Bass Mount

[Cootz]

I'm thinking about mounting a bass and was wondering what a good weight to mount after I live in central MN so very nice bass around here is 5+ and should I get a reproduction or mount the real thing?

[Dwight Hottle]

Get a reproduction mount if you can. The advantages other than releasing the fish to get bigger and maybe caught again by you or someone else are longer lasting as in more durable & easier to clean/dust. There is no bleeding of oily discharge as the years go by like typical skin mounts do. The challenge is to find a taxidermist with great painting skills to make it look really lifelike. 

[WRB]

First and foremost get a good replica mount, measure the length and girth. Take several good color photos of the bass shortly after catching it so it's colors are vivid and accurate.

You can use In-Fishermans trophy bass program for size of Largemouth or Smallmouth bass that qualifies.

Tom

[BaitMonkey1984]

I am going to go against the grain. I have been fishing like a madman for over 10+ years. I have two fish mounted- a nice bass  (5.5 lb) and a chain pickerel around the same weight. Replica mounts were not common knowledge when I kept the chain pickerel, and I kept it because I did not think it was going to survive. The bass I kept last year. I have friends who have obtained replica mounts and the quality of theirs, I was less than impressed. I have many fish at 5lbs and never mounted. I did catch a 6lb shortly after I mounted the 5lb and never even thought about keeping another one. It would have to be 8 lbs before I keep it.  I respect the heck outta the people who do the replica mounts- however they just don't do it for me. Would be happy to see some pictures from good replica mounts some members have. But I would say based upon my personal experience I would go for a real mount, as you are likely not going to keep a whole lot ( it gets expensive) and anything over 4 lbs will make a good mount. Good luck, and be sure to follow up with pics of whatever mount you go with.  O yea, now is the fun part, you need to go catch that toad. 

[WIGuide]

I'd definitely go with a reproduction. Not only do you get to let someone else possibly enjoy the catch of a lifetime, but you'll also allow the big girl to keep making babies that are more genetically inclined to grow into trophy fish themselves. Not to mention they make some pretty darn good reproductions these days. They are very close price wise, they last longer, and there's no maintenance.

 

The only down side to the reproductions is they are built from premade molds, it's sometimes hard to match the girth exactly. The first mount that was sent me was of basically the same measurement of my fish, but because of the time of year I caught it, it had more of a belly on it. We called them when it arrived to tell them it looked a lot thinner than the actual fish, and they had us box it up and send it back and completely redid it. When I got the second attempt I couldn't have been happier about how it turned out. I had mine done through. I had it done through BPS's Wildlife Creations Studio. There was no charge for the corrections and when I catch my next PB I will most likely go through them again. 

 

As for the size bass to mount in MN, I'd say it comes down to a person by person basis. Someone who doesn't fish all that much might mount something smaller than someone who fishes a lot. If it's something you can see yourself being proud of hanging on the wall, I don't see a reason not to.

[WRB]

6 lb largemouth or 5 lb smallmouth bass was the minimum weights to qualify for In-Fisherman master awards for region 1 ( MN, WI, MI, IN, OH) if you want a benchmark.

Art is in the eye of the beholder, go online and look at fish mounts for your region. My avatar is a replica mount.

Tom

[00 mod]

Here is the thread for my replica!

 

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/143791-finally-got-my-mount-with-pics/?fromsearch=1

Jeff

[Mass Bassin']

I have a replica of a five i caught a few years back and i have a couple real mounts a friend gave me and i gotta say the replicas are not as realistic but i would rather have a the replica and let the fish go, unless the fish was dead or about to die. in that case i would definately get a real mount.

[Scott F]

The quality of the replica vs a skin mount has almost nothing to do with the process. It is almost solely depends on the skill of the artist who crafts it. Both skin mounts and replicas are painted. If the person who makes the mount is not a good artist, your mount will show it.

[WRB]

Skin mounts takes a lot of taxidermy skills to get fish ready to paint, after that the painting process is equal. Skin and scales deteriorate over time, fiberglass doesn't. Your skin mount manikin is no more authentic then the fiberglass mold.

Tom

[soflabasser]

Like others have said get a replica of the bass. No need to keep a bass when you can easily take several pictures of it,measure it, and weigh it. It will last longer, looks better and the bass will most likely still be alive to make more bass that can potentially be even bigger than it was.

[Basswhippa]

No need to keep a bass when you can easily take several pictures of it,measure it, and weigh it. It will last longe

Except for the fact you can get a really good skin mount for $100 to $200 cheaper than a good replica.

And there are unusual shaped fish, etc.

There are tons of good skin mounts of fish to 10 pounds on a certain auction site. Get your measurements and then get a similar skin mount. I see 12 pounders regularly and have seen up to 16 pounders.

[geo g]

The replica is the way to go! In south Florida it is hot and humid and the real thing will break down over time. I never keep fish and would never keep a trophy. I do everything I can to leave them in good shape. I'm sure I have caught fish I have released more then once. I caught an 11.4 at Loxahatchee, took measurements, weight her, and released her. Two years later my wife surprised me with a trophy mount replica. She took pictures I had taken, and the measurements of the fish. It came out great and will be around long after I'm gone.

[HoosierHawgs]

Except for the fact you can get a really good skin mount for $100 to $200 cheaper than a good replica.

And there are unusual shaped fish, etc.

There are tons of good skin mounts of fish to 10 pounds on a certain auction site. Get your measurements and then get a similar skin mount. I see 12 pounders regularly and have seen up to 16 pounders.

Don't really see the point in this. Then it is no longer your fish, skin or replica, but someone else's fish. Get a replica of your fish, I'm sure you will enjoy it. For me it would have to be about an 8lb largemouth or a 6 lb smallmouth to go on the wall.

[WIGuide]

Don't really see the point in this. Then it is no longer your fish, skin or replica, but someone else's fish. Get a replica of your fish, I'm sure you will enjoy it. For me it would have to be about an 8lb largemouth or a 6 lb smallmouth to go on the wall.

The only point in buying one second hand is the fact that it's considerably cheaper. My dad bought a smallie replica because it was less than 1/4" either bigger or smaller than his pb and I think he only paid something like $50 or $75 for it. Yes, it's not exactly his fish, but neither is a replica. I'm sure if he catches one bigger than that he'll get his own made, but for now it serves it's purpose.

[Basswhippa]

Yeah a replica is a mold of someone else's skin mount. Lake Fork is one of the best there is, but the mount we got back is a larger girth fish and would have weighed at least 1 more pound. We are happy with the larger look, but it wasn't our fish.

[wytstang]

If I mount a fish it has to be 10+lbs and I'm going to mount the fish I catch not a rep. of some one elseses.

[MidwestF1sh]

I would say in MN try for a largemouth in the 6-7lb range and probably the same for smallmouth. We have so many big smallies here and if you look hard enough there are 6-7lbers. I have one bass mounted and it is a 22 1/2" largemouth. Weighed in the 6-7lb range. I might get a smallies mounted soon out of mille lacs. Just not quiet sure on how big I want to shoot for.

[MidwestF1sh]

Its so hard to say. I think if its a "trophy" fish for the area release it and get a replica but if you just want a nice 5lb bass mount get the actual mount. I hate keeping a bass but they look a lot better IMHO.

[WRB]

Yeah a replica is a mold of someone else's skin mount. Lake Fork is one of the best there is, but the mount we got back is a larger girth fish and would have weighed at least 1 more pound. We are happy with the larger look, but it wasn't our fish.

A replica mold is made from a real fish, not a mount. Taxidermist get frozen fish from anglers who want a mount made. The frozen fish is thawed placed into plaster mold in whatever position the angler wants the fish or the taxidermist wants it, the fish is then discarded or used for a skin mount. The mold is used to make a fiber glass model of the fish, the model is then painted. Model fins, tail, gill parts and eyes are used by some taxidermist for both skin and replica mounts. Since bass are very similar in shape if the length and girth measurements are identical or close to the a mold made from another fish, it's used if the taxidermist has a identicle or similar mold.

The skin mount the frozen fish is thawed, the skin removed leaving the head, tail and fins to be cured/ dried. The cured skin is stretched over a pre made manikin that replicates the length and girth measurements, usually a standard manikin close to fish used before. Eyes, some fins, gill parts and tail may be used same as a replica because they are often damaged in freezing, shipping and curing process.

Both replica and skin mounts are painted, otherwise the skin would be a dull grey color.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

I would rather take pictures.  They are cheaper, easier to get, and you can carry them around with you.

[BaitMonkey1984]

Here is the thread for my replica!

 

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/143791-finally-got-my-mount-with-pics/?fromsearch=1

Jeff

That is an awesome fish and the best replica I have ever seen. Best mount (replica/real) for that matter. Who did it and how much did it set you back? 

[WPCfishing]

A nice picture holding the fish works for me.. Unless its a State Record. 

[Big C]

You can usually find an old cheap mount at garage sales, antique malls, ect.  I have an old crappy one that I spray painted electric blue.  It actually looks pretty cool, so if you find one super cheap buy and paint it a crazy color, the results are great.

[C0lt]

I'm thinking about mounting a bass and was wondering what a good weight to mount after I live in central MN so very nice bass around here is 5+ and should I get a reproduction or mount the real thing?

bass pro makes some beautiful fiberglass reproduction mounts