Getting My first big bass mounted w/ measurements.

[Sharpie]

I caught my first big bass this weekend in northwest Michigan. It was 24" long with a width of 7 1/4 in. It was definitely the biggest bass I have ever caught.   From where I am from it is "a bass of a life-time". I didn't weigh it but it had a big pot belly. So I released the fish back into the water because the fishing hasn't been so hot lately. Now I want to get a wall mount of the fish. Where is the best place to get it mounted? On the internet or a local taxidermist. What can I expect to pay in price?

[Mattlures]

you realy need to take a good look at the work they have done and compare it to the other guys. You may look at a mount(or a picture of one ) and think it looks great until you compare it to a truly great mount and then the first one looks bad. Price, I dont know, but in Taxidermy you absolutly get what you pay for. A cheap price will look cheap.

BTW when you measure girth you need to measure all the way around the fattest part. At least you got the lenght right and that is the most important one. If you have pictures bring the to the taxidermist. This will help him match your fish.

[jdw174]

You might try a Google search for something like this.  Last time I read an article on the "fake" mounts (and that was several years ago), the cost was something in the area of 2-300 bucks if I recall correctly.  Depends on the size of the mount.

[armesjr]

Yeah it is usually somewhere in the range of $10 an inch.

[hotspringsbass]

try bass pro shops.  I hope it turns out good for you.  I caught my largest bass 8lbs and did not have a tape measure to measure it before releasing it or I would have done the same thing, thankfully I had the scale.  Let us know how it turns out.    

[Jimzee]

I have seen Bass Pro Shops replica mounts.  They don't look too bad.  I have a cousin that got one and I think it looks better than a real fish mount IMO.

[rondef]

Here are a couple of links to places that make replicas.

http://americanfishtaxidermy.com/replicas.htm

http://www.lakeforktaxidermy.com/b_a_s_s__world_record_5_fish_stringer.html

http://www.permatrophy.com/showcaseSmallBass01.html

http://replicafishtaxidermy.com/

[burleytog]

try bass pro shops. I hope it turns out good for you. I caught my largest bass 8lbs and did not have a tape measure to measure it before releasing it or I would have done the same thing, thankfully I had the scale. Let us know how it turns out.

Use line to get the measurements.  Stretch a piece of line from nose to tail, then cut it to length.  You can do one of two things with the girth.  Do it with another piece of line or use the length piece and tie a knot in it.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

3 words

Lake Fork Taxidermy

[darkwing]

Lax or Fittante! I have seen both of these gentlemens work! Excellent is the only word to come to mind!

It really all depends on what kind of mount you prefer.

Do you want reproduction to "display" the fish (i.e. wide open mouth, flared gill plates and splayed fins), or do you want the natural look (to show the fish as it might look if it were swimming).

Lax repos usually have the flared gill plate/splayed fins. (think turkey mounts)

Fitantte repos usually have the more natural look...mouth not open quite as wide, gill plates not flared out (as much), and the fins are pushed back in a streamline fashion (as if swimming)

Both have good/great paint jobs. Not original fish, but nobody will ever be able to tell...or would care for that matter.

www.laxreproductions.com

www.fittantereplicas.com

[Guest Bountiful_Waters]

Wildlife Creations in MO (Bass Pro). My avatar picture is of replicas, an 11 and a 10.8. Paint job is great!

[cdabelow]

Yeah it is usually somewhere in the range of $10 an inch.

Wow that will make most of my fish cheap to duplicate.

[NaterD]

hey sharpie, i fish in middle west michigan (grand haven dunno if ur familiar) and i've fished all the way up to manistee... the fish ur describing IS a fish of a life time in these parts... congrats man.  Lets see some pics! if you have em

[Sharpie]

Yeah I was fishing Near baldwin, Michigan. Believe it or not the bass swam right to the boat. Lucky for me I was in 6 ft of water and In between 2 patches of Lilly pads about 15 ft apart . The bass could of easily took me into the pads if he wanted to. But the fish swam right to the boat and then took off for the pads. I just steered the fish a little (like I do when fly Fishing for Kings near manistee). Got the bass next to the boat and buried my Thumb in its mouth. It was a very very good day.  I was using a zoom watermelon trick worm. Greatest day every. Any one know what the state record is for lmb is for michigan?

[NaterD]

michigan record is 11 lbs15oz