Mounted or Replica

[hawghunter1744]

When I catch my first monster fish, which looks like I may get lucky an have it happen fairly soon because I've been catching lots of big fish this year, should I mount it or get a replica? I'm sure all the environmentally friendly people will say replica but I'm talking as far as looks which one is the best? Can the taxidermists make a replica look just as good as a real mount??

[Grey Wolf]

REPLICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take pictures at differant angles and take all the correct measurements and put the old girl back , PLEASE.

The replica will look as good if not better if you find a good taxidermist.

[Crestliner2008]

Trust me, a mount, regardless of who does the work, will not last long. Especially in humid conditions. I have never seen a mount look as good as new after a few years. It's worth the extra money to have a replica made. JMO.

[hawghunter1744]

What are all the different measurements that I'll need to take to get a replica done??

[Jake.]

What are all the different measurements that I'll need to take to get a replica done??

Length and Girth around the fish's widest part of the belly.

[David P]

Replicas stay looking great years down the road, mounts generally do not.

Regardless of looks, killing a big fish to put on your wall, defeats the purpose of fishing for big fish.

I regret not getting the measurements to my 12lber, nor did I get good pictures, otherwise I'd have a replica now.  :-/

[Big-O]

Hawghunter, Pls. take this as a word from the "Old and Regretful". Over the many yrs I have been blessed to be able to catch many larger fish than I deserved to, I am truly regretful for having mounted the fish that I have. Granted, those were the days when there was no such thing as replicas but since that time I have kicked myself many times over for the past.  I am sure that I am speaking for many of our older long time fisherman as well.  

Now days with replicas being so prevalent and the fact that they last longer, require less maintenance etc. Stands to GOOD reason, that is the correct choice. Besides that, a picture can be displayed anywhere and anytime with as much or more enthusiasm and leaves you with the best memory of all, she lived on to tell the story to her many offspring of the time when this guy named Hawghunter ........

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Wayne P.]

I'm an ole timer and my opinion is that I don't fish for artificial fish so I don't want an artificial fish for a trophy mount. I have several skin mounts of different species that are 25-35 years old. They all look as good as they did when mounted. I don't regret having those fish mounted any more or less than I do any game animal that I have had mounted. I legally harvested them and they belonged to me when I did. My recent trophies of big fish and game animals consist of photographs. I don't take photos of fish held at arm's length towards the camera so they look bigger than they are. Anyone can have a trophy replica made to any specification they want without even catching a trophy size fish-just make up some measurements, use one of those 2# bass arm's length pictures,  and you can have a monster  hanging on your wall.

I don't keep fish for food or trophies any more but I don't complain/ridicule/or demean anyone who wants to keep bass for any reason.

[Daniel My Brother]

I don't take photos of fish held at arm's length towards the camera so they look bigger than they are.

The nice thing about holding a bass close to the camera is that you actually get a good, detailed picture of the bass. That detail can help you identify the fish when you catch it again the next year...unless of course you choose to mount it.

There is nothing deceitful about holding a fish this way...as long as you're honest when you tell the story later.

[Mattlures]

Wayne if your mounts look like they did 30 years ago then they must have looked bad when they were first mounted  ;D Skin mounts age and unless you kept them in a vacume, in the dark then they have deteriated. You probably havent noticed because you see them every day. If you post some good pictures of your mounts I bet I can find many flaws with them.

Keep in mind I am/was a taxidermist. When you get a skin mount, you skin a fish and then glue the skin to a foam body. You have to position it correctly. You also have to position the fins and the jaws and fill in gaps with filler and many other steps in an attempt to make that skin into a fish. The reality is by the time you get "your" fish back it is not the "same" fish you brought in. Unless the Taxidermist is extremely good your fish will be off a little in girth or length and many many skin mounts are not posed in natural positions. After the fish is mounted and dried it is then painted. My point...........It is not exactly the same fish as when you brought it to the taxidermist. Now keep in mind, you now have a rotting cracking yellowing warping fish on your wall. Sure it doesn't happen overnight but it is happening.

People argue that they want a skin mount because it's their fish, I disagree. It's the skin that somebody attempted to put back together into your fish.

Now I'll discus replicas. First off they are molded from a real bass in a natural pose. The mouths are positioned properly, the fins aren't over extended, and the body is correct and proportioned. It is a much more accurate representation of a real bass then a skin mount. A replica only requires dusting, as it is not rotting. It does not yellow. It does not distort. It does not become dry and brittle of have the scales lift or fall out. It is a superior product in every possible way. Many of the top Taxidermist in the country wont do a skin mount because they are so inferior.

It is my "professional" opinion that a replica is a better and more accurate depiction of "your" fish than a "real" skin mount.

So Replicas ARE the way to go with any of your trophy fish that you want mounted.

[Grey Wolf]

I'm an ole timer and my opinion is that I don't fish for artificial fish so I don't want an artificial fish for a trophy mount. I have several skin mounts of different species that are 25-35 years old. They all look as good as they did when mounted. I don't regret having those fish mounted any more or less than I do any game animal that I have had mounted. I legally harvested them and they belonged to me when I did. My recent trophies of big fish and game animals consist of photographs. I don't take photos of fish held at arm's length towards the camera so they look bigger than they are. Anyone can have a trophy replica made to any specification they want without even catching a trophy size fish-just make up some measurements, use one of those 2# bass arm's length pictures, and you can have a monster hanging on your wall.

I don't keep fish for food or trophies any more but I don't complain/ridicule/or demean anyone who wants to keep bass for any reason.

Why did you take that attitude to bad-mouth people ?

[Wayne P.]

Mattlures, send me an e-mail and I'll send you a picture of a largemouth bass caught on April 19, 1975. It was not mounted as you described and has been kept in a low light, controlled environment. As far as finding flaws, there aren't any because it is an actual fish. purdum43@aol.com

Bass-Brat, I didn't "badmouth" anyone, I stated my opinion on the subject of whether to have a replica or skin mount done for a trophy bass and the authenticity of a replica. I also stated my opinion about the photo techniques of representing a catch. If you don't agree, that is your opinion.

[VA BassHound]

Whether its a replica or a skin mount, the quality of the work is going to depend on who does it.  I have a 28 year old skin mount that looks much better then the replicas that I have seen at Bass Pro Shop'.  Also, my 28 year old skin mount has not yellowed or rotted.

[muskyxl]

The one thing that kept the skin mounts going was the cost of the replicas being so high... not the case as much anymore.

In my opinion the replicas are the only way to go...they look good and last alot longer than skin (in 99.9% cases), and the fish is still scoot'n around for you to catch when hes 3 lbs heavier.

[rondef]

I don't know what I will decide to do when I finally catch that trophy hawg. Part of me says keep it and mount it, another part of me says get a replica. I have seen mounts after 30 years that still look good. One in particular was a record Rainbow Trout my grandfather caught and had mounted.  I will not tell someone what to do with their trophy fish as that is their personal decision.

[Mattlures]

Wayne if it is a skin mount it was mounted exactly as I described. That is how they are done. I am not trying to insult anybody for thier opinions but a skin mount is an inferior product. Most of the better taxidemist wont even do them anymore. I am sure I can pick apart any picture of just about any older mount. It just the nature of skin mounts. my email is mattlures@yahoo.com If anybody want to send me pics of thier skin mounts I will show you all the thingg that are wrong with each mount. Now keep in mind a replica is only as good as the taxidemist. This is also true with a skin mount. The difference is the replica starts as a perfect mount and then has to be painted. A skin mount has to be skinned preserved and mounted and then painted. Most do not do perfect mounts. Most of the older skin mounts I have seen dont even do decent work. A replica is superior in every way. However if you do decide to go with a skin mount (or replica) you absoluty get what you pay for. DO NOT go with the cheapest price. If the taxidermist is realy good then they arent cheap. The problem is, a lot of think they are good and unless you know what to look for then the customer also thinks they are good. Most "profesional" mounted fish that I have seen look terrible

[weknowhowtolive]

Its not really an "environmentally friendly" issue. Its leaving the fish to grow and for other people to catch. Plus as some people have said, replicas look just as good and last longer.

[Wayne P.]

Mattlures, it was not done as you described. No foam body was used and the skin was filled instead of stretched over a form. I don't know what the substance was, but I watched a fish being done and saw some of his work before I made the choice of that taxidermist. A couple of later ones were done by another taxidermist and they were done the same way. I did not chose the cheapest craftsman, as a matter of fact, he was the most expensive and the most regarded among those that had fish mounts done.

I'll send you a 2.9 mb size picture for your critque.

[southwestoh]

Im curious,  what should you expect to pay for a mount.  Replica or skin.  Also what ,in everyones opinion, sizes or weight would you mount?  Me personaly am not sure what size I would spend the money on.  When I was asking about price I just want to know a average. TRUST ME I know you pay for what you get most of the time.

[Wayne P.]

southwestoh, I found this by websearch:

http://www.wildlifeartistry.com/price-%20tanning.htm#FISH Prices

[Mattlures]

Wayne you are correct. I forgot about how they actually used to "stuff" fish. Yes that was even before the foam manikins. Sawdust was one of the things used to stuff fish usualy mixed with some form of presevative. Anyways I looked at your picture and overal it is an exceptionaly nice skin mount especialy since its over 30 years old. You did well in your choice of taxidermist.

However because it is a skin mount it is still a rotting decaying piece of skin and it does show some signs of it. I sent you a detailed email pointing out several flaws. Most of them minor but they are still signs of skin mount inferiority. With your permission I would like to post your picture with the flaws I have pointed out. If you dont want me to I wont.

[roadwarrior]

The "tone" of this discussion has been very professional. I hope

Wayne P. allows Mattlures to post his trophy. I am very curious

to hear/ see what makes a great skin mount and how that compares

with today's replicas.

David Hayes' World Record Smallmouth hasn't held up so well:

http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/outdoors/fishing/articles/smallmouth-world-record-controversy-hayes.html

8-)

[fishfordollars]

All the post on this thread have been very well said. Great discussion and information I have enjoyed reading and learning from. Keep up the great work.

[Wayne P.]

Sure you may Mattlures, but only based on my reply to you this morning as some of your assumptions were incorrect. I don't want to refute any more of your opinions on a public forum.

[rboat]

I would go with a replica.

I have seen many old bad looking skin mounts hanging in older fish camps and bars around the country. The replica will stay in good condition and the fish can swim and reproduce for another angler or anglers to benefit from.