Fish replica mounts ?

[Gobob]

Anybody recommend a taxidermist artist that does replica crappie mounts ? I've let a few good ones swim away and should I be lucky enough to land another I'd like to get a mount but let the fish go .

[M R Dux]

I do both replicas and skin mounts. I try to direct my clients toward the reproductions when I can so they can release their trophies. Just be aware that just as in anything, you get what you pay for and in replicas, detail means money and is worth the extra cost. When I say detail I'm talking about realistic fins, gills,mouth and other parts of the fish body that many of the cheaper replicas tend to forget about.

Another thing: should you catch your trophy, make sure you get plenty of well-lit pictures of both sides and some with an item that can be used for scale if you don't keep a tape measure. I recommend everyone have one of the $1 fabric tape measures like a seamstress uses.

Any taxidermist worth his salt should be able to exactly duplicate the colors and markings on a fish with good reference photos.

[Gobob]

Thanks pm me your prices

[Tracker123]

I read somewhere that if you donate the live fish to Bass Pro Shop for their aquariums, they'll make a replica. I'm assuming it has to be a certain size, don't know.

[maxwell328]

This one is $26.00 on ebay.
Big Black Crappie Taxidermy Fish Mount Home Cabin Decor Art Deer Lure Fishing | eBay

[CrappiePappy]

This one is $26.00 on ebay.
Big Black Crappie Taxidermy Fish Mount Home Cabin Decor Art Deer Lure Fishing | eBay

Yeah, but it's only 10.75" in length ... And it looks to be a skin mount, not a replica.

... cp

[jaxsprat]

When I clicked-closeup of the mount on above on ebay the dorsal fil doesn't look in right place it should be farther forward. maybe just me??????

[clfarms1]

But then its not your fish, I wouldnt trade mine for a replica, it cant match the real thing

[M R Dux]

Thanks pm me your prices

Prices are determined by the size of the fish and the quality of the replica blank used.

[crappietale]

But then its not your fish, I wouldnt trade mine for a replica, it cant match the real thing

That's the way almost all of the guys I know think too. Even if a replica is the same size as the one caught and the paint job is good, it is not really a fish at all. It's a fiberglass model of a crappie that someone else caught. The size selection of really big crappie replicas is limited and many guys opting for a replica are going to get the same exact one that others have bought. When anyone looking at a crappie displayed on a fisherman's wall asks..."Is that a real fish?.....Did you catch that one?"...you can answer "YES" with honest pride. A skin mount always has an intrinsic value to the one who caught it that is unmatched by a "faux" fish.