Keeping/framing a bass 2024
jasondaily reply :
Is it good for the fishery to keep a large fish you catch to get framed? Or is it better to take pictures and measurements to have them replicate it? What is the cost difference between using the fish you catch and having a replica made ?
Pros and cons of it all would be helpful thanks
CroakHunter reply :
When I checked into it last year when I caught my personal best the cost of a decent replica was nearly triple what a decent skin mount would be. With a replica you're paying an artist for their work, where as a skin mount less painting and art work is involved
MassYak85 reply :
Many will probably feel differently and I have nothing against others keeping fish, but for me the one's worth getting a mount done are the ones worth putting back. There are so many great replicas being made from pictures and measurements I just don't see the point of actually killing the fish, especially a trophy.
Edit*: Fair point above though about cost.
Mike L reply :
On 4/29/2018 at 9:23 PM, MassYak85 said:Many will probably feel differently and I have nothing against others keeping fish, but for me the one's worth getting a mount done are the ones worth putting back. There are so many great replicas being made from pictures and measurements I just don't see the point of actually killing the fish, especially a trophy.
Edit*: Fair point above though about cost.
Ditto
To me it's just plain wrong to kill a fish just to hang it on a wall.
But that's just me.
Others I'm sure will strongly disagree.
Mike
Crestliner2008 reply :
Here's the other thing. I don't care how good the taxidermist is, skin mounts will deteriorate with age. A replica will not. I know this from experience.
geo g reply :
The only important thing for me is keeping that big girl alive and healthy. I take a measurement quickly, cut a piece of mono for a girth measurement, take a picture, and get a weight, then get that fish back in the water quickly, to be caught another day., If you want a mount that will last forever and be in great shape forever, get a quality replica. In Florida with all our heat, and humility, skin mounts will deteriorate and need TLC by a professional in the future. Quality replica's look just as good, and last forever.
WRB reply :
All you need for a replica is a photo, length aand girth measurements. Lake Fork taxidermy fish mounts are good and reasonable for Largemouth bass.
Why a skin mount would be more expensive defies logic, same amount of painting is required and more work to prepare it. Skin is gray after curing it and must be painted.
It's a personal choice what you want. If you choose to release the bass just make sure it's healthy and not over stressed from handling, measuring and taking photos by keeping it wet and not out of the water more then a minute at a time. Releasing a big bass that isn't going to servive accomplishes nothing.
Tom
PS, what is met by framing?
jasondaily reply :
On 4/29/2018 at 11:11 PM, Crestliner2008 said:Here's the other thing. I don't care how good the taxidermist is, skin mounts will deteriorate with age. A replica will not. I know this from experience.
That is a good point about deteriorating.
On 4/30/2018 at 12:48 AM, WRB said:All you need for a replica is a photo, length aand girth measurements. Lake Fork taxidermy fish mounts are good and reasonable for Largemouth bass.
Why a skin mount would be more expensive defies logic, same amount of painting is required and more work to prepare it. Skin is gray after curing it and must be painted.
It's a personal choice what you want. If you choose to release the bass just make sure it's healthy and not over stressed from handling, measuring and taking photos by keeping it wet and not out of the water more then a minute at a time. Releasing a big bass that isn't going to servive accomplishes nothing.
Tom
PS, what is met by framing?
Mounting is much better word than framing. Lol
Scott F reply :
Differences in prices can also be attributed to the quality of the work. The best taxidermists and those who make excellent replicas can command more money for their work than someone who is not as skilled. "You get what you pay for" certainly applies here.
crypt reply :
On 4/29/2018 at 10:32 PM, Mike L said:Ditto
To me it's just plain wrong to kill a fish just to hang it on a wall.
But that's just me.
Others I'm sure will strongly disagree.
Mike
this.had a replica made of my pb fish still swims today.
soflabasser reply :
I rather let go trophy bass and keep a couple pictures of them. Maybe get a couple replicas later on.
slonezp reply :
On 4/30/2018 at 5:16 AM, crypt said:this.had a replica made of my pb fish still swims today.
Unless somebody else caught it and ate it or had it mounted or it was eaten by a larger predator or died of a virus or just natural causes
Glaucus reply :
I feel strongly about not keeping bass. I won't do it or fish with anyone who does. It's a moral thing for me. I love them. Of course I understand that keeping smaller bass can be good for a fishery and produce bigger bass, but I'm not going to be the guy that does it or fish with anyone else who does. Again, I feel strongly.
Bias aside, replicas are better because it's still your bass, but it will last forever. No reason to kill the bass and get a product that will deteriorate rather than still virtually getting your bass and it lasting forever.
WRB reply :
Having caught a few giant bass in my lifetime catch & release is a good plan only if the bass is released healthy and few PB bass are. The reason is simple, we all like to document our PB catches and to do this takes planning ahead. Today we have smart phones with good a camera and that helps. Not every bass angler carries a accurate scale and the bass gets a ride in a livewell to get weighed and shown off. Livewells are not a good place for big bass to be in when stressed after being caught or is it good for them to be held out of the water for pictures, weighing and showing to other anglers, this often causes more stress. Big bass are older bass and more frail then average size younger bass, stress affects them severely.
Skin mounts can deteriorate over time, replicas don't.
Every one of my giant bass are long gone today, last one was caught and released 8 years ago., last 17+ lb bass was over 22 years ago. I have 1 replica bass mount that represents all the others, see my avatar photo. I have 1 skin mount of my 12.3 lb NLMB caught in '71, now over 47 years old and it looks it! This bass rolled over after being caught and couldn't revive it, it happens sometimes.
Tom
slonezp reply :
On 4/30/2018 at 6:03 AM, Glaucus said:No reason to kill the bass and get a product that will deteriorate rather than still virtually getting your bass and it lasting forever.
I have skin mounts that are 25 years old and look no different than the day I picked them up
NHBull reply :
On 4/30/2018 at 6:03 AM, Glaucus said:I feel strongly about not keeping bass. I won't do it or fish with anyone who does. It's a moral thing for me. I love them. Of course I understand that keeping smaller bass can be good for a fishery and produce bigger bass, but I'm not going to be the guy that does it or fish with anyone else who does. Again, I feel strongly.
Bias aside, replicas are better because it's still your bass, but it will last forever. No reason to kill the bass and get a product that will deteriorate rather than still virtually getting your bass and it lasting forever.
Fully respect your opinion.......but also feel that when a fish isn’t going to make it, and there is a soop kitchen within 10 minutes of the landing, exceptions could be made
soflabasser reply :
On 4/30/2018 at 6:07 AM, slonezp said:I have skin mounts that are 25 years old and look no different than the day I picked them up
Sounds like you had a very good taxadermist. Most +20 year old real bass mounts I have seen look like they are falling apart and the colors look faded.
Bassun reply :
My view on this has shifted over the years. I have a live mount barracuda from 30 years ago. Only fish on any of my walls. And, it is a cherished possession. Over the years, I have moved a few times, and always make my wife carry it on her lap. Of which she complains and harasses me over, but always protects it.
The point being, having a mount is a great reminder of an event. It's not, to me, about the fish itself. It's about everything that went into that trip. Replicas, let me re-phraise that, HIGH QUALITY replicas do the same thing. I personally will not keep a trophy fish today. If I land a record, I would probably risk transport but I'm not even 100% certain of that anymore. Take a quick moment to photo and measure, weigh it if you really want and let her go. The benefits are measured in memories...to be made. Sure you got a great memory from that 15lb'er. Maybe next month, a 12 year old will catch her and lock down a memory, maybe one of the few good memories, with someone special to them. To me, that is worth more than having a fish on my wall. I love taking the nieces and nephews out - watching them catch something is more fun to me than catching it myself.
It's funny, my fishing buddy now is my nephew. I put him on the first fish he ever caught, a big ole carp. When he tells the story, it isn't about how hard the fish fought, or how he thought he was hung up, it's about me pacing around behind him being more excited than he was. The fish was nice, but being there and seeing how he lit up - how excited he was once he got it in --- that's what it's about. And putting a big fish back gives that opportunity to someone else.
thinkingredneck reply :
I see a lot of skin mounts in antique stores. Remember that someone will have to deal with all of your stuff one day (pardon the pun.)
johnmyers reply :
I like getting some good pictures and then taking the best and doing an 11x14 in a nice frame and putting on the wall
sully420 reply :
On 4/29/2018 at 9:23 PM, MassYak85 said:Many will probably feel differently and I have nothing against others keeping fish, but for me the one's worth getting a mount done are the ones worth putting back. There are so many great replicas being made from pictures and measurements I just don't see the point of actually killing the fish, especially a trophy.
Edit*: Fair point above though about cost.
I agree 100%, i also feel like mounting a bass means i think that will be the best fish i catch and i don't ever feel like a cant catch a bigger bass next cast. Thats just me and how I stay motivated.
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 4/30/2018 at 6:07 AM, slonezp said:I have skin mounts that are 25 years old and look no different than the day I picked them up
My aunt and uncle have striped bass mounts over 20 years old that are still in great shape today.
On 5/1/2018 at 7:39 PM, thinkingredneck said:I see a lot of skin mounts in antique stores. Remember that someone will have to deal with all of your stuff one day (pardon the pun.)
this means nothing, the same would apply to a replica as a skin mount
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i prefer skin mounts all the way. replicas look like toys to me that are mass produced in china and sold at walmarts around america. some artists may do some great work, but they look anything but "real"
Choporoz reply :
I respect the replica crowd. In fact, I've advocated for it before. I don't have any fish on my walls, but I think that if I ever do, it will probably be the work of a taxidermist. I won't try to justify it, but in my head, getting a replica is sort of like putting a cubic zirconia ring on your fiance's finger. May look as good or better than the 'real thing'....and might also be better for other reasons...but I think that it would just feel sort of....IDK....fake, maybe? Again, I don't mean that to disparage anyone (everyone?) who thinks otherwise.
fissure_man reply :
Unless I’m inside a tackle shop or BPS store, I think replicas and skin mounts are both tacky. Same goes for all the other animal heads one might hang on a wall. 
I’ll take a nice photo any day that shows the fish, the fisherman (or woman), fishing partner(s) if possible, the nice scenic location (or not), the weather that day, my era-appropriate hairstyle/fashion choices, etc.
J Francho reply :
I love revisiting all the old photos from fishing trips. Not just the PB shots either. My vote is for a picture, every time.
soflabasser reply :
On 5/1/2018 at 8:25 PM, johnmyers said:I like getting some good pictures and then taking the best and doing an 11x14 in a nice frame and putting on the wall
I like your idea of getting a picture of a big bass and putting it in a nice frame for the wall and might consider doing it. At this moment I have a couple albums full of big bass pictures and no pictures/replicas on the wall.
Subaqua Adinterim reply :
I have a skin mount of a large salmon that I caught as a kid (fish was caught in a river - so very near the end of life cycle), which my parents had hanging in their enclosed porch for years. They are slowly getting rid of stuff, which means offloading it onto anyone else that is willing to take it - usually pushing it back onto the person with the closest affiliation to it.
So, this salmon now hangs in our basement, and it's one of the many things of mine that my wife is not fond of but tolerates. I will admit, that I could easily do without it as well. Definitely in the category of: stuff I wish I never paid for to begin with, but I will hold onto for now since it doesn't cost me anything to keep around.
Based on experience, I will never get another fish mount of any kind done. If you think having Billy the Singing Big Mouth Bass hanging in your house somewhere will ever be a good idea; then you may consider getting a fish mount done.
The better idea, again just my opinion; is to take pictures. Those with you and your friends in the pictures are the best to have. Frame the best pictures and hang them in your den, so you can look at these favorites more frequently.
Do whatever makes you happy - good luck with whatever you decide on.
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