Super User WRB Posted April 29, 2020 Super User Posted April 29, 2020 Outstanding display very realistic mounts, a treasure to enjoy. Tom 1 Quote
Super User Log Catcher Posted April 29, 2020 Super User Posted April 29, 2020 That is amazing. I never would have thought about something like that. Congratulations on the catches and the idea that put it all together. 1 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 29, 2020 Author Posted April 29, 2020 6 minutes ago, WRB said: Outstanding display very realistic mounts, a treasure to enjoy. Tom Thanks Tom. One of my daughters said, "It looks like they are swimming." I know trying to get a "dynamic" mount could fail miserably, but Joe I think nailed this one. I especially like the fish with his mouth closed as he is right behind the lure. It really does look like he is about to do some mean things to that tube. 9 minutes ago, Log Catcher said: That is amazing. I never would have thought about something like that. Congratulations on the catches and the idea that put it all together. Thanks. Unfortunately, I may spend a little too much time thinking about fishing as the thought process on that layout was an evolving stream of daydreams while I should have been working. 3 Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 29, 2020 Super User Posted April 29, 2020 Those look great now that the clear was applied. Fish totally changed color! 1 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 29, 2020 Author Posted April 29, 2020 17 minutes ago, S Hovanec said: Those look great now that the clear was applied. Fish totally changed color! Yeah, that clear coat really changes it up and brings them to life. You know the best part of each of those fish, Scott? I was able to text you while you were at work a picture of each of them right after capture and see your reaction of hating life at that moment...heh heh (I know it’s mean, but your reaction to every one at the time was classic). Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 29, 2020 Super User Posted April 29, 2020 6 minutes ago, Lucky Craft Man said: Yeah, that clear coat really changes it up and brings them to life. You know the best part of each of those fish, Scott? I was able to text you while you were at work a picture of each of them right after capture and see your reaction of hating life at that moment...heh heh (I know it’s mean, but your reaction to every one at the time was classic). Yea. I was sitting at work for every one of those catches. You still suck! 3 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted April 29, 2020 Author Posted April 29, 2020 On 4/29/2020 at 9:36 AM, Dwight Hottle said: Hey buddy I can remember when you only fished the bay & wanted to catch some six pounders. You sure learned fast how to get it done. Congrats on the achievement & the beautiful mount. Lake Erie display at its finest. Thanks Dwight. You know you really were the one that allowed me to gain the confidnce to travel out on the big water and how to effectively aproach such a vast area. I greatly appreciate your guidance and friendship over the years and even though you are in Florida, I know those Smallmouth up here still quake at the sound of your name. Thanks again, Buddy! 3 Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted April 29, 2020 Super User Posted April 29, 2020 That really looks sharp! 1 Quote
schplurg Posted April 30, 2020 Posted April 30, 2020 10 hours ago, Lucky Craft Man said: Thanks Tom. One of my daughters said, "It looks like they are swimming." I know trying to get a "dynamic" mount could fail miserably, but Joe I think nailed this one. I especially like the fish with his mouth closed as he is right behind the lure. It really does look like he is about to do some mean things to that tube. Thanks. Unfortunately, I may spend a little too much time thinking about fishing as the thought process on that layout was an evolving stream of daydreams while I should have been working. I disagree on the bolded parts above Especially the second one. And the first one! 1 Quote
Super User FishTank Posted April 30, 2020 Super User Posted April 30, 2020 That is very well done. I have looked at other work like this over the years and I have to say it is one of the best I have seen. A true talent. 1 Quote
Super User GreenPig Posted May 1, 2020 Super User Posted May 1, 2020 Great work and congratulations on three 7 lb Smallmouth. Wow! 1 Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted May 1, 2020 Super User Posted May 1, 2020 Gorgeous replica's. My! 1 Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted May 1, 2020 Super User Posted May 1, 2020 Those are the best looking smallmouth mounts I have ever seen. The colors and lines are perfect. I've seen so many smallmouth mounts that all look either turd brown or a washed out green that I've always said that I'm never going to get a smallmouth mounted. Very impressive! 2 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted May 3, 2020 Author Posted May 3, 2020 Quote from fishballer06: "Those are the best looking smallmouth mounts I have ever seen. The colors and lines are perfect. I've seen so many smallmouth mounts that all look either turd brown or a washed out green that I've always said that I'm never going to get a smallmouth mounted." Fishballer, I agree. There are a lot of subpar Smallmouth (and other fish ) repica's out there. It's hard to commit to spend a lot of money on something that may come back unsatifactory. I did a lot of research before I selected Joe (as I mentioned before, Joe did my musky replica and did an incredible job with it, so I don't know why I didn't go to him first as that would have saved me a lot of time). Here is his work on my musky replica... I think Joe proved to me that it doesn’t matter the species of fish, he can reproduce it with excellence. 5 Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted May 3, 2020 Super User Posted May 3, 2020 Beautiful musky replica! 1 Quote
TBAG Posted May 4, 2020 Posted May 4, 2020 Wow, I'm blown away, very nice work and nice fish too! This is a mount to treasure for a lifetime and hopefully gets passed down to enjoy for many years to come. 1 Quote
Super User fishballer06 Posted May 4, 2020 Super User Posted May 4, 2020 19 hours ago, Lucky Craft Man said: Fishballer, I agree. There are a lot of subpar Smallmouth (and other fish ) repica's out there. It's hard to commit to spend a lot of money on something that may come back unsatifactory. I did a lot of research before I selected Joe (as I mentioned before, Joe did my musky replica and did an incredible job with it, so I don't know why I didn't go to him first as that would have saved me a lot of time). My father had a smallmouth mounted back in 1999. He went to pick it up and it was green with stripes, almost like a giant perch. He refused it and made the taxidermist repaint it. It looked the same, but was dull brown instead. He took it and paid for it, being very unhappy with it. After about a year of looking at it on the wall, he took it to another taxidermist and had them repaint it. It still looked terrible. I've since always looked at others work and noticed almost the same pattern. One of my best friends little brother has been doing taxidermy, and even his work on smallmouths leaves a lot to be desired. 1 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted May 4, 2020 Author Posted May 4, 2020 2 hours ago, fishballer06 said: My father had a smallmouth mounted back in 1999. He went to pick it up and it was green with stripes, almost like a giant perch. He refused it and made the taxidermist repaint it. It looked the same, but was dull brown instead. He took it and paid for it, being very unhappy with it. After about a year of looking at it on the wall, he took it to another taxidermist and had them repaint it. It still looked terrible. I've since always looked at others work and noticed almost the same pattern. One of my best friends little brother has been doing taxidermy, and even his work on smallmouths leaves a lot to be desired. I have to admit, I have been very lucky in the replica realm. I have 4 (King Salmon, Shark, Musky, and those Smallmouth) and they all turned out very well (with proper lenghts and paint jobs). But as you mentioned, with each one, there is always that fear they will not turn out well and I will be in the position to refuse it. I think the best thing someone can do who is looking for a replica is research and pick a guy who you can work with that has demonstrated a history of excellence in his work. As you saw firsthand with your Dad's Smallmouth, getting a fish to look good really requires an artist and I suspect you would echo the importance of finding somone who can do the work at a high level is worth to price. Quote
Super User Columbia Craw Posted May 4, 2020 Super User Posted May 4, 2020 There's something about three monsters featured in concert. Stunning. 1 Quote
ArthurLK11 Posted May 5, 2020 Posted May 5, 2020 Wow that looks amazing! Three 7 pound largemouths would be impressive, let alone smallmouths. 1 Quote
Basswhippa Posted May 5, 2020 Posted May 5, 2020 Nice looking. Congratulations. Thanks for sharing! 1 Quote
Lucky Craft Man Posted May 5, 2020 Author Posted May 5, 2020 On 5/3/2020 at 8:17 PM, TBAG said: Wow, I'm blown away, very nice work and nice fish too! This is a mount to treasure for a lifetime and hopefully gets passed down to enjoy for many years to come. I have three little girls and I asked them if any of them would want to hang that display in their house when they got older. There didn't seem to be much interest, so you may see this in a yard sale sooner than later...haha. 17 hours ago, ArthurLK11 said: Wow that looks amazing! Three 7 pound largemouths would be impressive, let alone smallmouths. Well, for me three 7 lb. Largemouth would be incredible being that the biggest largemouth I have ever caught was 5 lbs. It's hard to fish for Largemouth when you have a Smallmouth fishery like Erie not too far away. Quote
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