After reading the post "20 lb Muskie " it got me wondering why anyone would ever keep a fish to be mounted. I'm not making judgement on anyone, but why not get a synthetic mount? They last longer and you don't have to kill the fish.
Does anybody know if it is cheaper to have a regular mount compared to a synthetic mount?
My buddy got a 32.5" Walleye on Cross lake a couple years ago. Caught the fish and measured it and let it go. He had a synthetic made and it looks great. I know he paid under 500.00.
Replicas are a little more $$$ I think but in my opinion they are the only option. Replicas will last a lifetime where as real fish mounts do have a shelf life from what I understand.
There is just no reason to kill a trophy fish anymore. The only way i would keep it would be if it was hooked too deep to survive, but if it can go back, it will go back.
Replicas and Skin are the same cost from Joe Fittante and Rick Lax, a replica is the best thing to happen to the fishery and to your wall, I have a few skin mounts from my young and dumb days and they look like garbage and they cost allot, the only presentable fish is a Bass I had done 3-D, it has a plastic Head and fins, so I killed it for 3 oz of skin and 500 bucks. get a replica at least when you die your kids can get some decent $$ for it instead of it going from the garage to the trash.
In theory I like the replica mounts but my experience with them so far is atrocious. I've heard it all depends on who's doing the mount and how good of an artist he is. I have not seen a replica that looks even half way decent.
i saw a couple of replicas at a taxidermest and i couldnt even recogonize what kind of fish it was but then there were some places that it really looked like the fish was alive, but then those ones are super expensive.
Here one Joe borrowed our chapter for the State fair last year, he's creating a new one for us now, I dont think you'll be disappointed with a replica from Joe be it Bass, Eye or Esox, he's a great guy to work with and cares about the future of our lakes and rivers.
