to mount or not

[KYbass1276]

I'm sure there some here that have some mounted fish. I have been debating in my mind if I would actually get one mounted or not.  I would like to mount a bass but hate the fact that it would kill it I know it sounds bleeding heart but everyfish I catch no matter the size is trophy to me I do take alot of pictures of the one's I do catch. I heard somewhere  that you can get the measurement's of the fish and weight and provide a picture of it and you can have a replica made up is this true. Of course I wouldn't even consider mounting one unless it was 10 plus and even at that I know I'll probally still catch and relaese it  I do think it would be neat to have one on the wall but I guess I just ain't got the heart to do it.

[Michael H]

You can get a graphite replica made at bass pro

[Lightninrod]

Your heart is in the right place IMO.  I'll say it again, I will not kill a double-digit Bass and have her mounted >  Yes, replicas are the way to go IMO.  More than one pic(each side, belly, mouth, and top) would be best.

Dan

[roadwarrior]

Stop it!

Unless it is a World Record there is NO REASON to mount a fish in 2006.  Today, replicas are better than the real thing. There is NO REASON to mount your PB, you might catch a better one someday. NEVER kill a big bass.

[phisher_d]

I think the replica mounts last longer than the skin mounts anyways.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Stop it!

Unless it is a World Record there is NO REASON to mount a fish in 2006. Today, replicas are better than the real thing. There is NO REASON to mount your PB, you might catch a better one someday. NEVER kill a big bass.

Ditto.  If it's a world record though, that baby is mine.  She probably wouldn't live after all the stress it would have to go through to get certified and all the stuff anyways.

[Raul]

Skin mounts without proper care look like crap in a few years, fiberglass and graphite don 't.

[basser89]

The bass in my pic was caught and released 3 years ago. IMO, it's the best looking bass I've ever caught! It's not the biggest I've caught (probably is now). But I've kept the weight and measurements and I'm getting a replica made so I can enjoy seeing that bass all the time! I have to agree with the rest, don't kill a bass unless its a world record!!! Even if its a state record, I'd try my best to keep it alive so I could release her afterwards!

[KYbass1276]

thats great I wasn't sure about the replica's if that was true or not now that i know you can get one I can still have a big fish on the wall and not the heartache of killing a fish. Thanks guys just to set it straight I haven't killed a bass on pupose I am strictly catch and release  I don't want anyone to think I do that's why I asked about replica's thanks agin guys

[Ben]

Been bass fishing heavy since the early 60's. Living in Georgia, I've had the oppertunity to fish what were some the best lakes in the country in their time and enough private ponds to make giant lake. I could not even begin to count the big bass I've caught. 14-3 is the biggest I've ever boated, but have hung a few that looked a right smart larger than that one, one 10 minutes after catching that one.

Don't have a clue how many I've caught, but I can tell you how many I've hung on the wall, NONE. It takes a whole bunch of small bass to lay the eggs one eight pound bass will lay. Plus, the reason it's so hard to catch really big bass now is the gene poll has just about been depleted. Small bass make small bass, big bass have to potential to make big bass.

Talk about mounting the next world record, for me that would never happen. I would make absolutely every effort possible to keep that fish alive, even to the point of trying to give it CPR. I would also be trying to get ahold of the DNR fish biologist to meet me at the lake with it as soon as possible. That fishes worth would be unmeasurable in many more ways than just the money for the royalties you would get out of being the one that caught it. It's eggs alone each year would be tremedous boost to the big fish poplulation, SOOooo, put it on the wall, NO WAY IN HELL!!!

[Guest avid]

I had a bass mounted in 1981.  It looked good for a few years, but after a couple of moves, and once being dropped it was just another piece of junk gathering dust in the basement.  I threw it out years ago.  Never again.  

[afroengineer]

I like to just take pics and let them go, although I do have one on the wall, from now on I will most likely get a replica.

[Rattlinrogue]

In the past I've just weighed 'em,measured 'em,and taken a picture.If I just had to have a mount,I'd probably get a replica made.

[Rattletrap]

I have two skin mounts on the wall from the mid 80's that still look great. 8 and 9 pounders when I was in Va. I released several 8 and 9 pounders after that. This is all at the same lake. I have yet to see a plastic replica that looks natural. It's easy to say that you would not mount if you are consistently catching 10lb plus bass. I really don't know what I would do if I caught a 12lb plus. I'll cross that bridge when it happens.

[Matt Fly]

It must be the taxidermist, I had mounted a 35 lb salmon in chicago up in the Fox lakes area for my wife,   That sucker has some wear and tear from all the military moves on the fin edges, but looks like the real deal after 21 years.    This mount means alot,  I got it mounted in OCT 85.   My wife passed away in Nov 85.  

Yes to replicas, it just wasn't available from that guy or to early before replicas became the way to go.

[Cephkiller]

It seems like every time I catch a new PB (which has happened with some frequency since I joined BR!), I get unbelievable amounts of grief when I CPR her.  I don't know what I'd do with a fish on the wall anyway.  I have a small 3x5 picture frame that my wife baought me that says "A Fisherman and the Catch of his Life".  Every time I catch a new PB, I put the photo in there on top of the old ones.  It's nice to be able to look through those photos and see the progression.  I would consider a replica if I caught a new state record or something, but it would have to be a lot better than the replicas I have seen so far.  Most of them just look like a plastic fish to me  :

[cart7t]

I only have a single mount.  It's a skin mount from the mid 80's back when replica's were very expensive. If I ever come across the elusive 9-10lber and get it into the boat(had a few come off)  I'll do a replica.  The skin mounts just don't hold up well.

[RoLo]

Sadly, there are skin mounts on every wall of my den. I hasten to point out though,

without exception all the trophies were taken during the 26 period between 1960 and 1986.

As Matt said, fiberglass replicas were not available back then, furthermore,

"catch-and-release" was a phrase that only came into vogue later on.

During most of that era, the closest thing to "catch-and-release" was a few "No-Kill" stretches

imposed on a couple of New Jersey trout streams. As Matt also said, good skin mounts

do seem to last a lifetime, well, most of them. I have moved several times (thrice in Florida alone),

and all the wear-and-tear that they show was sustained during those moves.

In all honesty, two of them did become so shabby that I decided to discard them.

Okay, that was then...this is now.

For the past 20 years I've been releasing my gamefish. I know fully well that a certain percentage

of those fish ultimately died as a result of toxic buildup and stress. Be that as it may,

we can only do the best that we can. My wife and I both enjoy eating fish, to put it mildy.

As a result, I will designate certain days for table fare when we target big bluegills and crappies,

which are highly prolific.

[Guest avid]

As y'all know, I am on a crusade to up my PB in 2006.  I will accomplish this feat, but have no intention of mounting the fish.  However, I do take exception with state record fish.  I think that a state record fish is worthy of the taxidermist.  If the world record should be mounted than why not a state record?  

[Cephkiller]

As y'all know, I am on a crusade to up my PB in 2006.  I will accomplish this feat, but have no intention of mounting the fish.  However, I do take exception with state record fish.  I think that a state record fish is worthy of the taxidermist.  If the world record should be mounted than why not a state record?  

If one can locate a good replica artist, then why mount the real thing?  Spend the extra $$$$ and save a life!

[Grey Wolf]

NEVER,NEVER , NEVER kill a big bass.

[Captain Cali]

I vote no mount...even if it is a WR. But chances are the WR will not be released.  

Sure if the fish is caught legally the angler has every right to do what he or she wishes. But pictures of bass in kitchens and people mounting them will not help anyones chances at catching the next WR.

[George Welcome]

Replicas cost less - there are people out there that make a replica that absolutely looks like the real deal.

Record fish - With the amount of money involved in record bass they more than likely are going to be autopsied. Might as well make a mount of that one.

[Raul]

I only have two mounts, my first 10+ pounder ( skin mount ) and my PB, 13.86 lbs ( replica ), I had the skin mount made in 1985, back then you could only have skin mounts here in Mexico, I don 't regret having the fish mounted if you 're going to ask, but right now there 's no need to have a skin mount, replicas cost pretty much the same as a skin mount, look better and are easier to maintain, nothing bad happens to them because they are impervious to the elements, the colors remain for long, the varnish doesn 't crack and flake away, they don 't turn yellow with age.

So, if you catch that once in a life time fish take good pictures, good measurments and have a replica made, release the fish, who knows ? maybe you 'll catch it again 3 or 4 years later with 3 or 4 more pounds on it.

[Gatorbassman]

I always keep a tripod and camera in my boat. I have five frames on my wall that I keep a running record of the five largest bass that I have boated. I enjoy keeping my record this way. The fish lives and I still get it on my wall.