Artistic Anglers—Replica Taxidermy

  • blue-fleck
    Dresbach, MN
    Posts: 7872
    #1258036

    These guys do some fantastic work with replicas. Every year I stop by their booth at the NW Sports Show in the cities.

    They’d be on my top list of places to have a mount done. If I ever wanted a fish mount.

    http://www.artisticanglers.com

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #664291

    Yup, I couldn’t agree more. Their mounts are fantastic.

    Brad Juaire
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 6101
    #664299

    I agree Blue! Here’s a couple of walleyes that they did for me.

    scottsteil
    Central MN
    Posts: 3817
    #664306

    I used them for my first reproduction, now I use Fibertech, I prefer their work.

    timmy
    Posts: 1960
    #664323

    I had them do a musky replica for me in 1996. It looked awesome! After looking at it for a while, it seemd awful big…….. I took it down and put the tape to it. it was 4″ bigger than what I caught. AA’s respose was “I did’t think youd care if it was bigger…..”

    Long story short, after a heated debate, I got my refund and will never do business there again!

    Tim

    bailey99
    Posts: 253
    #664327

    I had the opportunity to really look over a LAX reproduction. I was really impressed with the quality of the mouth, throat, and gill plate. When I compared that fish to a skin mount next to it, the LAX looked better and more real.

    I looked at AA and Fintec a few years back and it seemed that LAX reproductions had a better mount than those two. But that was about 4-5 years ago.

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    #664344

    LAX seems to specialize in muskie and pike mounts. They do all species but the big toothy critters are definitely their strong suit.

    craig daugherty
    Osseo, Mn
    Posts: 689
    #664350

    Artistic Anglers gets my vote. They are very good with replicas.

    wade
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1737
    #664351

    who is LAX?

    wade
    Cottage Grove, MN
    Posts: 1737
    #664376

    Thanks James

    MN Musky
    Ham Lake/Mille Lacs, Mn
    Posts: 120
    #664379

    Dont forget to give Joe Fittante a look. He does incredible work. All of the names mentioned each do something particularly well. I like Joe for his ability to match the catch in his artistry and the lifelike eye area. With replicas make sure to shop size and molds available if you want an exact match.

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22456
    #664381

    I often wonder, how many Repo’s actually “represent” the fish you caught ? In other words, if the fish blank is 30 1/2 inch, and you caught a 29 3/4, do they actually make it right. 4 inches, is quite excessive I would think…

    big G

    Brad Juaire
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 6101
    #664386

    Years ago, they only had so many different sizes of molds made so they did the best they could. Now they make them in many different sizes and for walleyes, I’m pretty sure they can come within a 1/4″.

    I also know, AA insists that you include a photo with your graphite order. They still hand paint them to try and duplicate the colors of your fish in the photograph.

    timmy
    Posts: 1960
    #664392

    Quote:


    I often wonder, how many Repo’s actually “represent” the fish you caught ? In other words, if the fish blank is 30 1/2 inch, and you caught a 29 3/4, do they actually make it right. 4 inches, is quite excessive I would think…

    big G


    The 4 inch difference was excessive – and he explained the reason for it AFTER THE fact. I understand how the business works. My beef with the company was HOW the entire situation was handled. Basically, if I were not a stubborn S.O.B, then I would have had to deal with a response of “tough chit”. After everything was heated up, I returned the fish and was refunded my $$……but it was only after some threats of getting my money back one way or the other…..

    Could I have handled it differently – probably – but I did try being civil and it got me nowhere. Maybe I dealt with him on a bad day, but my impression of him was that he was an arrogant a-hole.

    Tim

    Brad Juaire
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts: 6101
    #664398

    Sorry Timmy that your experience was not good with AA (and you have good reasons to feel that way). Back in 1996 (12 years ago) I believe AA was just starting out and most likely didn’t have their business process/customer service perfected yet. For both of my replicas, I had a good experience and paid for what I expected. One was in 2000 and the other in 2005.

    I’ve also directed some of my clients to AA and they also have had good experiences.

    I’m sure AA has learned from their early mistakes and are much wiser on how they conduct their business today.

    howler
    bagley wi.
    Posts: 609
    #664411

    They do nice work. I had a sauger and eye done by Wildlife Creations when selling for Bass Pro.They where cheaper, than others and thats the workmanship I got.

    dr_hook
    Minnestrista
    Posts: 203
    #664420

    I’ll chime in with Scott regarding Fiber Tech. Knowing there was an additonal expense for the reproduction, I was very skeptical of these “mounts”. I drove up to their showroom and was in awe of their product. Equally, I was impressed with the number of molds they had (to ensure accurate length and girth). They also wanted pictures of the catch, as they want the end product to look exactly like the catch…..even to the point they will repaint it if you are not satisfied.

    My smallie (a 21.5″) from Monticello area turned out beautifully…it had a deep green color compared to most “bronze backs”, and I wanted the end product to reflect that color. They hit it perfectly.

    Lastly, do not use the pictures on their (or any other) website to determine quality. I learned quickly these pictures do not give any justice to the end product(s).

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22456
    #664425

    Dr. Hook, I will need more information as to this “lake” near Monticello, to check this out further

    big G

    Logan
    Big Lake, MN
    Posts: 389
    #664451

    I had FiberTech do my King Salmon last year and was real impressed and would do it again.

    Staggo
    Posts: 36
    #664460

    Can U point me the way to fibertech web site.

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    #664509

    Matt and his crew does a great job at Artistic Anglers. I have seen many mounts that came from there, never have I seen a bad one.
    I hope one day to get a smallie from them, just need to catch one big enough first.

    Ron

    MFO
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts: 1451
    #664516

    AA has done all my mounts for me and many for my clients.

    scottsteil
    Central MN
    Posts: 3817
    #664578

    What sold me on Fibertech was the fact that when they saw my picture they asked if that fish came for the Rainy River, and it did. The gold color of the fish reflects a typical resident rainy river fish. They do very good work, I have had 4 reproductions done at Fibertech and I am very happy with each.

    rangerski
    North Metro
    Posts: 539
    #665664

    Quote:


    Dr. Hook, I will need more information as to this “lake” near Monticello, to check this out further I would guess the football came out of the ol’ Miss!

    baldwin4
    NE IA
    Posts: 736
    #665708

    Thanx for posting all the info. Just talked to Mike at fibertech to have him do a walleye mount for my son’s high school graduation present from me. He caught a 29″ walleye this fall at Mille Lac

    dr_hook
    Minnestrista
    Posts: 203
    #665712

    Big G…..it was not from a lake…..

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