IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community

Iowa => Ice Fishing Iowa => Topic started by: MitchMeyers92 on Feb 15, 2012, 05:40 PM

Title: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: MitchMeyers92 on Feb 15, 2012, 05:40 PM
Got a pig crappie today in a private pond. I live in CR but I could travel some for a good quality mount. I need some suggestions of places to take it, I'm fine with paying good money for good work, but it needs to be good work. Ideas please!

16.5", 2.705 LBS
(http://i40.tinypic.com/117r3b6.jpg)
(http://i44.tinypic.com/2ypm89k.jpg)
(http://i41.tinypic.com/t9fy4k.jpg)
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Bates on Feb 15, 2012, 05:49 PM
Holy Crap nice fish. First thing if you haven't wrap it in a wet towel then put it in a plastic bag squeeze the air out and freeze it. Very nice fish!  Find a good taxi a fish like that deserves it.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: MidnightRambler on Feb 15, 2012, 05:50 PM
Take a couple pictures and good measurements of the fish. Then filet it and eat it.

Have a fiberglass replica made. They're cheaper, look better, and last a lot longer than a skin mount.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: MitchMeyers92 on Feb 15, 2012, 05:55 PM
its wrapped in a white t-shirt that was soaked in water and in the freezer now, and midnight rambler, i'm almost positive that replicas are more expensive. I know it depends on the part of the country and the individual taxidermist but i have heard anywhere from 7-15 dollars and inch for skin mounts and 15-20+ on replicas. Personally I don't like replica's, i'd rather have the real thing but that's just me. Also, if i were going to have a replica made, i'd release the fish alive rather than eat it, but again, thats just me
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: SpoonieLuv on Feb 15, 2012, 05:59 PM
"Take a couple pictures and good measurements of the fish. Then filet it and eat it.

Have a fiberglass replica made. They're cheaper, look better, and last a lot longer than a skin mount."

If he was going to do that, I doubt he would have kept it. These are the fish that if you are not going to mount need to be released not fileted. 

Nice fish, should make a great mount.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: esox_magnum on Feb 15, 2012, 06:13 PM
We used to catch buckets of those and bigger, no money for mounts so we ate them....I also agree on a replica, will still look great when your grandkids are old enough to ask the story... Lax, Fiannte, Artistic Anglers are all good shops for replicas and should all be in the $12-$15 per inch range.... A good taxi will charge roughly the same....something like this is where you don't want the low bidder doing, see some butchered mounts done on the cheap....
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: MitchMeyers92 on Feb 15, 2012, 06:20 PM
as of right now im leaning towards collins taxidermy out of denver, ia (collinstaxidermy.com). $13 and inch for a skin mount and he has won some national and worldwide awards including a national championship, their gallery is pretty sweet.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: SpoonieLuv on Feb 15, 2012, 06:26 PM
Collins does great work, he did my bro's big walleye.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: jumbo chaser on Feb 15, 2012, 08:09 PM
Nice one get it mounted ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: 26perch on Feb 15, 2012, 09:54 PM
my man cave is full of pictures of trophies (mostly 8x10's) but you can get them any size you want, even full size. A lot cheaper and I can relive the story behind each one. Of course I do have a couple mounts of speacal(sp) ones
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: crappie98 on Feb 16, 2012, 07:49 AM
its wrapped in a white t-shirt that was soaked in water and in the freezer now, and midnight rambler, i'm almost positive that replicas are more expensive. I know it depends on the part of the country and the individual taxidermist but i have heard anywhere from 7-15 dollars and inch for skin mounts and 15-20+ on replicas. Personally I don't like replica's, i'd rather have the real thing but that's just me. Also, if i were going to have a replica made, i'd release the fish alive rather than eat it, but again, thats just me

You are right the replica's do cost more than the skin mount.  I have a buddy who does taxidermy and lives in Oran, Iowa which is about 15min. from Independence.  Does some real good work as well and is like 7 to 9 bucks an inch on fish.  If you want his info let me know I will send it to you.

Here is a northern he just finished up.

(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/duckhunter25hp/Northern.jpg)
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: ASATMillerbluegill on Feb 16, 2012, 08:51 AM
Nice fish!
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: mjmeyer on Feb 16, 2012, 09:23 AM
That's a Beauty Mitch! Surely belongs on the Wall.
Mike
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: doonan on Feb 16, 2012, 11:07 AM
Sweet Fish!
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Big - D OBG on Feb 16, 2012, 12:45 PM
That is a beauty
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: coldsteel on Feb 16, 2012, 12:49 PM
thats a beauty, so whats the story jiggin or ona  tip up DETAILS!!! HAHA
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Todd_NE on Feb 16, 2012, 12:54 PM
We used to catch buckets of those and bigger, no money for mounts so we ate them....

 ::)  Another DB comment from the DB Comment King. Why OF COURSE you are the BETTER fisherman. NO ONE can outfish YOU.  I'm from Kansas. We used to eat 18-19" Crappie out of Kirwin Reservoir in the late 90's. That and a buck will get you Snickers.  This wasn't the time to tell a guy that just got a whopper that you or I got 'em better Tommy Topper.

On to a better topic:
Congratulations on the Fish!!!

http://www.lewons.com/Fish.htm  It's a long ways from you but Lewon's is top-notch. I agree with many others that recommend a replica. They last forever for one thing. Lewon's use an outfit out of Minnesota for the forms that have top notch fins, gills, and scales. Lewon's paint is second to none. I'm sure there are great places by CR, not all replica's are lifelike, check out some work before you decide.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: anderson_dc on Feb 16, 2012, 01:17 PM
We used to catch buckets of those and bigger, no money for mounts so we ate them....
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.urlesque.com/media/2010/05/1272938115936.jpg)

Tommy Topper's Song (click me) (http://youtu.be/tfHBPusZg6E)

As I mentioned in the IS thread you also posted, what a great fish you caught Mitchell and you should be darned proud of that regardless of what some others might say.  Best of luck to you in your quest for a good taxidermist and it sounds like you're on the right track.  Be sure to post pics of the mount once it's completed.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: ScaleHusker on Feb 16, 2012, 01:20 PM
::)  Another DB comment from the DB Comment King. Why OF COURSE you are the BETTER fisherman. NO ONE can outfish YOU.  I'm from Kansas. We used to eat 18-19" Crappie out of Kirwin Reservoir in the late 90's. That a buck will get you Snickers.  This wasn't the time to tell a guy that just got a whopper that you or I got 'em better Tommy Topper.






Hilarious.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Kevin23 on Feb 16, 2012, 02:33 PM
Nice fish! Get a replica made, they will last a lot longer. A skin mount will look great for a year or two, good for 5 or 6, then dull and ugly for the rest of your life.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: MitchMeyers92 on Feb 16, 2012, 06:12 PM
thats a beauty, so whats the story jiggin or ona  tip up DETAILS!!! HAHA
Came on a crappie minnow on a tip DOWN. we were fishing macbride earlier in the day and it sucked so we went to the private pond to catch gills, which we did. then we moved deeper in hopes of the crappies (there arent many). 32 FOW out in the basin, no structure at all, they just roam. My buddy i was with got one the EXACT same size out of the same hole, they both took some work to get through a 6" hole.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: murf311 on Feb 16, 2012, 08:17 PM
Hey Mitch very nice catch man. When are you headed back up to the IGL?
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: rugby ice on Feb 16, 2012, 08:40 PM
Mitch nice fish!!!
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: chubking on Feb 16, 2012, 10:34 PM
Awesome fish Mitch I dream of getting one that big.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: harpenter on Feb 17, 2012, 08:45 AM
Great looking fish.  Puts my 15"er to shame.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: MitchMeyers92 on Feb 17, 2012, 12:08 PM
Hey Mitch very nice catch man. When are you headed back up to the IGL?
hopefully spring break
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: coldsteel on Feb 20, 2012, 07:09 AM
Came on a crappie minnow on a tip DOWN. we were fishing macbride earlier in the day and it sucked so we went to the private pond to catch gills, which we did. then we moved deeper in hopes of the crappies (there arent many). 32 FOW out in the basin, no structure at all, they just roam. My buddy i was with got one the EXACT same size out of the same hole, they both took some work to get through a 6" hole.

thats awesome buddy congrats again
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: surflizard on Feb 20, 2012, 07:17 AM
Congrats on the Monster slab Mitch, definately a fish of a lifetime, ditto on the replica's, much better, longer lasting results !



P.S. Don't mind the DB Comment, We've seen Your Monster Fish Picture, We haven't seen any of his !! ;)2 :roflmao:
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Todd_NE on Feb 20, 2012, 03:44 PM

P.S. Don't mind the DB Comment, We've seen Your Monster Fish Picture, We haven't seen any of his !! ;)2 :roflmao:

Listen, here's the deal. I've read a large number of DB comments and have kept a civil tongue. For whatever reason, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.  So, in honor of your defense, I will post another DB comment.  EVERY time I see one or a defense/attack I will post another. This is fun, I have time, and let's be honest Esox has provided plenty of cannon fodder.

Here is the first example. Keep it up and more will follow. Some from this board some from others. As to my fish catching ability, it's probably up for debate but I've caught a few.


Example Number one from Tommy Topper, errrr EM (try to read this without falling over laughing, I double dog dare you):

"Nice muskie but in all reality getting to be the norm in the muskie world, CPR has made the once 50" fish of a lifetime just another 50. We put 6 in the boat over 50 in 09 alone and have a few guys in the club that put several over 50 in their boats in 2010. To an outsider 50 is huge but as a muskie addict I see them weekly all season long and many pushing the 60" mark."


Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: surflizard on Feb 20, 2012, 03:48 PM
 :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Knoodles on Feb 20, 2012, 03:49 PM
Listen, here's the deal. I've read a large number of DB comments and have kept a civil tongue. For whatever reason, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.  So, in honor of your defense, I will post another DB comment.  EVERY time I see one or a defense/attack I will post another. This is fun, I have time, and let's be honest Esox has provided plenty of cannon fodder.

Here is the first example. Keep it up and more will follow. Some from this board some from others. As to my fish catching ability, it's probably up for debate but I've caught a few.

Example Number one from Tommy Topper, errrr EM (try to read this without falling over laughing, I double dog dare you):

[color=red]"Nice muskie but in all reality getting to be the norm in the muskie world, CPR has made the once 50" fish of a lifetime just another 50. We put 6 in the boat over 50 in 09 alone and have a few guys in the club that put several over 50 in their boats in 2010. To an outsider 50 is huge but as a muskie addict I see them weekly all season long and many pushing the 60" mark."[/color]

I think the topper needs there own thread.  This is funny as hell and would be great to see all the topper quotes.
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: Knoodles on Feb 20, 2012, 03:55 PM
Listen, here's the deal. I've read a large number of DB comments and have kept a civil tongue. For whatever reason, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.  So, in honor of your defense, I will post another DB comment.  EVERY time I see one or a defense/attack I will post another. This is fun, I have time, and let's be honest Esox has provided plenty of cannon fodder.

Here is the first example. Keep it up and more will follow. Some from this board some from others. As to my fish catching ability, it's probably up for debate but I've caught a few.

Example Number one from Tommy Topper, errrr EM (try to read this without falling over laughing, I double dog dare you):

[color=red]"Nice muskie but in all reality getting to be the norm in the muskie world, CPR has made the once 50" fish of a lifetime just another 50. We put 6 in the boat over 50 in 09 alone and have a few guys in the club that put several over 50 in their boats in 2010. To an outsider 50 is huge but as a muskie addict I see them weekly all season long and many pushing the 60" mark."[/color]

On a side note to this, when will people realize beauty is in the eye of the beholder?????  This really gets bad in whitetail hunting and rack size.  If you land it, shoot it, trap it, whatever it, and it is trophy to you great.  It is about our individual experience not what somone else tells us is our trophy.

I threw a couple of fish back that were an inch or so from what my buddies and I think is "trophy size" and I kick myself on occasion.  Best example was a 38" Northern bagged on a tip up.  We consider 40 the "trophy" size so I let it go.  Well I have never caught another gator even close to that big again and I often wonder how nice that 2" short fish would look on my wall.  I dont target Northern a lot so to me the 38 incher was a hog and trophy.  At least I have a few picks to remember the time. 
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: CrappieBuster on Feb 20, 2012, 04:43 PM
Nice fish man that things a beast bet she put up a tussle.  I got one just shy of 16 about 5 yrs back and still kick myself to this day for not mounting it.  Better get that one on the wall for sure.  @)

Best ive got since then was a skinny minnie 12er
Title: Re: i got a mounter! need a good taxidermist!
Post by: jumbo chaser on Feb 22, 2012, 08:21 PM
Great fish I got one that long but mine barely weighed 2 lbs yours is a huge chunky one put it on wall with your cool pike nice mounts great job ;D ;D ;D ;D