Best replica taxidermist?

[Wulf N7]

I'm looking to get a replica of my PB largemouth. It would most likely need to be a place that ships as I live in North Mississippi right outside of Memphis, TN. 

 

My budget price is $300-$400. I know nothing about replica taxidermy though so I don't know if that's a realistic number or not. 

[Hyrule Bass]

you couldve gotten a beautiful much more realistic looking skin mount for under your budget

[Scott F]

14 minutes ago, Hyrule Bass said:

you couldve gotten a beautiful much more realistic looking skin mount for under your budget

If any replica you've seen doesn't look beautiful and realistic, it wasn't done by a real artist. Skin or replica, they both have to be painted. The skill and artistic ability of the artist/taxidermist makes all the difference in the finished mount.  No one could look at the replica I have and not think it doesn't look perfect. And, it will continue to look that way long after I'm gone. The only way you could tell that it wasn't a real fish is if you look inside the mouth. Plus, the smallmouth that I caught lived to give another angler a thrill.

[Hyrule Bass]

21 minutes ago, Scott F said:

If any replica you've seen doesn't look beautiful and realistic, it wasn't done by a real artist. Skin or replica, they both have to be painted. The skill and artistic ability of the artist/taxidermist makes all the difference in the finished mount.  No one could look at the replica I have and not think it doesn't look perfect. And, it will continue to look that way long after I'm gone. The only way you could tell that it wasn't a real fish is if you look inside the mouth. Plus, the smallmouth that I caught lived to give another angler a thrill.

ive seen a ton of replicas, many have been posted on here as well, they all look mass produced in china, and look really really fake. even my skin mount looks better than the replicas my taxidermist showed me, and hes dang good at taxidermy. the tour of his house was amazing. and ive seen skin mounts over 20 years old that look just as good as the day they were picked up. also, im not worried about removing one fish from a lake full of them, plenty of other fish for other anglers to enjoy...

[Scott F]

8 minutes ago, Hyrule Bass said:

ive seen a ton of replicas, many have been posted on here as well, they all look mass produced in china, and look really really fake. even my skin mount looks better than the replicas my taxidermist showed me, and hes dang good at taxidermy. the tour of his house was amazing. and ive seen skin mounts over 20 years old that look just as good as the day they were picked up.

I stand by my post. If the ones you’ve seen look that bad, they were done by second rate artists. Pictures on the web shouldn’t be used to judge the quality of a mount. You need to see the artist’s work in person to tell how it really looks.

[Hyrule Bass]

33 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I stand by my post. If the ones you’ve seen look that bad, they were done by second rate artists. Pictures on the web shouldn’t be used to judge the quality of a mount. You need to see the artist’s work in person to tell how it really looks.

Dont go twisting my words. I didnt say the looked bad, but they look fake, fake as in not like a real fish, where as skin mounts look like the real fish. my taxidermist is great, ive already stated this. he gave us a tour of his house and his work is absolutely phenomenal. im not talking bad vs good here as you surmise, im talking about fake vs realistic. i stand by my post as well, we will just have to agree to disagree here...

[TOXIC]

There's a HUUUUUGGGGGE difference between model painters (which kinda look like your fish) and true artists that do reproduction mounts.  There's a HUUUUUUGGGGGE difference in price as well.  ?

 

I've seen reproduction mounts that were customized to the pics of the fish including scale patterns, gill plates and fins. That takes doing modifications to the "replica".  I know of some that "paint" each and every scale 4 or 5 times to get the proper depth and color. That's why I don't have any replica's on my wall because in order to take the harassament from my wife for the amount of $$ I spent, it better be a truly memorable fish.  ? 

[WRB]

I have 2 LMB mounts; 12.3lb Northern Strain LMB skin mount that was done in '71 and a replica mount done in '93 by Roberts Trophy Fish Mounts* that represents my 19.3 lb Florida strain LMB along with my top 5. 

I see no reason to kill a bass for a skin mount. If the bass is dead from over handling or needed to be killed to be authenticated, then that's another choice. It's a personal choice, good replica's last forever, skin mounts deteriorate over time, I know from experience with 3 skin mounts; Rainbow trout, Musky and LMB all have aged poorly compared to the replica.

You need to research this site for "replica" several threads on this topic.

Tom

* no longer in business

[A-Jay]

Haven't see any of this in person - 

But by the looks of his work here, appears top notch.

 

http://www.davecampbellfish.com/master-grade-gallery/26-largemouth-bass-replica.html

 

@18RangerZ520L - has utilized this man's services and seems pretty happy.

 

No clue as to the $$$ but I'm betting you'll pay for what you get.

 

A-Jay

 

 

[senile1]

22 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Haven't see any of this in person - 

But by the looks of his work here, appears top notch.

 

http://www.davecampbellfish.com/master-grade-gallery/26-largemouth-bass-replica.html

 

@18RangerZ520L - has utilized this man's services and seems pretty happy.

 

No clue as to the $$$ but I'm betting you'll pay for what you get.

 

A-Jay

 

 

Thanks for the link.  From the looks of the pics, I have to agree.

[Wulf N7]

5 hours ago, Hyrule Bass said:

you couldve gotten a beautiful much more realistic looking skin mount for under your budget

All the skin mounts i've seen eventually get faded and dried out. 

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Haven't see any of this in person - 

But by the looks of his work here, appears top notch.

 

http://www.davecampbellfish.com/master-grade-gallery/26-largemouth-bass-replica.html

 

@18RangerZ520L - has utilized this man's services and seems pretty happy.

 

No clue as to the $$$ but I'm betting you'll pay for what you get.

 

A-Jay

 

 

Those look stunning but unfortunately way out of my price range. 

[WRB]

Lake Fork Taxidermist offers decent quality for reasonable price.

Tom

[Hyrule Bass]

39 minutes ago, Wulf N7 said:

All the skin mounts i've seen eventually get faded and dried out. 

 

ive seen skin mounts over 20 years old that look like they day the were picked up, theyre hanging in my aunt and uncles lake house. but go ahead and pay a grip for a fake looking fish that isnt really yours that looks like its mass produced and sold at walmart, its your money not mine. of course ive never seen a bass that looks super shiny that me or anyone else has ever caught. but anyways, i will let it go, as you dont even have the bass you caught anymore, so yall can continue discussing your toy fish purchases...

[Wulf N7]

28 minutes ago, Hyrule Bass said:

ive seen skin mounts over 20 years old that look like they day the were picked up, theyre hanging in my aunt and uncles lake house. but go ahead and pay a grip for a fake looking fish that isnt really yours that looks like its mass produced and sold at walmart, its your money not mine. of course ive never seen a bass that looks super shiny that me or anyone else has ever caught. but anyways, i will let it go, as you dont even have the bass you caught anymore, so yall can continue discussing your toy fish purchases...

Why are you so angry over something that has nothing to do with you? 

[Glaucus]

2 hours ago, Wulf N7 said:

Why are you so angry over something that has nothing to do with you? 

Regrets his skin mount and is trying to convince himself that it's better.

[CroakHunter]

3-400 dollars won't touch a decent replica. It will barely touch a crappy skin mount. Unless your pb is 12 inches. 

[Bluebasser86]

7 hours ago, Hyrule Bass said:

ive seen skin mounts over 20 years old that look like they day the were picked up, theyre hanging in my aunt and uncles lake house. but go ahead and pay a grip for a fake looking fish that isnt really yours that looks like its mass produced and sold at walmart, its your money not mine. of course ive never seen a bass that looks super shiny that me or anyone else has ever caught. but anyways, i will let it go, as you dont even have the bass you caught anymore, so yall can continue discussing your toy fish purchases...

Pretty much every bass I catch is really shiny? When they're wet and have their slime coat, they tend to look really shiny. Being able to capture that look in a replica mount is truly an art. A good taxidermist can make either version look great. 

 

It's your choice if you choose to kill a fish to hang on your wall or take a picture and get measurements so you can let it go and get a replica, but there's no reason to whizz in someone else's Wheaties because you don't like what they want. This is a prime example of "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

 

Besides, the OP clearly no longer has the fish in his possession, so the option to get a skin mount is no longer even on the table.

 

I have 1 mount, a skin mount of a 6 pounder that expired from being deep hooked on a hot summer day. It still looks pretty good, but it's only 14 years old and taken pretty good care of. This is who I had do it, he also does replicas.

http://www.donstaxidermy.com/

[Wulf N7]

3 hours ago, CroakHunter said:

3-400 dollars won't touch a decent replica. It will barely touch a crappy skin mount. Unless your pb is 12 inches. 

Guess it's just an area thing. $150-$200 will get you a great skin mount here. I just personally wanted to go replica because they don't deteriorate. 

[CroakHunter]

1 hour ago, Wulf N7 said:

Guess it's just an area thing. $150-$200 will get you a great skin mount here. I just personally wanted to go replica because they don't deteriorate. 

Must be. I think I got quote for around $15 and inch. And with my 23" on that out me at $345 and that was the cheapest guy I have found near me. Plenty of guys do deer/ducks. But only 2 do fish

[Hyrule Bass]

18 hours ago, Wulf N7 said:

Why are you so angry over something that has nothing to do with you? 

im not angry at all, just simply stating how i feel about replicas. why are you trying to put some sort of emotion to my posts? as for having nothing to do with me, you asked on a forum where members are free to reply and give their opinions, i cannot help that you do not like my or agree with my opinion, or that you choose to inflect some sort of emotion upon my words

 

 

15 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Regrets his skin mount and is trying to convince himself that it's better.

not even close buddy. i love my skin mount and skin mounts in general better than any replicas i have ever seen, thats why i endorse them. this is my personal opinion, just because i state it, does not mean i am angry as others may seem to think

 

 

10 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Pretty much every bass I catch is really shiny? When they're wet and have their slime coat, they tend to look really shiny. Being able to capture that look in a replica mount is truly an art. A good taxidermist can make either version look great. 

 

It's your choice if you choose to kill a fish to hang on your wall or take a picture and get measurements so you can let it go and get a replica, but there's no reason to whizz in someone else's Wheaties because you don't like what they want. This is a prime example of "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

 

Besides, the OP clearly no longer has the fish in his possession, so the option to get a skin mount is no longer even on the table.

 

I have 1 mount, a skin mount of a 6 pounder that expired from being deep hooked on a hot summer day. It still looks pretty good, but it's only 14 years old and taken pretty good care of. This is who I had do it, he also does replicas.

http://www.donstaxidermy.com/

the extreme shine of a replica is no where near the natural shine of a bass that is wet. in the end a mount is dry, not wet. my skin mount has a little shine, but to me the shine of a replica is overkill. a good taxidermist can apply a good paint job to a replica, but they still look extremely fake to me. this has nothing to do with me not liking what someone else wants, its me presenting a different option that may be in the users stated price range/budget. i cannot control people wanting to put emotions to my words and trying to twist them into something theyre not, im not trying to ruin anyones breakfast cereal here. its like sometimes how people make sarcastic remarks but others take them dead serious because you cant really tell if its meant to be taken as sarcasm or literal...

 

14 years old, looks pretty good, taken care of...exactly. just doesnt seem to fit in with the mantra of "they age and deteriorate quickly". yeah maybe they do if you put them in some sort of non-controlled environment. like it hung in the house a few years then got tossed in the garage or storage shed or somewhere like that

[WRB]

A skin mount after being cured doesn't have any color, it's gray. Thr cured skin with all the fatty tissues removed is stretched over a manikin. Fins are often damaged and replaced, the head with it's soft tissues cured, Eyes, gills removed and replaced with artifical parts. You now have a gray skin that needs to be painted on a replica size manikin form. How does this differ from a fiber glass mold of a bass with the same length and girth? The answer is fiberglass doesn't rot, scales don't fall off, fragile fins don't break off, skull doesn't continue to shrink or sink. The artistic paint work is identicle and only as good as the artist doing the work.

A skin mount is also replica of your bass, it's not exactly the same as the fish you gave the taxidermist.

Tom 

[mlee3553]

This guy does amazing work.  A bit pricey but the best I've ever seen.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lawrence-Taxidermy-Studio-124863220887268/photos/?ref=page_internal

[clh121787]

Lake fork taxidermy. 

[22RangerZ520R]

Dave did my PB largemouth and smallie.  Both I got were his "master grade", his top of the line finish/paint job.  He is one of the top guys in the country.  

 

I too had sticker shock on his prices at first, but I'm glad I spent the coin and went with him.  His price list is under his contact tab on his website.  I did hours of research online and saw many other companies that were in the $500 dollar range like Lake Fork, etc. and their paint jobs didn't come close to Dave's.  He paints each individual scale and not just a quick airbrush type paint job over the whole mount.  If I move left and right while looking at my mounts some of the scales/areas even change color/shimmer just like the real thing.  

 

You get what you pay for............  There's a reason a Lamborghini costs more than a Kia........

 

My .02 

 

www.Davecampbellfish.com 

[Tennessee Boy]

I'll cast my vote for replicas.  Your looking for a good artist to do a good paint job.  It doesn't really matter what he's painting.   A replica will last longer and the fish can live on to be the subject of another larger replica someday.