Day 1 begins (Some pics added)

[BLKBEARKLR]

It may not seem like a lot to most, but others will recognize the name. I finally pulled the trigger and I am taken a ten day fish mounting course with Rick Krane.... Will be doing a chum and brown trout skin mount. Then a steelhead silver phase a small mouth and a rock bass replica. Hopefully this will bring me to the standards that I am trying to obtain on fish.

Have fun

Joe

[rasbo]

you will do well,hope its a good fun experience..cant wait to see some mounts

[buckhorn2]

If you need more fish to practice on Rasbo and I will drop off some catfish.

[bowsandhose]

very cool hope you learn a lot. how much that cost ya?

[WCTaxidermy]

Have fun Joe, Rick is a great guy, make sure you say hi to him for me.  John

[bucklucky]

Awesome Joe.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Holy crap, I never knew there was a scientific approach to colors. My fricken eyes hurt. I got to study reference pictures of a bluegill for 3 hours yesterday. Never knew it was so intense.

Joe

[boneaddict]

Sounds like  a lot of fun. 

[seth30]

BLKBEARKLR,

I saw on Mounted in Alaska that they dont actually mount the fish but do a replica.  Is that the way all taxidermists do it, or just a choice for some? 

[WCTaxidermy]

Keep at it Joe, sounds like your having fun.  Pretty soon you will be pulling your hair out...........OOOOOP's you don't have any hair, sorry. John

[TheHunt]

Keep at it Joe, sounds like your having fun.  Pretty soon you will be pulling your hair out...........OOOOOP's you don't have any hair, sorry. John

 

[BLKBEARKLR]

Seth that all depends on what the customer wants. A skin mount will always be cheaper than a replica because of suplies. But it goes back to how well the fish was taken care of. If it has been caught and thrown in a fish bucket with no ice and has been damaged then it is hard to do a skin mount. The best thing with a replica is the person has the choice to either eat, or release the original fish.

John - that was a funny thing my friend. I seen some pics today that were taken from behind. I was like holy crap where did it all go.

Question for the da, how many scales are on a 23 inch smallmouth?? Answer is enough to make my arms go numb from scale tipping them 3 times with different tones and colors...

Joe

[WCTaxidermy]

Now i'm starting to understand why fish are so expensive to mount due.  Sounds like a ton of work is involved in them.  Glad your enjoying the classs Joe.  John

[bucklucky]

Sounds like a price increase on fish 

[Michelle_Nelson]

Seth it realy depends on if the fish is suitable for a skin mount or not.  Some speciese are just not suitable.  Such as most Ocean speciese.  I have done several (Sheepshead, Red Fish, etc) and they take a lot of degreasing.  If the oils in the skin are not removed than they will leach oil and rot on your wall.
 
Salmon, Stealhead, Trout can be skin mounted but they to have a lot of oil in there skins and if not degreased right they will do the same as the Ocean fish.  More care is needed.  A lot of times the taxidermist will mount the skin and make a cast or mold of your fishes head and use it.  They can also buy them.
 
Bass, Blue Gill, Crappie, Musky, etc work real good for skin mounts.  A simple soak in 50/50 Denatured alcohol and water will preserve the skin.  These speciese are the best suited for Skin Mounts. 
 
One thing to remember is reproductions last forever, skin mounts will always have a limited lifespan.  If the paint on your reproduction fades after 20 or 3 years you can get it repainted.  On  Skin mount that old it could damage the fish.  Using a Reproduction will allow you to eat your fish and also to release it.  Especially if you are fishing in an area that is catch and release only.