long time but couldnt revive it.That being said it isnt my biggest.Like TrophyEyes,I have access to a special fishery in Canada that holds some unreal fish.Ill keep plugging away at this place as it has given up some 15lb class fish,Thats what Im after.

[RJT]

28" and fat or 30 and skinny

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[james_walleye]

I have a 30 3/4" fish on the wall from a southern MN lake. If i got an honest 31" or bigger i would put it on the wall as well.

[spear-n-pike]

30" or 10 # is a good guideline

[wplatehunter]

Same for me 30". I have had a number of 28's and 29's, but I'm still looking for that 30".