mounting fish 2024

the ohh face reply :

I have caught more than a few fish in the 6-8 pound range and one 9+ but have always said I would mount my first largemouth over ten pounds. I now know that replicas from pictures and measurements often look more lifelike. I plan on purchasing one when I finally do catch that fish. Having this discussion with a fishing partner he said he would still want to keep the fish to be mounted, just so he could say, that this is the fish i caught and not some replica. I suggested that each year this fish spawns the greater chance of catching its lunker offspring in the future. He responded that in new england a fish 10 lbs and up is near the end of its lifecycle anyways and has already spread its seed. While im not too sure thats accurate he remained adamant on that point. I wouldnt go so far as to say its irresponsible as long as you caught it legally but I am still against mounting if you could release the fish to be caught again.

What are your opinions on mounting bass?

CJ reply :

If I caught a 10+,I would get a replica made.If I kept it I would have a feeling of guilt.The beauty of a replica is that one fish may mounted multiple times.Giving us more happy anglers.

fourbizz reply :

People can argue the end of life cycle, you might as well keep em point all they want. For me it boils down to this: I could not kill a big fish. Even if I knew she would die in a month, I would still let her go to finish her life naturally. Replicas look better anyway. Check out these companies and tell me that they aren't beautiful replicas.

http://www.advancedtaxidermy.com/ my absolute favorite, i have seen these in person and they are by far the most amazing work i have seen.

http://www.lakeforktaxidermy.com/ also great work

Bud reply :

I would agree with Fourbizzle. I would have a replica made. Also the replica will last longer and look better longer than a real mount.

the ohh face reply :

yeah those are some nice work

TXBasshunter reply :

Just found this site and WOW I love it already!

As a former taxidermist of 10 yrs, yes get a replica and let that fish live to produce lots more future lunkers. A lot get killed before they reach that size. They are the minority. Replicas will last beyond your lifespan, so something to pass on. Skin mounts will go down hill eventually.

Lake Fork Taxidermy is a great place to get a replica and have the reputation and business. Only go to a shop that does. Ask questions and make sure to examine their work. Don't go by price alone.

BassChaser57 reply :

I took photos and measurements of my big girl, kissed her and set her free to enjoy life and make more bass babies. I have a replica made of her with the colors and size correct. These last forever and the skin mounts need redone every few years. It is replicas for me in the future. This is a decision each one will have to make for themselves as it is legal so don't get too excited about it either way.

BassBeat101 reply :

Yeah, I'll never kill a bass intentionally - it's too rare for them to get to that size anyways - even if they're only 7 pounds or so - and in this case, maybe it's a younger 10# bass that has a spawn or two left? Replicas are a good idea, at least give the bass a chance.

Daryl

Fish Chris reply :

Mounting fish, you asked ? I thought about it a few times, but I didn't want to get scales on my #$@# ! Doh ! :-) LOL

Okay, now seriously, no matter what anyone might tell you, the final decision is your own. Seeing as a large part of my life has / does revolve around trophy bass, and the bigger, the better, of course I think releasing a big bass is always a great idea.....

However, with that said, I'm the first to admit, when I C/R a big bass, I'm doing it first, and foremost "FOR ME" ! Hey, if you happen to go out and C/R a big bass that I had previously C/R'd, that's great. Hats off to ya' ! But I wasn't thinking about you, when I released that fish.... I was thinking about me ! Call me selfish, but I love to stick big bass !

......and BTW, I have re-caught and released several big bass in the past, and every time it happens, it reminds me why C/R, most especially of the big ones, is ALWAYS a great thing.

Peace,

Fish

PS, Here's one I C/R'd in 2005:

....and again in 2006

For me to kill a big bass, would be like punching myself in the nose.

bassboy1 reply :

I have a mounted bass that my grandad mounted 30 or 40 some odd years ago. Recently, it has gone on a death run. Pieces of fin are peeling off. The eyes are falling out, and it is really losing its color. I would really recommend getting a replica, so that maybe your grandkids can inherit something that doesn't spit fins and eyes.

rocknfish9001 reply :

Well in my opinion, a good skin mount looks much more realistic, no questions. It doesnt seem as glossy, which looks kind of fake, the head/fins are also much more life like. I have a skin mount and am not ashamed one bit. Now i am talking in a general matter. My skin mount was done by somebody who has been doing this for 20+ years, and is the flat out best i know. Most replicas i see are the ones that are done in mass amounts. The same measurements, pose, and colors. Not unique at all. Make sure if you get a replica, to not cheap out and be sure you are getting completley original work. I have caught a fish bigger than the one on my wall, and quickly released it.

clipper reply :

Quote
I have a mounted bass that my grandad mounted 30 or 40 some odd years ago. Recently, it has gone on a death run. Pieces of fin are peeling off. The eyes are falling out, and it is really losing its color. I would really recommend getting a replica, so that maybe your grandkids can inherit something that doesn't spit fins and eyes.

I had a bass I caught in the 1950's and one my dad caught about that time. I treasured them both because my dad has passed on and I was with him when I caught mine. Both weighed about 8 lbs. They began to fade out, get cracks, and the fins were breaking. I was sad to see them deteriorate. I took them to a taxidermist in Cartersville to ask if he could do anything with them. For a very reasonable price he restored both to look better than they originally did. I was overjoyed. They now hang on the wall of my office and everyone who comes in remarks how good they look.

I would go for a replica now, I think the replicas will last longer. Bassboy1, I will pm you the name of the taxidermist in Cartersville. Have your fish restored to remember your granddad by.

KYbass1276 reply :

Unless it's a WR which isn't going to happen here in Ky, any fish I catch of size is going to have a Kodak moment and then back to the water it goes. I personally like just taking a picture and showing it and when I catch one bigger it will replace the picture before it.

bass109 reply :

Fish Chris, monster bass 8-)

roadwarrior reply :

BigBassRFun,

Welcome aboard!

I wouldn't even consider intentionally killing a big bass unless it is something of a record. I don't however have any problem with someone else mounting their PB. A replica would be better, but harvesting ONE big fish is okay by me as long as it's not one of MY pet smallmouth!

Tom Bass reply :

The biggest bass that I have caught so for in life was 7.5-8 pounds. That is a guess. I didn't have a scale. I released it...well, it actually released itself. It struggled right out of my hands and over the edge of the boat dock into the water as I was bending down to turn it loose.

I think the final decision is up to the person that catches the fish. I would get a replica made and turn the fish loose.

I honestly think that I would even turn a world record fish loose after the measurements and photos. Yeah, like that's gonna happen! ;D

How much do these replicas cost?

Tom

the ohh face reply :

Great responses. I didnt even think about a record. Probably cause my chances of even getting my state record are pretty slim. I could see keeping a state record to get mounted though. You can be pretty sure the fish is at the end of its life if you manage a state record. Would that situation make any of you change your mind from a replica to skin mount?

TXBasshunter reply :

Quote

How much do these replicas cost?

Tom

Tom,

I charged $15/inch. Some charge more, some less.

Thomas

guest reply :

You should at least take it out to dinner first

dodgeguy reply :

Quote
I have caught more than a few fish in the 6-8 pound range and one 9+ but have always said I would mount my first largemouth over ten pounds. I now know that replicas from pictures and measurements often look more lifelike. I plan on purchasing one when I finally do catch that fish. Having this discussion with a fishing partner he said he would still want to keep the fish to be mounted, just so he could say, that this is the fish i caught and not some replica. I suggested that each year this fish spawns the greater chance of catching its lunker offspring in the future. He responded that in new england a fish 10 lbs and up is near the end of its lifecycle anyways and has already spread its seed. While im not too sure thats accurate he remained adamant on that point. I wouldnt go so far as to say its irresponsible as long as you caught it legally but I am still against mounting if you could release the fish to be caught again.
What are your opinions on mounting bass?

your friend is %100 correct.

Fish Chris reply :

No disrespect, but IMPO, his friend is 100% mistaken.

It seems that no matter how much I show people the undisputable evidence of C/R's, followed by re-C/R's of the very same fish, there are still some people that think it's okay to kill a big fish.

I want you to understand that I'm not getting all bent out of shape over here as I type this.... Look, I'm smilling :-) I just want every angler to "fully understand" that by killing even 1 big bass, they will have single-handedly reduced their own chances of catching an even bigger bass in the future. Yea', theirs the whole thing about that fishes genes, and yada, yada. But it's not near so much that, as it is the VERY REAL possibility of an angler re-catching that exact C/R'd fish, maybe when it has grown even larger ! Heck, my buddies and I have done it numerous times ! So would you say that's just because we are just the most awesome anglers on the planet ? ;-) LOL I think not. It can happen for anybody.

So anyway, the other fact of the matter is, if 98% of the anglers on this forum were to catch and kill every big bass they ever caught, it would have "zero" effect on me personally, as most people here don't even fish the same waters I do. {thankfully, one of the only ones who does, Supermatt, feels as strongly about C/R of giant bass as I do. Thank you Matt}

If a guy loves to catch big bass, then to kill even one of them on purpose, is like punching himself in the nose. Go for it ! I won't feel a thing :-)

Peace,

Fish

guest reply :

I catch and release from the smallest dink to my PB however I the purpose of me fishing is not to assure anyone anything. If I catch a 10 lbr and its a leagal fish and I want to eat it for breakfast and I paid for my licence it is my business. I am not chasing a world record but I dont have it in me to kill fish so I do not. But if i wanted to I aint punchin myself or anyone else in the nose . Fishin is fishin in all its legal forms and so on I certainly am not going to worry if I am helping out the Hawg Hunters if I decide to keep a leagal fish.

I have nothing against Hawg Huntin, it seems like a fun thing to do. Last I looked t I fish in America I fish to feel a little freedom in the out doors and If I choose not to share a lunker IT DOES NOT MAKE ME SELFISH I paid for the licience, I took the time to catch it and the book says its legal so I dont feel an iota of guilt or remorse if EXCUSE ME I OPT to KEEP A LEGAL FISH and not help somone beat the Lake PB by a few ounces THats really not why I m fishing. So if I come to your house and I see a new lunker on your wall I ll shake your hand, listen to the fun you had and thats the end of it JEEZZZ

Fish Chris reply :

we can go round and round on this, but yes, if a guy likes to catch big fish, then he turns around and kills a big fish, he has hurt his own odds in the future. It's as simple as that. Of course that is his choice. I just feel that he should be fully aware of the concequences of his own actions. Lest you wonder why I should feel the need to go on and on about this, it's simply because so few people seem to understand how direct, and immediate the consequences of their actions can be, concerning the C/R of big fish.

........And believe me, I've been there too ! Nine years ago when my buddy C/R'd his new PB of 13.2 lbs, then I C/R'd the very same fish a week later, to become my new PB as well, we thought that was just the most incredibly amazing coincidence on the planet ! Nine years later, we routinely re-catch big bass, and hardly bat an eye.

Peace,

Fish

PS, You seem to be taking this somewhat personally Muddy Man. Please don't. I'm simply saying that if you have 10 big bass in a pond, and you remove one, you have reduced your odds by 10%. Their doesn't need to be any emotions involved here. These are just the facts of the matter.

guest reply :

Hey Fish Chris I am not taking this personally, just feel strongly on the subject of a lot of people in America seeem to be telling other people in America: where to smoke or not to smoke; all humor must be policically correct; we must obey the president blindly; if you grab a gun and hunt your own meat that makes you akin to some type of mass murderer now fishing is an issue

Mr Chris you are one of the more righteous people on htis forum and you debate with respect twoards others if I came across like I was personally bothered by you I APOLOGIZE I do however feel strongly that If a guy buys a fising licience and fishes in a leagal fashion it is not mine or anybody eleses business what that guy does. If it hurts consevation and is illegal IT IS EVERY BODYS BUISNESS But producing big bass is GODS BUSINESS im my view

Fish Chris reply :

It bothers me too, to hear people trying to tell the next guy what he should or should not do.... or should I say, "to make his decisions for him".... or how about, "to take away his rights".

All I attempt to do is to "fully inform" anglers of the results of their decisions. Given the proper information, I believe most people will make the right decision. A few will not, but we can't do anything about those few.

Peace,

Fish

senko_77 reply :

I agree with Muddy and Fish Chris. You both made some awesome points. For me it just boils down to everytime I look at that fish in my wall, I will know I killed it to look at it, and that it's body was wasted, when I could have gotten a replica. I think there's nothing wrong with keeping fish. I do it myself. But I just cant keep a fish if it's just for show. There was no better feeling in the world to me than when I was sitting there reviving my PB, and she just slowly slid out of my hands and swam away. There was not one ounce of me that regrets letting that fish go, even though the people around me wanted it mounted and even offered to pay for it.

roadwarrior reply :

Rumor has it, some guy down in Georgia ate the World Record Largemouth Bass.

David Hayes has his skin mount of the World Record Smallmouth. That's what I call a wise decision.

Otherwise, replicas are the better choice.

RI_Bass_Guy reply :

To each his own..

or everyone is entitled to there own belief's..

I personally would never kill a big fish just to stick it on a wall. Big fish breed big fish.

that is my belief

Fish Chris reply :

When you said > Big fish breed big fish < you are correct. And this used to be my primary stance for the promotion of the C/R of trophy bass. However, over the years I have come to believe that "that one particular trophy bass that an angler has just caught" has MUCH more value.

The fact is, a bass with "all the right genes" could be lucky enough to grow to 15 lbs, and produce litterally "hundreds of thousands of eggs" throughout it's life time, and yet it's still entirely possible that not "one single one of those hundreds of thousands of eggs, will ever become a 15 lb bass" ! It is equally possible that a 5 lb bass "has all the right genes to get to be 15 lbs" it just hasn't gotten there yet. Say it has only had 3 spawns of 50k eggs total, in it's life. But just by luck of the draw, 3 of its 50k eggs go on to become 15 lb'ers....... while she, herself, was killed the following year at only 6 lbs.

My point in mentioning all these possibilities, is simply to point out that anything can happen with bass spawns.

But with that "one particular giant" that an angler is holding in his hands, it has "already beat absolutely incredible odds to get as big as it has" and at this point, the only thing affecting those odds from that point forward, is the angler holding it.

If I let a 15 lb'er go, you won't have to wait 13 years to see IF it produced any 15 lb offspring". Instead, you can go catch that exact same 15 lb'er next week ! :-)

Peace,

Fish

Hey RW, can you imagine how that thing must have tasted ? ;-)

guest reply :

This is an interseting twist on what could be "the same old argument".

I can tell fish Chris probably represents alot of the Cali WR hunters who mark fish and catch them year after year and note their progress.

I suppose in the small deep trophy waters like Dixon etc this can be done frequently.

But I gotta tell ya Chris, I thought there was something obscene about Weakley parking himself on the bed of the marked female.

Why not just paint a bullseye on her butt?

I understand your position and know that your intent is to share knowledge not pass judgement. Totally cool.

some people fish for meat,

some for competition

some for pleasure

some for records.

Just so you do it legal and excercise common courtesy to fellow anglers, than it's ok by me.

Johanv reply :

i agree with Fish Chris 100%. I could not kill a big fish and it has never crossed my mind. And will not do it

guest reply :

PASS THE TARTAR SAUCE

RoLo reply :

If I decided to have a fish mounted, it would definitely be a "Skin Mount".

I would sooner go without any mount at all, than hang a replica of someone else's fish on my wall.

I once looked into the fiberglass replicas (money in hand) and was not able to find one decent fish pose.

Most of them had a backward reflex (banana bend), an overextended mouth or a bad tail flip.

With a skin mount, you leave the taxidermist photographs or diagrams of exactly what you want.

With a replica, in addition to settling for someone else's fish pose, it would take a miracle

to find the mold of someone's else's fish that had the same length, girth and shape as your fish.

Bottomline, I personally prefer the look of a skin mount, which in my opinion, cannot be beat (how could fake be better than real?).

Today's skin mounts use the same inserted jaws and pliable acrylic fins used in fiberglass mounts and last just as long.

Roger

Fish Chris reply :

I have an old skin mount of an 8-9, from way back in the day (16 years ago) right here above my PC. I've actually went though several stages with this mount.

For the first few years I was like, "Wow ! What a huge bass" ! ....and I was really proud of it. Later, as I learned more about the importance of C/R of trophy bass, I kind of became a little bit ashamed of it, and I beat myself up a little for killing it, often wondering how big it might have gotten, if it were not for my dum-bass ? Finally, as of the last few years, I have gotten to where I look at it and think, "Wow ! It's sure amazing how things have changed ! For one, I have learned so many things about big bass, that I had no clue about back then. And for another, "I actually thought that little ol' 8-9 was a REALLY big bass" ! Doh ! ;-)

But hey, live and learn right ?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So anyway Rolo, when you said.....

> I once looked into the fiberglass replicas (money in hand) and was not able to find one decent fish pose.

Most of them had a backward reflex (banana bend), an overextended mouth or a bad tail flip.

With a skin mount, you leave the taxidermist photographs or diagrams of exactly what you want.

With a replica, in addition to settling for someone else's fish pose, it would take a miracle

to find the mold of someone's else's fish that had the same length, girth and shape as your fish. <

Yes, the things you mentioned are so often true, which is why I was so excited when I recieved the replica of my 18.4..... I chose the close mouth pose, as it was so natural, and relaxed... and, because it looked so different from most other mounts.

Plus, when Robert Munoz saw the photos of my fish (I also told him the length and girth) he immediately said, "YES ! I have some replicas which came from Casitas fish which are spot on in size and shape"! Then I saw finished examples, and I totally agreed !

Anyway, the bottom line is (and I just wish you could see it in person) the only Largenouth Bass mounts I have ever seen in my life, which I thought were more impressive than my own, were those of 20 plus lb fish. The work on those might not have even been quite as good as mine..... But yes, size does matter :-)

Peace,

Fish

RoLo reply :

Chris I'm sincerely glad that you found what you were looking for

Although I wasn't as fortunate as you, I know of course that it's possible.

Mine was only 12, but I don't even have a picture of her (that hurts most of all).

I didn't mention it, but the hardest part of getting a skin mount (beside killing the fish)

is finding a taxidermist who possesses old-school taxidermy skills. They're going the way of the dinosaur.

Once a taxidermist gains a following in prototype reproductions, he quickly becomes reluctant

to engage in the thankless lost-art required in a skin mount.

By the way Chris, that is one gorgeous mount!

If I may offer a suggestion, mount her a little further from the ceiling (given the room), more in the viewer's line-of-view.

I recently lowered a pike mount that I hung too high and she gained a few pounds (I love when that happens)

Roger

buzzbaitfool12 reply :

One of my favorite topics about bass fishing..Everyone has been right on this post..It is your right to take the fish out of the lake and eat it, beat it, stuff it, or whatever you would like to do..I have caught several bass over 10lbs...My biggest was 12.4 oz I caught the week my son was born in Aug of 2005..I had no doubts once I caught her she was going back in the water after a picture..I could care less about a mount, because I dont fish for this..If it would have been my dad that had caught or my grandfather they would have ate it..It does not make either one of us wrong or right..

My only argument for those who keep the big fish is this..If you keep, then 15 others keep, then the next year 15 others keep, if you continue on that trend it will be harder to catch that fish of a lifetime..When you are sitting around talking to your buddies about your favorite pond or lake and ask why there are not more big fish caught think about that day you took that fish home..When you take all the big fish out, there are no more to be caught..shall I say more

edbassmaster reply :

I always c&r...I dont care as much about someone catching it when its bigger as I care about just letting the fish die. I like bass too much to do that to them. And that picture of the mount above does not look real at all. I didnt read the post but I just thought that the face looks fake.

the ohh face reply :

Quote
My only argument for those who keep the big fish is this..If you keep, then 15 others keep, then the next year 15 others keep, if you continue on that trend it will be harder to catch that fish of a lifetime..When you are sitting around talking to your buddies about your favorite pond or lake and ask why there are not more big fish caught think about that day you took that fish home..When you take all the big fish out, there are no more to be caught..shall I say more

It seems to me from the anglers that I know personally and the ones on this site there is usually little danger of that. Rarely do I meet a serious fisherman that is not also concerned about conservation. From trophy hunters, anglers who eat their fish, to C&R fishermen it seems the majority care if only so that they can catch fish long into the future.

TXBasshunter reply :

Quote

Today's skin mounts use the same inserted jaws and pliable acrylic fins used in fiberglass mounts and last just as long.

Roger

As a former taxidermist of 10 yrs, we don't use jaw inserts on LMB. The fins are only artificial if originals were too damaged to repair, but REAL replacement fins can usually be used from other non-mounted fish. Artificial fins look too fake, I never used them.

KYbass1276 reply :

Just an idea for those who don't want to mount a real fish and don't want a replica. Look into buying a digital picture frame so you can hang it on the wall and display all your catches

TXBasshunter reply :

Quote
Just an idea for those who don't want to mount a real fish and don't want a replica. Look into buying a digital picture frame so you can hang it on the wall and display all your catches

Great idea

buzzbaitfool12 reply :

Quote
It seems to me from the anglers that I know personally and the ones on this site there is usually little danger of that. Rarely do I meet a serious fisherman that is not also concerned about conservation. From trophy hunters, anglers who eat their fish, to C&R fishermen it seems the majority care if only so that they can catch fish long into the future

from ohh face

Ohh face you dont know every fisherman..You know the people in your circle..I live on a private lake and would like to think I know everyone that fishes this lake but i dont..I have to work so there is no telling how many people get into the lake I fish and take whatever gets on there line home..If you would like to be naive about this then it is your right..I guaranteed you out of our private lake that a minimium of 50 over 6lbs was pulled out and a minimium of 5 over 10 was removed..Think about public lakes now..This is my point//You must not have very many govt sponsored fisherman in your area like georgia..

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