12 years ago I caught a crappie that weighed 1-3/4 lb. Today I caught one that is almost that large. I can't tell right now because I need a new battery for my digital scales (They're very accurate) because my scales said this weight on this monster was 9 ounces.

My question is this; Once I get a fresh battery and weigh this guy, what would you folks consider a "mountable" catch?

I had always thought I would never mount one if it didn't weigh 2 lbs. But since I go 12 years at a whack without catching one of these monsters, I figured this might be the time for me to mount one.

Advice? Opinions?

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Oh, and one more question;

If I do decide to mount this fish, do I freeze him guts and all? Just stick him in a bag and put in the freezer or is there some prep that needs to be done first?

Thanks

I'm getting ready to go down to the dock and weigh this fish again with a fresh battery in my scales, I'll take a pic also and post here later on.

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Ok, got it weighed and it is: 1-lb 5-oz

Heres a pic:








Looks like it is slightly under 15 inches in length.

Ok guys, I know this isn't a really large fish by what I read in here, but it tickled me to death to catch this rascal. Its a good thing I slipped my net under him as I got him to the surface because it got off the hook just as I raised the net. Woulda been a fish story if that would have happened. I would have been in here telling you all that this monster had to weigh over 2lbs and was at least 20 inches long........... hahahahaha.

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You need to see me for some lessons! I have never had one get away that was less than 2 1/2 pounds.

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You are never too old to have a second childhood!

I typically just take a photo and don't mount fish or game. I might mount a 2 1/2 lb Crappie and surely would a 3 lb. I caught a few like yours down there Tues and Wed slow trolling crankbaits. They are nice fish! A taxidermist once told me to keep the fish wet, wrap it in a wet cloth (such as a T shirt) and freeze the whole thing as quickly as possible, then take it to him frozen. That worked well for a friend but that was for trout. I guess it would work for Crappie.
IkenI

I just ate two 15 inch fish 5 minutes ago. Well not by myself!

Thanks for the input, appreciate it. I bought exactly 2 lbs. of onions this evening at the store, measured em out so it would be no less or no more than two pounds. Brought them home, used my fish scales and my scales said the onions weighed 1-lb and 9-oz. So, looks like my crappie may weigh a bit more than I said earlier.

Not that big a deal and now that the excitement has worn off, not a fish really worth mounting. But thanks for the advice on keeping one wet and wrapped, frozen to deliver to the taxidermist.

Sure was fun catching that rascal though........

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Hey Stink,

I don't have one mounted fish on my wall. However, if I caught a fish that made MY heart jump and *I* was proud of it and wanted it mounted, it wouldn't matter if it was a 6oz fish. A trophy fish can be any size. I wish I had the first fish my kids caught mounted, and I can guarantee that they weren't "trophy" by other folks measure.

MHO.

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"Be Ye Fishers of Men" You catch them- He will clean them

Well, I certainly haven't looked at it that way. This fish means a lot to me, not sure why. Maybe because I've had such a run of bad luck lately fishing. Little kids across from me will be catching them, I get skunked. Old woman in boat next to me, catching 10 to my one........ hahahahaha.

Might have this guy mounted because at my age, may not ever catch a nicer one.

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Stink; Your other option is take your pic to one of the replica Taxidermist, they use a form close to your fishes dimensions you can hardly tell the difference, plus you can release or eat ,,, dont mount that JB Hunt truck!

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