bass1980 Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Ok I don't know it all or try to pretend I do but last night I was just thinking of an idea on how to preserve big bass. I have not yet caught a trophy bass in my eyes yet so I can't really speak on what I would do. I know that some people would rather have the real fish mounted, and some would rather release and get a fiberglass replica. Both are not cheap either which may be a good thing otherwise people would mount too many fish. With the DNR spending so much money in some regions stocking up fish and just researching I had this idea. What if the DNR help pay for a portion of your mounts if you do a replica. Maybe a rebate or maybe you get the discount right away and then the taxidermy can file their claims and get reimburse for their losses. This will encourage people to do replicas over real with knowing it is cheaper. To keep it from getting out of control maybe set a weight minimum. Like the record Bass in MN is 8 pounds. Set it at minimum of 6.75 for example. Any fish over 6.75 pounds is qualify for the discount replica program. I may be way off in my thinking but its worth a suggestion. Let me know your thoughts. Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 i prefer a real skin mount regardless. size of the bass or a discount wont matter either. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted January 18, 2013 Super User Posted January 18, 2013 The Texas "Share Lunker" program works that way. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/ Quote
tbone1993 Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 The Texas "Share Lunker" program works that way. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/ A local angler has a similar program going on with our local pond. It was first stocked about 3-4 years ago and fishing opened on it two years ago. You cant keep any bass or other fish so in a few years its going to have a really messed up population. To combat this the local angler catches lunker small mouth and large mouth and dumps them in for breeding purposes. The dnr is broke so we might as well do what they are paid to do. Quote
jhoffman Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 Where are the funds to help fund the mounts going to come from? Most state agencies are underwater as it is. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 18, 2013 Super User Posted January 18, 2013 What about the bucketheads who have no problem eating a 8lb bass. Gonna pay them to throw it back? 1 Quote
tbone1993 Posted January 18, 2013 Posted January 18, 2013 What about the bucketheads who have no problem eating a 8lb bass. Gonna pay them to throw it back? It annoys me to no end I worked in a bait shop over summer and people would come in with their catches of baby bluegill and catfish and I am just like get that off of my counter. Whenever the DNR releases fish it is like open season , they take beyond the limit. Most of the time they come in complaining that they have to buy a license . 1 Quote
bass1980 Posted January 18, 2013 Author Posted January 18, 2013 What about the bucketheads who have no problem eating a 8lb bass. Gonna pay them to throw it back? A suggestion can only help a specific cause, it can't save the world of all wrongs. 1 Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 19, 2013 Super User Posted January 19, 2013 Ok I don't know it all or try to pretend I do but last night I was just thinking of an idea on how to preserve big bass. I have not yet caught a trophy bass in my eyes yet so I can't really speak on what I would do. I know that some people would rather have the real fish mounted, and some would rather release and get a fiberglass replica. Both are not cheap either which may be a good thing otherwise people would mount too many fish. With the DNR spending so much money in some regions stocking up fish and just researching I had this idea. What if the DNR help pay for a portion of your mounts if you do a replica. Maybe a rebate or maybe you get the discount right away and then the taxidermy can file their claims and get reimburse for their losses. This will encourage people to do replicas over real with knowing it is cheaper. To keep it from getting out of control maybe set a weight minimum. Like the record Bass in MN is 8 pounds. Set it at minimum of 6.75 for example. Any fish over 6.75 pounds is qualify for the discount replica program. I may be way off in my thinking but its worth a suggestion. Let me know your thoughts. Sometimes no good deed goes unpunished. Trying to save trophy size bass is a good deed, however very few anglers who catch their first true trophy bass release it in good health or at all and say they did. I have spent about 40 years trying to educated bass anglers on the importance of trophy size bass, they are rare and bring value to the sport. Nearly every bass angler dreams of catching a giant bass, it's our sports goal. A good replica bass mount will match your catch and look great for decades, whereas a skin mount will deteriorate. I know this from experience and have both; skin mounts before good replica's were available and have 1 giant bass replica that represents several giant bass. I believe Lake Fork Taxidermy does good work at a reasonable price, however I haven't used them myself. Tom PS; MN LMB record is 8 lbs 15 oz. Quote
PondBoss Posted January 20, 2013 Posted January 20, 2013 I know my local Bass Pro will give you a replica mount for free if you bring them a live fish over 10lbs to put in their tank. Not sure why anyone would want an actual skin mount of a fish, over time they break down and deteriorate. A replica will last forever. Quote
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