-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Rut Reporters
- Deer Camp
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Catchbook
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
- Hook Shots
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Health & Fitness
- F&S Adventurer
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
-
- Rifles
- Shotguns
- 2nd Amendment
- SHOT Show
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
A Crate of Fish Mounts and a Flood of Memories
Recent Comments
Categories
- Ammunition (1)
- Animal Attacks (4)
- Bass Fishing (267)
- Big Game Hunting (1)
- Bird Hunting (1)
- Bow Hunting (2)
- Camping Gear (3)
- Close Calls (3)
- Deer Hunting (1)
- DIY (1)
- Fire (1)
- First-Aid (2)
- Fishing (721)
- Fishing Gear (52)
- Fly Fishing (237)
- Gear (43)
- Guns (2)
- Hook Shots (1)
- Hunting (7)
- Hunting Gear (3)
- More Freshwater (250)
- Other Survival (4)
- Rifles (1)
- Saltwater (226)
- Shelter (1)
- Shooting Gear (1)
- Shotguns (1)
- Small Game (1)
- Survival (11)
- Survival Gear (2)
- Trout Fishing (276)
- Trucks (3)
Recent Posts
- Vintage Tackle Contest: Soap-A-Lure
- Peeing Swimmers Kill 500 Fish in Germany
- 40-Pound Kamikaze Barracuda Launches Assault on Anglers
- Protect Your Skin: How to Use Sunscreen and Keep it Off Your Lures
- Killer Snakeheads: The Real and the Hollywood Varieties
- Vintage Tackle Contest: Whirlaway Rod & Reel Combo
- What Were Some of Your Milestone Rods?
- Smallmouth Jerkbait Tips from Bass Pro Bill Lowen
- How to Free-Line Live-Bait Minnows to Catch Shy Brown Trout
- Vintage Tackle Contest: Heddon Crazy Crawler
Archives
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
Syndicate
The Honest Angler
in your Inbox
January 18, 2012
A Crate of Fish Mounts and a Flood of Memories
by Joe Cermele
It's a bit like a belated Christmas morning in the F&S offices today. Without giving away the details, I'm working on a little project that required securing six replica mounts of true trophy-sized specimens. The fine folks at King Sailfish Mounts were happy to help us out, and the crate, as you can see in the photo, has arrived. Funny thing is, even though none of these mounts represent specific fish that I or anyone in the office caught, I want them all. I just have a thing for mounts, though in the end I could never hang one of a fish I didn't catch. It was still fun to crack open that crate and marvel at the replicas, though, which reminded me of the first mount I ever had made, and what it was like seeing it for the first time.
I had begged for a fish mount--any fish mount--basically since I was old enough to talk. However, it wasn't until 2001 that I finally caught a fish I thought was genuinely worthy of hanging on the wall. It was a 21-inch brown trout from the South Branch of the Raritan River in New Jersey, and what made it extra special was that it was my first trout over 20 inches on the fly. It also happened to eat a fly I tied. So I convinced my Dad to pay for the job as an early birthday gift.
At the time, I knew nothing about replica mounts, and frantically searched for the best taxidermist as my trout lay on ice in the garage, carefully wrapped in moist paper towels. I found Dave Tuttle, an award winning taxidermist, about an hour from home. When I got there, he took one look at the fish and said, "don't you want to eat that thing?" Then he explained the benefits of a replica mount, took some pictures, assured me he'd make a carbon copy, and off I went with my fish. Skin, Dave said, was not the way to go anymore.
When I got the call 6 months later that my trout was ready, I couldn't drive to Dave's fast enough. When he brought the trout out of the back room, so perfectly matched and painted, I was instantly hooked on fish mounts.
Do you remember the excitement of seeing your first one? Was it all you could have hoped for?
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Loading...
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
Fieldandstream.com is part of the Field & Stream Network, a division of Bonnier Corporation.
Copyright © 2012 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Comments (8)
I caught a 90 inch sailfish a few years back and decided to purchase a replica (pic in my profile). I ended up buying one from Grays Taxidermy. I'd stay clear from Grays. There is a whole lot of fine print in their contract and its all there to gouge the customer. Also, when the sailfish arrived there was a paint run on the fin. I'm embarrassed to say what the total cost to get this mediocre mount on my wall. I'll try Kings next time.
My first mount wasn’t the best looking. But that’s my fault. It was a good sized brook trout that I had caught in 2 seconds of putting my bait in the water but it is still a great memory and I always appreciate it whenever I look at it.
Joe, although I've caught many mount worthy fish in the 57 or so years that I've been fishing, I never really had the means at those particular times to have one mounted. And that, I have always regretted. So a couple of years ago, when my (7 yrs. old at the time) grandson Louie caught & released a 14 pound bass, unbeknownst to him, I was determined to get a replica made for him. The fish made the local paper, and he recieved a "Big Fish Citation" from the State of Florida, and so he already realized how special the fish was. So with pictures, weight, and measurements, and a fist full of dollars, I went to a local Taxidermist and had it done. All the time that it took to be finished, Louie would often say "man, I wish we could have gotten that big ol' bass mounted" and I'd say "yeah, me too, but we just couldn't afford it". About six weeks later, when it was finished, I went down and picked it up, took it home and hung it on his bedroom wall. That day when he came home from school, I'll never forget the look on his face when he first saw it hanging up there. Priceless!!!
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/trophyroom/recent/single?pnid=10014...
I have never had a fish mounted. Don't know why because I have a couple dozen animals mounted and hanging from various places.
I have never had a fish mounted. I have caught a few that were worthy, but never wanted to kill one just for the mount. I may have to look into having a replica made off of a few photos. What a great idea!
I got my first one done when i was 12 years old its a 14 1/2 perch i was so surprised by it and just before i went to fillet it my grandpa came over and asked what i was dong with it and i said well i guess we're going to eat it. He said you know i could bring that to the taxidermist for you. I couldn't pass it up i have yet to catch or see one from the area that has been that big not in spawning season. I just caught a 14inch brookie out of a small stream so a beautiful fish and i met a friend at school whose dad is doing it for me. His dorm room at school had a good example of his dads work about 16 of them to be exact lol.
I had my first one done about 3-4 years ago. It is a skin mount (22" smallmouth) and my guy did a really good job. I've heard plenty of arguments for both skin vs replicas; and I've seen good and bad examples of each. I don't know that I really prefer one over the other as long as its a good mount. But I have to say... even after only one on the wall I am absolutely hooked. I really hope to have a good collection of several different species when I get to be an old timer.
I would think about getting a replica mount...if I ever caught a big enough fish. How much are you guys paying for them?
Post a Comment
Joe, although I've caught many mount worthy fish in the 57 or so years that I've been fishing, I never really had the means at those particular times to have one mounted. And that, I have always regretted. So a couple of years ago, when my (7 yrs. old at the time) grandson Louie caught & released a 14 pound bass, unbeknownst to him, I was determined to get a replica made for him. The fish made the local paper, and he recieved a "Big Fish Citation" from the State of Florida, and so he already realized how special the fish was. So with pictures, weight, and measurements, and a fist full of dollars, I went to a local Taxidermist and had it done. All the time that it took to be finished, Louie would often say "man, I wish we could have gotten that big ol' bass mounted" and I'd say "yeah, me too, but we just couldn't afford it". About six weeks later, when it was finished, I went down and picked it up, took it home and hung it on his bedroom wall. That day when he came home from school, I'll never forget the look on his face when he first saw it hanging up there. Priceless!!!
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/trophyroom/recent/single?pnid=10014...
I caught a 90 inch sailfish a few years back and decided to purchase a replica (pic in my profile). I ended up buying one from Grays Taxidermy. I'd stay clear from Grays. There is a whole lot of fine print in their contract and its all there to gouge the customer. Also, when the sailfish arrived there was a paint run on the fin. I'm embarrassed to say what the total cost to get this mediocre mount on my wall. I'll try Kings next time.
My first mount wasn’t the best looking. But that’s my fault. It was a good sized brook trout that I had caught in 2 seconds of putting my bait in the water but it is still a great memory and I always appreciate it whenever I look at it.
I have never had a fish mounted. Don't know why because I have a couple dozen animals mounted and hanging from various places.
I have never had a fish mounted. I have caught a few that were worthy, but never wanted to kill one just for the mount. I may have to look into having a replica made off of a few photos. What a great idea!
I got my first one done when i was 12 years old its a 14 1/2 perch i was so surprised by it and just before i went to fillet it my grandpa came over and asked what i was dong with it and i said well i guess we're going to eat it. He said you know i could bring that to the taxidermist for you. I couldn't pass it up i have yet to catch or see one from the area that has been that big not in spawning season. I just caught a 14inch brookie out of a small stream so a beautiful fish and i met a friend at school whose dad is doing it for me. His dorm room at school had a good example of his dads work about 16 of them to be exact lol.
I had my first one done about 3-4 years ago. It is a skin mount (22" smallmouth) and my guy did a really good job. I've heard plenty of arguments for both skin vs replicas; and I've seen good and bad examples of each. I don't know that I really prefer one over the other as long as its a good mount. But I have to say... even after only one on the wall I am absolutely hooked. I really hope to have a good collection of several different species when I get to be an old timer.
I would think about getting a replica mount...if I ever caught a big enough fish. How much are you guys paying for them?
Post a Comment