Fish Field Care Information (Skin Mounts & Reproductions)

[Michelle_Nelson]

Fish Field Care Information (Skin Mounts & Reproductions)


Skin Mounts

Upon catching a fish that you want mounted avoid touching the body as much as possible.  You do not want to gut or scale the fish.  Don’t let your fish flop around as they will lose and damage scales.  If it is dead do not keep it in the water.

Once a fish comes out of the water the color of the fish begins to fade and lose colors right away.  When you go fishing keep a camera handy and get lots of detailed pictures as soon as the fish is caught, from all angles.  The taxidermist can recreate the colors more accurate if they have reference pictures of the actual fish.

Take a towel and get it wet.  Lay the fish on the towel with all fins against the body and carefully roll it up in the towel.  Then lay the fish in a cooler full of ice.  Once you get the fish home place the fish and the towel in the bottom of several plastic garbage bags. Roll the fish up in the bag squeezing out all the air this and the towel will prevent freezer burn.  Now put the fish in the freezer where it will not get bumped, especially the tail and other fins because they will break.  

Reproductions

Reproductions (Repro) are just that, a fiberglass or resin cast of a once live fish.  They are an alternative to skin mounts.  Nothing of the original fish is used in the reproduction.  Thin skinned and oily fish that would otherwise have a limited life span after mounting are better suited as a reproduction.  

If you are fishing a tournament and it is mandatory catch and release there is no way of having a skin mount done.  A reproduction also comes in handy if you are going on a remote or a week long fishing trip with no access to a freezer.  Also if you prefer to catch and release all your fish you can still have a repro made.
 
All you need are the measurements off of your fish and pictures. There are only 2 measurements that are required to find a Repro for your fish.  The Length (tip of nose to tip of tail) and the Girth ( fattest circumference of the fish). (See photo)

 

Make sure to take plenty of pictures of the fish you want a reproduction made of, especially any special markings on your fish. Pictures help to get the colors as close as possible on your fish.

If you catch a new state record or a fish that is out of the ordinary in size or weight, than a reproduction may not be available.  However one can be made using your fish.  If you release it you will not have the opportunity to have one made.  

[sisu]

Thanks Michelle. I've always wondered about the repos. Personally I like the idea of the repo.

[WAmuleyHunter]

find an amazing taxi, and pay good money for a repo done right. i have an 8lb plus largemouth from washington  that i had done, its amazing. i will take a pic and post it in the next couple of days. and the form is the exact match for my fish.  Great info for fish mounts.  Also my dad has a 26 pound native steelhead mounted up in a scene and in a glass case. it got 2nd in the national taxidermy competition that they have. it also had a 2 page spread in salmon trout steelheed. i will take a picture of that also to show you guys.

[Alchase]

WAmuleyHunter, if you do not mind me asking, how much did the 8 lb. bass cost you to get a repro of?

[Michelle_Nelson]

It all depends on who you use Alchase.  In Washington I have seen the price range quite a bit.  For Reproductions I have seen it range anywere from $15 to $26 an inch.  For skin mounts it runs from $12 - $18 an inch.   

[Alchase]

Thank you Michelle,
I do not know why, I would have thought the skin mounts would be more expensive then the repro's?

[Michelle_Nelson]

I charge more for Reproductions than I do skin mounts.  The reason for that is the cost of materials.  The cost of the blank is atleast 50% of what I charge my customers.  More often than not is costs a little more.  When the blank comes in I still have to attach fins.  I have to grind down the seams and blend them in with appoxie and sculp scales in to the appoxie.  Also have to purchase seperatly and put eye in the blank.  After all of that I have to paint and clear coat.

Skin mounts are cheaper because the materials are only about 20% of the price of the fish.  But their is also about 5 X the amount of work.  For example a Largemouth Bass.  I have to skin the fish and hollow out the head.  I have to remove ALL of the meat.  Including the meat inside the cheaks.  Than I have to soak the fish in Denatured Alcohol and water for 2 weeks. 

Than I pull the fish out and mount it of a foam body.  This takes atlest an hour.  Than I have to card all of the fins so they don't shrivel up while the fish dries.  I fill the head up with paper mache and let the fish dry for atleat 2 more weeks.  Once dry I  have to dremal out the eye sockets and install the eyes. 

Than I have to build up any areas that have shrunk during the drying process with appoxie.  Almost 75% of the head will need to be rebuilt.  Including parts of the inside of the mouth.  I repair any fins that have been damages and coat all the fins front and back 3X with fin backing cream.  I set the fish aside for atleast 24 hours to dry.  Next day I seal the fish with 3 coats of Fungisidal sealer and set it aside again for 24 hours.  Than I can paint the fish which takes me 2+ hours.  Set it aside for 24 hours and than I can clear coat it.  Again 24 hours later I can put it on the drift wood or start the base work.

I always offer a reproduction to anyone wanting a fish done.  Of course it is entirely up to the customer.  The reason is, a Reproduction will last forever.  A skin mount has a limited life span and has the tendancy to attract bugs if poorly done.  Their are other benefits to having a reproduction done.  You can release the fish if you wish after you get the measurments needed.  You can also take the fish home and eat it.   

[Alchase]

Great info, Thank you
Gives me greater respect for those that have this skill.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Updated.

[whacker1]

thanks for the info

[Michelle_Nelson]

Your welcome.