MRDUX, Need an Expert Opinion

[bandchaser]

I have never caught a 3lb crappie, and when I do its going on the wall. We are leaving in a few days for the land of giants, so I need some help.

If I did happen to catch that mountable trophy, what is the best thing for me to do? Do I let a local mount it down there? Do I prep and package the trophy and bring it home to you to mount?
Or do I take measurements and plenty of photos for you to recreate it?

Thanks,
Brian

[wannabe fisherman]

I'm not MRDUX, but I'd take several measurements and photos of that guy and then invite him for dinner!

[M R Dux]

Brian, there are some good replica companies that make great reproductions that will be priced close to skin mount price. The fish will keep if you can keep it frozen but if you want to release (or eat) it, just some measurements and good pics of both sides is all a taxidermist would need to do a replica.

[bandchaser]

Thank you Dux!

[Slow Retrieve]

Brian, there are some good replica companies that make great reproductions that will be priced close to skin mount price. The fish will keep if you can keep it frozen but if you want to release (or eat) it, just some measurements and good pics of both sides is all a taxidermist would need to do a replica.

What is the best way to freeze a fish intended to keep for mounting? I have heard that you should first wrap in a wet towel prior to freezing yet I have also heard that disputed. Then once frozen how long can you keep it frozen prior to mounting or does that even matter?

Thanks

[M R Dux]

What is the best way to freeze a fish intended to keep for mounting? I have heard that you should first wrap in a wet towel prior to freezing yet I have also heard that disputed. Then once frozen how long can you keep it frozen prior to mounting or does that even matter?

Thanks

I've had crappie that were frozen for several years that were badly freezer burned that I had to replace the fins and tails on. If you can protect the fish until you get it to your taxidermist, freezing in a towel is OK. I recommend a fish be put in double garbage bags, all the air squeezed out and it tightly sealed. Put the date and other info on the outside of the package and freeze it on top of anything else in the freezer.

I almost ruined a guy's trophy bass a few years ago by vacuum sealing it. The vacuum process made the texture on the inside of the bag imprint into the soft tissue areas of the head, I had to rebuild much more than I would normally to get rid of the grid pattern.