Replicas vs Skin Mounts

[Markus]

I know I've beat this topic to death, but I just can't seem to get myself to accept a replica mount. Does anyone have a pictue comparison I can look at?

Here's a photo comparison I found of a 50 pound muski that was caught on the Niagara River. This one leaves me with the same feeling I don't want to have after the work is done..."that's not your fish".

Before


After


I'm off to my taxidermist tonight to drop off Bacons Gar and my Walleye. I'll let everyone know what she looks like when it's done.

[M.T. Livewell]

I'm still waiting for the after shot to turn and face me, and start signing "take me to the river".

You're right Markus, not even close. I'm sure there must be better quality out there.
But again, and I don't want to beat this to death anymore than you do, you are well within your right to get a skin mount. And good on ya. Wish I had that moral dilema.

M.T. Livewell

[Snag]

If I caught a nice trophy (or I should say when ), I will definetly get a skin mount. I've seen several replicas and as much as they look great, most of the times, if it wasn't THE fish I caught, I wouldn't want it.

I'd love to bring someone into my cottage, show them a skin mount and say this is the fish that I caught, not a replica of the fish.

But like you guys said, this topic has already been discussed, but this picture just shows how some replicas aren't exact.

[JP]

I have seen many replicas and skin mounts done from various people. The Skin mount is the most common, but I have seen them come back and not look like the fish u caught either. If u can get someone who treats the process as an art form, then u will be happy. There is a company in T.O. that supplies mounts all over the world and I have seen their replicas vs a pic, u can't tell the difference. I will try and find the name for u.

Skin mount or replica, make sure u reserch the person first and feel comfortable with their work before u commision them to do it.
JP

[Canadian Bacon]

Only skin for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JP]

Just took another look at those pics and that mount has to be the worst one I have ever seen. The fish looks like a cartoon, totally fake. I feel sorry for the guy, what a waste of money.
JP

[Guest]

As another alternative, why not consider blowing up the picture of you with the fish, and putting it in a nice frame. I know lots of people that do this, myself included. The best picture I have at home is of me and my girlfriend with a 49" muskie. It's a fantastic picture, and I wouldn't trade it for a mount in a million years. There are far more memories in that picture than a mount could ever provide me.

There are several advantages to a picture as well:

1) You don't have to kill the fish
2) You don't have to spend a fortune
3) You don't have to worry about a mount (skin or replica) not representing your actual fish
4) You don't have to worry about throwing out a mount years from now when you get "bored" of it. A picture takes up no space at all.
5) I believe a picture to be far more tasteful, and less intrusive, than a mount would be.

I'm not trying to start a controversy here, but in my opinion, there really is no need to kill a fish just to mount it. There are too many viable alternatives available to justify it, and I hope to see more people start to move this way in the future.

Cheers,

HW

[Canadian Bacon]

That is not a bad Idea either!!

[Markus]

I hear ya hawg, but pictures aren't what I'm looking for. I took a bunch of pics home this summer to my cottage. Everyone and I mean everyone laughed and accussed me of photoshop. I know the difference, but I still like an unquestionable trophy. Skin mounts take all the doubt out.

This thread isn't about whether the fish lives or dies, it's about the quality of a wall mount. I don't want to get off on a "live to swim another day" debate with ya.

[Guest]

No worries Marcus, I was just proposing a third alternative to the two that you were comparing. It's something that I notice hasn't been mentioned, and I think it's a good alternative for a lot of people, and not just those who are concerned with C&R. A "picture mount" has many other benefits that go beyond just saving the fish.

It was certainly not intended to spark a debate about keeping fish. You and I can battle that one out another day.

HW

[Guest]

MArkus... Skin mounts fade in color after a few years where as Replicfa mounts hold thier color. They key is chose a good taxidermist. Try advance Taxidermy near Toronto they do great work.

Something to thing about before killing a trophy fish ( I am not preaching!) Is that not all muskies grow to 54" just like not all humans grow to 6'4 . So taking the biggest fish out of a body of water takes those genes out of the water way. These big fish are essential for a trophy fishery to keep it the big fish. I am getting my 51" cuda done and am going to get a musky done just want to get one a bit bigger then I have caught. What if you catch one bigger then the one you have mounted ? would you get another one?

[RJ]

That replica is terrible...I'd be really pee pee if that's how mine came out...

the head on the replica is twice the size in relation to the real fish....

I have a skin mount myself (walleye)....and depending on the species I have my numbers (pound wise) for what it would take for me to have it mounted....and if I do it I will not feel bad about it....I personally keep very few fish....and if I wait for years for the right one....it's my choice...

and it will be a skin mount...

RJ

[RJ]

My walleye skin mount is about 6 years old....looks the same as the day I brought it home....how would a skin mounts paint fade and a graphite mounts paint not?....it's the same paint is it not?

[big-o]

Not only did they screw up the fish.....look what they did the guy holding the fish....they did a great job on him

[Cancatchbass]

Here's some food for thought-

You, an angler, go to Quinte and catch a 30" walleye, weighing in at 8.9 pounds, a personal best, a "wallhanger". You keep it and get a skin mount done.

You go to Quinte the following spring and catch a 31" walleye, with a much larger girth, weighing over two pounds better than the first fish. Wow! Another personal best! One for the wall!

That fall you catch a 34" walleye. Great fish! Another one for the wall??

Where does it end?

Next- Markus- you indicate that having a skin mount somehow proves to others that you truly caught a "trophy" fish, whereas a replica wouldn't? I think that those that know you also know you have no need to lie or to photoshop your fishing photos- or to have a replica made that is larger than your actual catch. Besides- check out eBay- you can purchase skin mounts of 10 pound bass, etc. (for a fraction of what the original anglers paid to have them done). Having a skin mount in your possession proves nothing.

Another thing- I presume no-one who keeps a trophy fish to mount would also consider shooting a trophy buck, cutting off the rack -for the wall!- and leave the rest of the deer in the woods to rot? Is there a difference?

There is a thin line, I realize, between throwing out some thought-provoking comments and being a sh** disturber. Trust me, these points are meant to give some food for thought- not attack any person or their choices.

By the way- Advanced Taxidermy in Toronto (as mentioned by Crazy) does replicas that look like they are still swimming. By far the best I've ever seen. They are always at the Fishing Show. Check them out if you get a chance.

CCB