[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2][#002850]Ok, let's say that you catch a fish that is big for it's species ... I mean [#000050]REALLY[/#000050] big for it's species ... and you want a mount of it ...
To what extent can a taxidermist make a replica of the fish? In other words, would the mount have to be a skin mount or just how big of a replica could they make?
For example, like that [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=364176#364176"]big northern pike[/url], could a replica be made of it? Or, since it is so big, would the actual fish have to be mounted?
(Yea ... I know most of you are laughing at me for asking this question ... like I'm really ever going to catch a big fish. But trust me, I'm going to keep trying.)[/#002850][/size][/font]
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Some of the fish we fish we fish for in the ocean have been made into replicas and full mounts. I was told to take a picture, weigh if possible and measure girth length and around the collar area. I would think anything could be replicated. Some of the Tuna replicas have 3 different molds S,M,L. Hope this helps
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Yes, a replica can be made. It won't be cheap, but neither would a good skin mount.
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A few years ago, I had a customer catch an unusually large lake trout, and when he took the enlarged photos and measurements to the taxidermist in Colorado (A noted and very experienced one, I might add), the taxidermist said there were no "standard" molds to re-create the fish. So, he made a replica himself from "scratch."
The end product is one of the nicest, most accurate mounts I've ever seen. The fish was 45 inches with a girth around 36 inches, as I remember, and it came out exact! When I looked at the mount and the 24X36 print from the photo I took, I couldn't tell the difference. Spot for spot, it was dead-on. The mount was about $1500.
So, a replica can be made for any fish if the taxidermist has the skills, and the angler has the $$$. Tony Cannova is the taxidermist. Tanglewood Taxidermy I believe is the bus. name.
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Most taxidermist will order a blank of a fish that is close to the actual fish. So most replicas will be close but not exact. Some taxidermist will carve a foam blank from scratch (as Tarpon Jim mentioned) and make a accurate mount. The guys that carve their own blanks are real artists and just like fine art you pay for it.
If anybody finds someone who does this kind of work at a reasonable price. Please let me know. I have a couple of fish I would like to have done.
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Check these out.They might make freshwater mounts.I have seen their mounts first hand and they are the best i have seen.http://www.graytaxidermy.com/index.php
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Tony Cannova's business name is Aquatic Arts. He is in Denver and phone is 303-744-0147.
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...The fish was 45 inches with a girth around 36 inches...
MAN! That's a big laker! Fish calculators put that around 73 pounds!
I know you hate records, this is proof I guess. That is bigger than the world record Lake Trout.
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