Ever thought of a replica catfish?

I don’t think from the sounds of this forum that you guys would be interested in a skin mounted flat head.

But I do replicas!

I’m looking for the length and girth of this fish, but I haven’t found it yet.

Here’s some simple suggestions if you are thinking of having a replica made.

1) Pictures Pictures Pictures from every angle. If your fish is missing an eye for example i can make your mount look exactly like the one you caught with a close up picture of the irregularity.

2. Length from the nose to the top of the tail.

3. Length from the nose to the bottom of the tail

4. Girth take photos of where you take your girth measurements and take a number of them. About every 5 inches or so.
5. Take close up photos of the parts of the fish that make it different from the rest. Jaws on flat heads are very unique.
6. Pictures pictures and more pictures.
7. Pictures with plenty of light!

Because there are so many variables like how you want it mounted and with what kind of background or in a table, I can’t give quotes over the net. Please give me a call.

I can do replicas with out the above information, it becomes a guessing game on my end.

Good luck fishing for the big one this year!

Nice looking work Do you do anything other than BK fish? Let me know. I have a few I need done to go along with the 23 1/2 inch smallie.

John

Thanks John,

I’ve been doing this for over 30 years. There isn’t much I haven’t done. I’ve stopped doing poisonous snakes, but everything from Giraffes to Zebras to 104 pound lake sturgeon to smallies.

I just put up some pictures of muskies and northerns in the muskie forum.

Here’s a couple smallies I did.

Those are replicas. They just don’t show up on a computer very well. But it should give you an idea.

I think this would look nice just inside a flat head mouth.

How ’bout a carp replica?? I did not keep the fish….How do you do a replica without the fish? The only carp molds I’ve been shown from other taxidermists just don’t look right as they are usually European fish and are the only ones available for the size I need.

Ok, I can handle sunfish and carp in the cat forum….but what’s up with the bass!?

I forgot. I have to be a little more careful where I post the fighting fish.

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How ’bout a carp replica?? I did not keep the fish….How do you do a replica without the fish? The only carp molds I’ve been shown from other taxidermists just don’t look right as they are usually European fish and are the only ones available for the size I need.

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I never have a fish when I do a replica. Well thats almosts 100% true. Picture and measurements is all I need. See the first post above.
I can make a replica with just measurements but it’s not going to look like the one you caught because it never fails. The translation from your eye to your mouth to my ear to what I create always loses something.

That’s why pictures are so important.

The best thing I can tell you is to give me a call. You might get the recorder because I’m working on mounts, but I’ll call you back as soon as I get the hair, feathers or glue off my fingers.

I’ll call tomorrow. I only have one picture of the fish.

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I never have a fish when I do a replica. Well thats almosts 100% true. Picture and measurements is all I need. See the first post above.
I can make a replica with just measurements but it’s not going to look like the one you caught because it never fails. The translation from your eye to your mouth to my ear to what I create always loses something.

That’s why pictures are so important.

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There was a conversation on here about early season walleye I’ve asked another replica maker (Matt at Artistic Anglers).

I’ll ask you the same question.
I was having a conversation on early season females (walleye and sauger) that are huge and short. There was a 30″ walleye that went 13.3# a few weekends back.

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I’ve always advocated that replicas were superior to a real fish mount.

A typical lake or typical river with the 25″ walleye that is 5lbs yes a replica is more than likely the way to go, however on pool 4 the fish are freakish and most places, I know Dean has looked and called and researched, dont have replicas that can duplicate a pool 4 fish. You cant find a replica of a 27″ fish thats pushing 9lbs they just dont make the molds for the fish of that kind of freakish nature.

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Is this true? Are the molds not representitive of a fish like this?

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Ok, I can handle sunfish and carp in the cat forum….but what’s up with the bass!?

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Bass?!?!? who would want to mount baitfish

Now I’m going to get yelled at for talking walleyes in the catfish forum.

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Is this true? Are the molds not representitive of a fish like this?

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This is true. River walleyes have much different dimensions than a lake fish of the same size. To fix this, I’ve partnered with a river fisherman to have new molds made that will reflect these types of fish. I am hoping to have some examples soon, but I’m at the mercy of a supplier and I have customers that want there mounts in a timely manner. I’m hesitant to give a time frame when these will be done, but the sooner the better is what I’m trying for.

I once saw a pretty cool looking head mount like a deer for a big flattie. Could you do one of those and how much would it be?

Whiskerkev,

I’m not exactly sure what your meaning is. Give me a call so I have a better idea and I can give you a price.

The mount was just the head of the fish just behind the gills like it was swimming out of the wall.