After many years I finally caught a musky over 50″ (53″) this weekend. My fishing buddies also scored a 51″ and a 43″. Would like to have a replica made. I see LAX and Fittante advertise heavily but they are quite a drive from Southern Minnesota. Anyone know of a good place in Minnesota??
LAX visits various muskie expos in the spring time and he will bring your replica there if you want to pick it up at one of the expos.
I had the very same issue back in 2020/2021 for a tiger muskie replica he made. Conover, WI is a haul from where I am so I went to Wausau for a muskie expo in March and picked it up there. I would have just gone to the one in the Twin Cities but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. I believe the MN Muskie Expo is in March as well, maybe at the fairgrounds or Cantebury Park?
The other option is that you can have it shipped. I prefer to not go this route because I worry about it getting damaged but lots of people do it without an issue.
Wow post pictures of those two! And the story. I would 100% use lax. Not cheap but the work looks great from seeing them at expos.
Anglers Touch in East Bethel
Fibertech in Nisswa. Can’t say I keep up on it, but last time I looked they do good work and is who I will be using once I finally pull the trigger.
LAX visits various muskie expos in the spring time and he will bring your replica there if you want to pick it up at one of the expos.
I had the very same issue back in 2020/2021 for a tiger <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>muskie replica he made. Conover, WI is a haul from where I am so I went to Wausau for a <em class=”ido-tag-em”>muskie expo in March and picked it up there. I would have just gone to the one in the Twin Cities but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. I believe the MN Muskie Expo is in March as well, maybe at the fairgrounds or Cantebury Park?
The other option is that you can have it shipped. I prefer to not go this route because I worry about it getting damaged but lots of people do it without an issue.
This is what I did also. I had LAX do it and he brought it to the Muskie Expo in St Paul.
This is what I did also. I had LAX do it and he brought it to the Muskie Expo in St Paul.
I think he’s raised his prices since I had mine done in 2020/2021. Still the best in the business when it comes to esox replicas though.
Should have killed it. Skin mounts are awesome.
Should have killed it. Skin mounts are awesome.
Not legal they have to be 54 inches for pure strain, and 40 inches for tigers.
You should not have to visit the taxidermist. I have had three mounts done. All they should need are photos and specs like length and weight. Good luck.
Never said what strain it was. I only said it cause if someone says they kept a fish to mount dont matter what size kind or shape your usually the first one to jump them for killing it.
Not legal they have to be 54 inches for pure strain, and 40 inches for tigers.
Never said what strain it was.
53 inch tiger muskie is basically unheard of. The state record isn’t even that big.
If someone wants to keep a legal fish and get a skin mount, that’s their business.
Congrats to the OP on a trophy caliber fish.
Wouldnt be a musky thread without some debate on keeping one 
Make sure to measure your fish you get from lax. I know a couple who’ve got replicas back that were different sizes and not just a little. He does do a good job painting them.
Artistic anglers out of Duluth does nice musky replicas too.
I had LAX do a northern for me that he shipped to me in December 2022 (fish was caught/released in February 2022). He was substantially cheaper than where I have had walleyes done in the past based on the per/inch of the fish cost. At the time, I reached out to the person that did my walleyes and his cost was over $5/in more just on the fish, not counting what the background would cost
The finish on the northern is a higher gloss finish which really makes the fish pop in the light so to speak. My walleyes are more of a matte finish, but are also very good looking replicas
Im not saying either place did a better job by any means, they all look great but I think LAX specializes in Musky and Northerns moreso than some other places. I think he did the replica of the MN state record a couple years ago?
I think LAX specializes in Musky and Northerns moreso than some other places. I think he did the replica of the MN state record a couple years ago?
He definitely specializes in the esox species. Pure strain muskies, pike, and tiger muskies. But he does other replicas too, and still does a few skin mounts. He has received awards for his muskie replicas.
He most recently did a skin mount of the new MN state pure strain muskie caught November 2021 out of Mille Lacs. That fish was caught the week of Thanksgiving and it was deep hooked and it did not survive, so the person who caught it was able to get it certified on a scale as the new state record, besting the previous one caught in 1957. There is a replica of that fish at Thorne Brothers in Blaine when you walk in above the door now too.
He definitely specializes in the esox species. Pure strain muskies, pike, and tiger muskies. But he does other replicas too, and still does a few skin mounts. He has received awards for his muskie replicas.
If I ever get another walleye of trophy size, I will certainly check with LAX about a replica
Artistic Anglers in Duluth does an excellent job. They have done a few things for me in the past, including a pike as well as a 26 inch brook trout replica that was picked up today (caught by my teenage son). Lighting isn’t great, but here is a photo of that beauty.
IMG_1294-scaled.jpeg
Fibertech in Nisswa. Can’t say I keep up on it, but last time I looked they do good work and is who I will be using once I finally pull the trigger.
Mike Thelen does great work. Not only have I had mounts done there, I’ve had them touch up and repaint other mounts too.
Thanks for all the replies. One of these places will definitely work.
Artistic Anglers in Duluth does an excellent job.
X2 for Artistic Anglers. They did this 50.5 incher. My granddaughter named it Molly.
Molly-scaled.jpg
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