True Slab

Went out Saturday evening for a couple hours for a meat run on the AR river near my house. After catching some white bass I hooked into this toad and thought I had hooked another white bass the way she was running until I saw the big mouth come floppin around. Really got the ole heart pumping. The smaller fish was a decent 12 inch fish for reference.
!Attachment 233824Attachment 233825Attachment 233823

Yes sir! That's a good one!

What are you doing with it? You mounting it or eating it? Save me the head if you are just going to eat it, and I'll age it and tell you how old she was.

Wow! Nice fish.

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Originally Posted by D10

What are you doing with it? You mounting it or eating it? Save me the head if you are just going to eat it, and I'll age it and tell you how old she was.

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Ahh, I wish I would have posted sooner and I would have saved the head, I've already put it back into the ecosystem.I'll know from now on though! I did eat her like I said I was on a meat run for dinner. She made a fine sammich. On a side note though I think anything over 2.5 I'm gonna throw back from now on I felt bad after putting a knife in her knowing that she's had a long journey.

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Originally Posted by rzrbakhunter

Ahh, I wish I would have posted sooner and I would have saved the head, I've already put it back into the ecosystem.I'll know from now on though! I did eat her like I said I was on a meat run for dinner. She made a fine sammich. On a side note though I think anything over 2.5 I'm gonna throw back from now on I felt bad after putting a knife in her knowing that she's had a long journey.

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Don't feel bad for keeping the big ones! We (AGFC) dont have much data on 3+ pounders. We need that info! Sacraficing in the name of science is always a worthy cause (IMHO)!

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Originally Posted by D10

Don't feel bad for keeping the big ones! We (AGFC) dont have much data on 3+ pounders. We need that info! Sacraficing in the name of science is always a worthy cause (IMHO)!

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Well if you say so!:biggrin If I ever get the chance to experience another 3lber I will keep you in mind! I feel like its beginners luck and more than likely wont happen again. I will also inform my friends if they catch one to keep the head for me!

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Originally Posted by rzrbakhunter

Well if you say so!:biggrin If I ever get the chance to experience another 3lber I will keep you in mind! I feel like its beginners luck and more than likely wont happen again. I will also inform my friends if they catch one to keep the head for me!

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Awesome! Thanks!

Just in case I ever catch a 3lber, freezing it won't hurt will it?
I have caught one but may never again, but if I do I got your number.

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Originally Posted by slackline

Just in case I ever catch a 3lber, freezing it won't hurt will it?
I have caught one but may never again, but if I do I got your number.

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No sir. Cut the head off, put it in a zip lock with a piece of paper that has the following things on it written in pencil:
-date caught
-location
-length (accurate up to 1/8th inch)
-weight (pounds and ounces)

If yall can do that, I can do the rest!

And of course, put the zip lock with head in the freezer and call me.

nice fish for sure!!!
after my three pounder many
years ago, I've been stuck on
2.10 to 2.13........




cm

Barn door !:cheers2

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Originally Posted by D10

No sir. Cut the head off, put it in a zip lock with a piece of paper that has the following things on it written in pencil:
-date caught
-location
-length (accurate up to 1/8th inch)
-weight (pounds and ounces)

If yall can do that, I can do the rest!

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If I can ever hook up with another one you will get the head. Data on fish like that would interest me.

Chris

Nice one!!!!

Great Catch!!!

Great fish, congrats!

Yikes, that's nice.

Nice catch.

Holy Crap WAT A TOAD!!!!!!! Congrats!

Matt.....I am starting to convert my profession over to taxidermy. I have been mounting things for almost 10 years but only did it on the side for fun. My question is.....Is there anyway I can salvage part of the fish that you need and it not mess up the mount?

Great fish!!!

That's a monster! I've never even laid eyes on a 3 lber. But I will definitely save it if I do now that I know there's research to be done. How old is the "average" 3 lber?

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Originally Posted by LowePro

Matt.....I am starting to convert my profession over to taxidermy. I have been mounting things for almost 10 years but only did it on the side for fun. My question is.....Is there anyway I can salvage part of the fish that you need and it not mess up the mount?

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Yes you can. I have a deal worked out at a local taxidermist in Conway. They used to call me when ever a big fish came in and I would remove the otoliths from the skull as they were skinning it out. Eventually they saw me do it so many times, that they figured it out and now they remove them and just record the info of the fish for me and I come pick the otoliths up. I just need to show you how it is done. It is pretty easy!

Congratulations that is a pretty fish.

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Originally Posted by stoagpawpaw

That's a monster! I've never even laid eyes on a 3 lber. But I will definitely save it if I do now that I know there's research to be done. How old is the "average" 3 lber?

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I have only aged three 3 pounders, so I hesitate to say what the average age is. They were also all from different lakes in the district. This is why I NEED this data. I cant reliably say what the average age of a 3 pounder is. I think that in Arkansas a fish that grows to over three pounds is a little different that the rest of its brothers and sisters. It eats a little more and grows a little faster than the rest. I don't think that they are that much older than smaller fish, I think they just grow faster (competitive advantage). The short answer is at least 5 years old (from the three that I have aged).

Nice congrats!

Nice slab congrats

That's a good Un.

very NICE INDEED!!

Double WOW!!!!!