Fishing Frenzy

Planning to mount the one that didn't get away? Immortalize that fishing trip by taking your trophy to the taxidermist to get it mounted. Get the best fish trophy for your money by following a few tips.

First, find a fish taxidermist before you go on your trip. You should look for a person who specializes in fish taxidermy, since this is a difficult field. You want somebody with lots of experience mounting fish. Look at your taxidermist's work. Do you love it? You'll have your trophy for a long time, so you want to make sure you get a fine piece of furniture. While you're there, talk to the fish taxidermist about the types of mounts you might want and the prices for various types of trophies.

Second, do some planning before you head out for your fishing trip. At the least, you'll need to bring a camera, some pliers, and material to pack the fish in. A photo of the fish right after you've caught it will be useful to the taxidermist for matching the natural colors. The pliers will come in handy if you have to get out a stubborn hook. Any damage to the fish will show up in the final mount, so be gentle. Lastly, you'll want to pack the fish in ice to preserve it. Since water make the colors fade faster, wrap the fish in plastic before you put the fish on ice.

Finally, put some thought into how you'll mount your fish before you bring it in. Do you want to put your fish on the coffee table or on a mantle? Do you want a small mount or a larger one with a plaque? Thinking about these questions before you bring your fish in will make things easier. Talk to your taxidermist to get the best advice. Good luck!