Based on the heading, you probably can tell that this article will deal with a subject in two different ways, and that would be the correct assumption. I would first like to talk about what I am calling "Doing the Right Thing". It doesn't matter if you are a hunter or a fishermen, every true sports person I know has a deep respect for the fish or game that they seek. Fishermen are unique because they have the ability to take a trophy of a lifetime and then set it free to enrich the environment and maybe the experience of another angler. Yes, I am talking about catch and release or "doing the right thing". I am sure that everyone has heard the expression "Practice CPR", which is catch, photograph, and release. That is really great, and I am all for it, but there are times when a picture is not enough, you want something to hang on the wall. With today's technology you don't need to kill the fish to make it a reality. A graphite reproduction can be made of your trophy fish, and the fish can be released unharmed. If you have never looked at a reproduction mount done by a true professional, you have missed perfection in art. My wife and I have two graphite reproductions (musky and smallmouth) which are virtually impossible to distinguish from live fish, much less mounted ones. If they were underwater, I couldn't tell them from their live counterparts. So why should you get a graphite mount:
In putting this article together I contacted Lax Taxidermy in Conver, Wisconsin for some information. I had both of my mounts done by Lax a few years ago, and never regreted my choice, their work is outstanding, more about them later. Lax recommends good colored pictures, and measurements that include length and girth. It should be noted that you are not making watches so don't over stress the fish to get it down to that last 1/8 of inch on any measurement. Like horseshoes, close is good enough. You literally take the pictures, measurements, and $100.00 down to get your mount started. Lax literally will use those photos to reproduce the color and pattern of your fish on the reproduction. Please understand like with any good taxidermy work, this does take time. It is not unusual to wait a year for the finished product, but you need to ask. When I had my mounts done in 1997-98 the price was $15.00 (U.S.) an inch for a graphite reproduction, and $9.00 (U.S.) an inch for a skin mount. I still chose to do a reproduction for the reasons stated above. Today, whether you are doing a skin mount (hope not) or a graphite reproduction, the price is the same - $12.00 (U.S.) an inch. As you can quickly calculate, a good size fish isn't going to be cheap, but most things that are worthwhile typically cost. You will probably set limits on what you consider mountable. I told myself that I wasn't going to mount anything under 45" (musky), but almost reconsidered on a couple of nice 44 1/2's, but I stuck to my guns. I got a reproduction of a 47 1/2" one shown below, and now I have set a new minimum of 50+ on the next one. Again, I have been tempted with 48's and 49, but I know what I want.
The one above adorns my fireplace. In case you are wondering, that is a 14 inch perch that those jaws have a grip on.
I know it is to late for Christmas 2002 to get a mount, but they are absolutely the best gift you can give a family member or a special friend. You probably have been with that special fishing partner when he/she landed a fabulous fish. It is very possible that some discussion may have went on about mounting it, but for some reason (most often economic), they decided maybe the next time. Potentially later, they may have even said, "Gee, I wish I would have had it mounted. I am never going to catch another one like that again". Well guess what, you can get that mount of a fish long gone. That musky above was caught a few short miles from Lax Taxidermy (Lac Vieux Desert), and the next day my wife and I went to Lax to discuss a replica. While we were there she was looking at all of the great replica mounts and said, "I should have had that smallmouth mounted". She had caught it 4 years before. I told her that one fish getting mounted was enough, and we left. Upon arriving back home, I got a picture and made a phone call to Lax Taxidermy about getting the Smallmouth done. They did it and I gave it to my wife for Christmas. She never suspected a thing, and literally broke into tears. It was the kind of crying that makes a guy feel good. Here is a picture of her fish (taken 5 years after she received the mount), a beautiful 22" smallmouth bass.
My motives for this article are simple, PLEASE, PLEASE release larger species of any fish, particularly musky, northern pike and smallmouth. These species take a lot of years to grow and are precious.
I would also suggest that you can relive the moment by getting a graphite reproduction. I have mentioned Lax Taxidermy multiple times in this write-up and I would like share the information that I received from them. Again, I don't often recommend any business or establishment, but I am making an exception. Lax Taxidermy has impressed me with the quality of their work. The following is the information that I received from them exactly as I received it.
The photo at the top is a picture of a musky reproduction. The photo at the
bottom is a picture of what the mouths on all of our replicas look like. Instead
of the gills being closed like most replicas, our's are open and see through.
If you have good photo's of the fish we will need them to reproduce an exact
replica. We are able to determine a very close estimate of the girth by the photo's,
so if you have more than one we would appreciate it. Also, we paint the fish from
the photo's, so coloring is important as well. If you don't have any photo's with
good coloring, let us know the lake you caught it out of. It's amazing the different
color schemes that come out of various lakes. In any case, we will make you proud.
Replica's are $12.00 an inch. Shipping is available for an additional $55.00.
The driftwood you see behind the fish is optional. If you choose to have the fish
mounted on driftwood it would be an extra $1.00 and inch charge. We also have
plaques available that the fish can be mounted on stating the length, girth, date
caught, person who caught it, lake it was caught on etc. available as well.
If you would like to place an order, we request a $100.00 deposit to get
started. The balance is due upon completion of the fish which takes around 8 to
10 months.
If you have any other questions feel free to contact us at
our e-mail address, phone 715-547-3710 or by mail at Lax Taxidermy 5455 Hwy 45
Conover, WI 54519. Also, check out our web sight www.laxreproductions.com
for more information and photos. If you would like to place an order, you
can do so at the web sight.
Click the mailbox to e-mail. Last updated on ... December 20, 2002