reproduction bass

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Sat Feb 15, 2003 9:19 pm

this is not a commercial but here goes - i have been doing skin mounts on bass for about 25 years - i was hammered so much this past year for repros that i spent some time learning to paint the boogers - i am sold on this type of mount - forget catch and release these babies look realer than real - the molders art is just fabulous nowadays - i got permission to hang a 10 pounder over the cash register at wal mart and everytime i go by a swear that fish winks at me - if you have never considered puttin a 'plastic fish' on your wall give in to it - they look great

dansfishntales · Post by **dansfishntales** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 1:19 am

You are correct on how some of these reproduction look. Improvements have been great.

A few years ago a taxidermist was going to paint one for me when I caught the All Tackle World Record Ice Fishing bass. He wanted to use it during outdoor shows for advertising. Unfortunately he never did it.

I've also seen some of them that the Illinois DNR has of the state record bluegill, which travels around to outdoor shows, etc. These are great.

Do you know if they have any of these for freshwater drum? I might be interested in getting one for my All Tackle Catch and Release World Record on this species.

Also, I've been thinking about getting a stringer of 7 fish I caught a few years ago (they were released), which would have weighed over 31 pounds. If interested, they were all caught on a fire tiger, Deep Little N.

As you can tell, I'm in complete agreement on these mounts. However, the paint jobs still are a big key to success.

Hopefully, if the prices come down enough, the better quality of these mounts will help encourage people towards more catch and release.
Dan

johnnie crain outdoors · Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:13 am

TerryR,
Good subject. We need more catch and release, the only drawback is the cost which I feel will soon be about the same. Perhaps, you could give all of us some information that would be needed for a replica mount, such as is a photo required, length, weight. girth, special markings etc. Hope to order one someday, just one strike away!! Johnnie Crain Iowa Pro Staff.

Don House · Post by **Don House** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 10:13 pm

TerryR, Thats good to here, I have been waiting to get three that I have pic's of to be mounted... All were catch and release.. What is the est.. "cost" of the rep mounts? Does size matter I heard that they could not be over 24" long?? What do you think..

EAT SLEEP FISH

LGBASS20LB · Post by **LGBASS20LB** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:29 am

I saw a replica of the World Record Largemouth Bass at 22lb 4oz with 3 Bluegill swimming through its mouth. It really looked amazing, I just couldn't imagine landing a fish of that size, it was A MONSTER!!!!! Replicas of fish might be an alternitive to mounting the actual fish, that way you can let it go to be caught another day.

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 1:30 am

Anytime you can put your bass on the wall and also put him back in the water is a plus for our sport. There is no good reason to kill a bass, least of all to mount him in this day and age.

Thanks terryr, your post has started another fine thread. And Dan, Johnnie, Don and Cole have contributed good comments. If we could just have a ball park estimate of the cost, perhaps we could put aside a few dollars a week for the next "Bubba Bass" we catch.

Much obliged to all of you. JoeM

PS- Dan, was the late Bill Norman alive at the time you caught that 31 lb. string and if so, did he know about the catch? He was one great gentleman.

dansfishntales · Post by **dansfishntales** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 7:00 am

Joe,
You are correct about Bill, or as he was known in our circle, Mr. Norman, being a great gentleman. Although it dates me a bit, I'm proud to say that he appointed me to the Norman Pro Staff in the 1970's. I still have several of the catalogs with his photo where he was wearing his hammered gold cross. I looked for a long time until I was able to find such a cross, and now wear it when I'm making seminar appearances.

Jim Howe now owns Norman Lures/Bull Dog Lures, but Bill Norman is still held in high regard at the company.

As for when these fish were caught, it was in 1991. The location, if that is the next question, was Lake George. I also hold the record for the largest bass caught in the lake, although I really didn't know it, nor the size. It was also caught on the fire tiger Deep Little N. That fish was a catch and release World Record, and after a newspaper reporter received the information he annouced I had the lake record at 10 pounds 22 ounces. I didn't miss type the weight, that is how it was reported.
Dan

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Fri Feb 21, 2003 3:42 am

Dan- I also called him Mr. Norman. He was a wonderful example of a true sportsman. I was also a Member of his Pro Staff in the mid to late 70's and remember when he sent me my first Deep Little N. Glad the Company still cherishes his memory. I know I do.

We appreciate your posts. Much obliged. I still owe you another e-mail. Joe