MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 3, 2012 Posted July 3, 2012 I was fishing at my wife's uncle's quarry (guess I married into the right family lol) when I caught this monster 8.3 pound Largemouth. I caught her on a Texas rigged 7 inch black/red fleck PowerBait Thump Worm. This, according to her uncle, was the largest bass caught out of the quarry to his knowledge. With his blessing, the bass is currently at the taxidermist's getting mounted and should be back any day now. Anyway, here she is. Quote
Super User AK-Jax86 Posted July 3, 2012 Super User Posted July 3, 2012 That is a monster fish man! I am still waiting to catch me one like that so I can put her up on my wall. Do you know how much taxidermy usually cost or is it different depending on where you go? Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 3, 2012 Author Posted July 3, 2012 That is a monster fish man! I am still waiting to catch me one like that so I can put her up on my wall. Do you know how much taxidermy usually cost or is it different depending on where you go? A lot of the time, taxidermists charge by the inch or by the overall size of the fish. And generally, you get what you pay for. There are some exceptions...and I'm sure the guy who did work for the above poster did a good job...but the guy I go to charged right around $300 for my smallie and for my largemouth. But then again, the ones I did weren't like typical mounts. My smallie is a free-standing statue-like mount, mounted on a rock with a wood stand. And my largemouth is going to be mounted on a piece of driftwood in a lifelike swimming pose. Here is my smallmouth mount he did for me. This was a 6 pound monster smallie I caught at Lake Cumberland, KY while fishing for stripers. Quote
Super User AK-Jax86 Posted July 3, 2012 Super User Posted July 3, 2012 A lot of the time, taxidermists charge by the inch or by the overall size of the fish. And generally, you get what you pay for. There are some exceptions...and I'm sure the guy who did work for the above poster did a good job...but the guy I go to charged right around $300 for my smallie and for my largemouth. But then again, the ones I did weren't like typical mounts. My smallie is a free-standing statue-like mount, mounted on a rock with a wood stand. And my largemouth is going to be mounted on a piece of driftwood in a lifelike swimming pose. Here is my smallmouth mount he did for me. This was a 6 pound monster smallie I caught at Lake Cumberland, KY while fishing for stripers. That's nice as hell man you do get what you pay for. You need to post a pic of the 8.3lb largemouth you caught when the guy finishes it. My one friend has a largemouth I think it is around 7lbs and he caught it on a popper and his mount has the bass going to strike the lure that he used to catch it. If I get a monster and I use something other than a worm that is the type of mount I want to get. Quote
Super User SoFlaBassAddict Posted July 3, 2012 Super User Posted July 3, 2012 Yay on the fish, boo on the taxidermist. 2 Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 3, 2012 Author Posted July 3, 2012 Yeah I know. Believe it or not I really hate the idea of having a fish mounted, but this one was just too good to pass on. Especially considering where I caught it (central Illinois). If it had been at Lake Fork or something I probably would have looked at it, said "Nice bass" and released it. But around here, the thing almost gave me a heart attack when I saw it and I'm just a young guy. Quote
Super User deep Posted July 3, 2012 Super User Posted July 3, 2012 Congrats on the fish. Considering that it's your wife's uncle's lake, I'd say you missed a chance to catch a DD in a few years. That's the only reason I let my bigger fish go back- so that I can catch them again when they get even bigger. No hating on you; stoked that you caught a new PB. Now go catch a bigger one for all of us. Quote
unionman Posted July 3, 2012 Posted July 3, 2012 Its too bad you took her out. You can get replicas you know... Take pics and measurements. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted July 3, 2012 Super User Posted July 3, 2012 ...I'd say you missed a chance to catch a DD in a few years. Quote
Super User SoFlaBassAddict Posted July 3, 2012 Super User Posted July 3, 2012 Just to clarify my earlier post. I've got no problems with you mounting a fish. It's completely up to you. But by doing so, all you do is hurt your chances of catching a 10 plus pound fish later on down the road. Plus having a replica mount made is an easy process. All you need is a camera handy, and a few measurements. The plastic replicas will also last far longer than a skin mount. You'll generally end up with an exact copy of the fish if you're using a good taxidermist. Either way though, it's a heck of a fish. You should be proud of a slob like that. Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 3, 2012 Author Posted July 3, 2012 Well it's owned by her uncle but it is actually a pretty popular place for a private quarry. I see other people out there fishing all the time. He has given out quite a few keys to friends and family. As nice as it would be to get a DD, I didn't really want to run the risk of that fish ending up on someone else's wall. Plus, there is no shortage of big bass at that place. The owner had a 6.5 pounder mounted out of there and caught one afterwards that was 7.5, and then another above 6 and one between 4 and 5 pretty recently. He has only been stocking for a few years, but he stocks Florida bass. As they have a faster growth rate than the northern strain largemouth that is native to around here, they get big a lot quicker than in most places. So I don't know if I caught the only one out there this size. There may be some just as big or bigger. And if not, I would say there should be within a few years time. You certainly go through a lot of little ones before you get to the ones that are bigger, and as with most stocked ponds and quarries, there aren't a whole lot of fish in the medium size range. I caught a 2 pounder out there the other day and so far that's the only one in this category that I've seen out there. Trust me...when I got it in the boat a million thoughts were racing through my mind about what to do with it lol. Seeing a bass like that around here will send you into sensory overload pretty quick. I just knew it was easily the best one I've ever caught and I couldn't let it go this time. But I'm not upset at you guys for saying I missed the opportunity. Again, that was one of the thoughts that crossed my mind. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 3, 2012 Global Moderator Posted July 3, 2012 Well it's owned by her uncle but it is actually a pretty popular place for a private quarry. I see other people out there fishing all the time. He has given out quite a few keys to friends and family. As nice as it would be to get a DD, I didn't really want to run the risk of that fish ending up on someone else's wall. Plus, there is no shortage of big bass at that place. The owner had a 6.5 pounder mounted out of there and caught one afterwards that was 7.5, and then another above 6 and one between 4 and 5 pretty recently. He has only been stocking for a few years, but he stocks Florida bass. As they have a faster growth rate than the northern strain largemouth that is native to around here, they get big a lot quicker than in most places. So I don't know if I caught the only one out there this size. There may be some just as big or bigger. And if not, I would say there should be within a few years time. You certainly go through a lot of little ones before you get to the ones that are bigger, and as with most stocked ponds and quarries, there aren't a whole lot of fish in the medium size range. I caught a 2 pounder out there the other day and so far that's the only one in this category that I've seen out there. Trust me...when I got it in the boat a million thoughts were racing through my mind about what to do with it lol. Seeing a bass like that around here will send you into sensory overload pretty quick. I just knew it was easily the best one I've ever caught and I couldn't let it go this time. But I'm not upset at you guys for saying I missed the opportunity. Again, that was one of the thoughts that crossed my mind. I never have understood that thought process. You didn't want it to end up on someone else's wall so you kept it for your own? Replicas cost about the same as a skin mount and last a lot longer. It's just if you don't put the big ones back they'll never have a chance to get to full potential. Not trying to rain on your parade, just something to think about next time a big fish comes knocking. Get the measurements and pictures if you want a replica and put her back so maybe you can catch her again when she's even bigger! Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 3, 2012 Author Posted July 3, 2012 I've never seen a replica that looks as good as the skin mounts this guy I go to does. I'm sorry but we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I'm happy with my decision. Quote
Super User SoFlaBassAddict Posted July 4, 2012 Super User Posted July 4, 2012 http://www.2lbgil.com/taxidermy/ Posted in this thread. Never hurts to have an idea for the future. Quote
Phish Posted July 4, 2012 Posted July 4, 2012 I'm sorry but we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I'm happy with my decision. I'm happy you're not fishing anywhere near my home waters. Quote
Basswhippa Posted July 7, 2012 Posted July 7, 2012 That is a great fish. Congratulations on catching it. Thank you for showing us it's picture. Many of us here would love to see a picture of your fish when you get it back from the taxidermist. It is true that you will never catch that fish again and may miss out on it becoming larger, but you will enjoy the mount for many years to come. Good luck in the future and I know you will release the vast majority of the larger fish you catch. Do the quarry/pondowner a favor and help him understand how important it is to get the 12-14 inchers out. Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 7, 2012 Author Posted July 7, 2012 That is a great fish. Congratulations on catching it. Thank you for showing us it's picture. Many of us here would love to see a picture of your fish when you get it back from the taxidermist. It is true that you will never catch that fish again and may miss out on it becoming larger, but you will enjoy the mount for many years to come. Good luck in the future and I know you will release the vast majority of the larger fish you catch. Do the quarry/pondowner a favor and help him understand how important it is to get the 12-14 inchers out. Yeah I really only wanted a smallmouth and a largemouth, and luckily now I have both. So I'm done for now anyway. The wife would have a heart attack if I told her I was getting another one done. I will definitely post pictures of the mount. As for the 12-14 inchers....the quarry owner has asked me to keep them if I want to. In fact, he's practically begged me. Unfortunately I just don't have much of a taste for bass filets. I guess I have never tried the smaller ones though. Are they less fishy-flavored than the larger ones? I may just have to try them out. I know keeping the smaller to medium sized ones helps create a fishery full of larger fish since the bigger ones will then have less competition for food...and it won't hurt the numbers since the bigger ones will obviously continue to reproduce. I'm going out tonight. I may have to just keep a few. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 7, 2012 Global Moderator Posted July 7, 2012 Yeah I really only wanted a smallmouth and a largemouth, and luckily now I have both. So I'm done for now anyway. The wife would have a heart attack if I told her I was getting another one done. I will definitely post pictures of the mount. As for the 12-14 inchers....the quarry owner has asked me to keep them if I want to. In fact, he's practically begged me. Unfortunately I just don't have much of a taste for bass filets. I guess I have never tried the smaller ones though. Are they less fishy-flavored than the larger ones? I may just have to try them out. I know keeping the smaller to medium sized ones helps create a fishery full of larger fish since the bigger ones will then have less competition for food...and it won't hurt the numbers since the bigger ones will obviously continue to reproduce. I'm going out tonight. I may have to just keep a few. Small bass in that size range in early spring are pretty decent eating, they haven't got quite the fishy taste to them that they get once they get to about 16 or 17 inches. If you try them and don't like them I'm sure you can find someone who does. Some of the guys at work love those smaller bass and they're easy to fillet and I just happened to have a pond loaded with stunted bass so I cleaned a bunch for them a few times. Now the pond produces much better average size fish after doing that for a couple years now. They get pretty wormy once it gets hot though so it's just an early spring thing. Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 8, 2012 Author Posted July 8, 2012 Well we kept 9 tonight as well as a nice bluegill (he was big enough to hit a crankbait) so we'll see how it goes. If they aren't any good, we'll just have to do like you said and go after them in the spring and maybe the fall. They were all in the 9-12 inch range or so. Quote
Basswhippa Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 I can't tell you the last time I've had a bass to eat. That said, I remember one guy telling me a long time ago, "I've never had a bad bass". If you cleaned those little guys quickly enough, they will be very good. Quote
unionman Posted July 8, 2012 Posted July 8, 2012 Soak the fillets in milk, in the fridge, the night before you cook them. You can also bleed them in your livewell and keep running clean water through until its clear of blood. Youd be surprised at the difference in taste. I personally do not eat bass at all. The only freshwater fish I eat is walleye, crappie, and bluegills. Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted July 8, 2012 Author Posted July 8, 2012 I personally do not eat bass at all. The only freshwater fish I eat is walleye, crappie, and bluegills. That's more or less the case for me too, but with white bass and catfish added. But I know that keeping these bass will eventually help the fishery, so if they are at all comparable to any of the fish we are talking about, then it will be worth it in a couple of ways. Quote
MultiSpeciesFisherman Posted November 24, 2012 Author Posted November 24, 2012 Well I got her back from the taxidermist. She's a beauty. Quote
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