Hey guys I got a question about mounts. I'm not a fan of the replicas but don't want to kill a fish. Wanted to see what you guys would recommend when I land that first trophy fish (50+). What are you guys happy with and what cost should I set side for when it happens. My personal best is 42in but I'm hoping to hit the water hard this year with my fishing program for veterans. I plan on fishing for Pike, bass & panfish when taking veterans out but musky in my free time. Thanks guys
I'll be the first of pretty much everyone here to say GET THE REPLICA! If you don't like them, you have not seen Joe Fittante's work yet… <url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
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Anyhow, if you can make it to the ultimate sports show in Grand Rapids in a couple months, we usually have a booth there (and should this year?) where there will be 2-3 of the replicas there. I promise you it will change your mind. The durability, and lifelong finish of a replica that skin and varnish just don't have, are 2nd and 3rd on the list of things that make them better, right behind the right guys paint jobs.
Another guy that some people like is LAX reproductions. <url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
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As for price I would not be the best guy to ask, I assure you they are worth every penny. I would say $15 an inch for a one sided job is probably on par, and frankly I've seen guys locally do $10 for skin mounts, and they aren't that great…
Lastly, in the unfortunate case that a fish dies on you, you may as well get a skin mount right [smilie=dead.gif]
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but 95% of the musky/pike skin mounts I have seen look like absolute CRAP even when they are brand new. Let alone 10 years down the road…
It's a personal choice though, and I guess some people must like the look of skin mounts. In my opinion, these people have no appreciation for beauty, or realism, and have no forethought about how it is going look in the future [smilie=biggrin.gif]
The best freshwater replicas I've seen are done by Fittante. Hands down the best Muskie/Pike Replicas (many other freshwater species as well) I've ever seen. When it comes to Saltwater Replicas the best I've seen is Marine Creations. Unless you lose a trophy fish on accident then I wouldn't even consider a skin mount. Duke is dead accurate…95-100% of skin mounts I've ever seen look horrible! Faded, peeling, lack color, etc, etc. I have a 20" small creek Brown Trout skin mount that I tried to release and died on me so I had it mounted. It's the real fish and the skin mount looks nothing like the actual fish. The colors fade so fast and my wife has said many times "that's not the same fish". She's convinced it's a different fish but she's wrong. Always go the replica mount and don't short cut anything. Pay for the best. The good thing about Replicas is you can wait. A prime example is I have been tempted to get my first Tarpon on Fly mounted. It's a 155# fish but I'm waiting cause I hooked and fought much bigger Tarpon on fly in the 175# size. I just never landed one that big. So I'm gonna wait awhile and see if I can land bigger. Either way, to me getting a replica is more about the experience, story, how the fish was caught, etc etc than the actual size of fish. I got my first 50" fish done by Fittante and it's great but sure enough the following few seasons I've caught many more Muskies bigger and thicker. I immediately ordered it when I could have sat on it for a bit and sure enough I caught much bigger fish since then. Maybe I'll get more Muskie Replicas down the road but I'm working on the Tarpon and 40# Permit mount that I really want. Then my goal is to get a big Rooster Fish mounted because it's one the prettiest, coolest looking fish to have on a wall. Either way…go with Fittante for Freshwater and Marine Creations for Saltwater
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