mounting bass

LGBASS20LB · Post by **LGBASS20LB** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 1:05 am

Say you caught another trophy bass and you really wanted this one mounted, would most of you get a replica mount or would you want the real fish? I would get a replica because i would always like to see a big fish swim again, i'm just wondering what you guys would do. Thanks

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 1:20 am

Depends on the condition of the bass at the time of release! If I thought for a minute that the bass would not survive I would keep it to have it skin mounted. Otherwise I agree I would like to see the trophy released to catch some other time. Don't get me wrong...I think that skin mounts look 100% better than the fiberglass ones but I guess you would have to check your priorities.

Dennis Bligh Jr · Post by **Dennis Bligh Jr** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 2:36 am

I would get a replica mount for a trophy fish. But what if you caught the world record? Mount it? I guess I would have to be in the position to make a decision.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:32 pm

I agree with the above post that if I thought the bass might not make it I would have a skin mount done.
Last fall while smallmouth fishing I beached my boat on a productive ledge and caught over 100 smallmouth in 5 hours, catching bass from 2 - 4 lbs on almost every cast. Just as the sun dipped below the horizon the bite slowed and I had to go to lighter line and smaller baits to continue the fast action. I hooked into a smallmouth just shy of 6lbs with a 6' med light rod and 6lb test mono. The size and strenght of the bass along with very strong deep current alowed the bass to make a very long run. When I tried to chase the bass downstream I found my boat was lodged ( dont use your trolling motor as an anchor!! ) and I could not free it. It took me 20 minutes to land the bass.
After serious consideration I decided to mount this fish. Yes it was my biggest smallmouth from the Susquehanna and that did have something to do with the thought of mounting this fish, but I honestly felt I had fought the bass to near death. And it died shrotly after placing it in the livewell.
I feel I owe it to this bass to immortalize it by honoring its memory with a good mount. This is only one of 2 fish I have delibrately killed over the last 5 years.

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Sun Aug 24, 2003 5:20 pm

I have a 6-8 skin mount largemouth done by Bass Pro. It was from 1991 and it still looks great. I wish I never mounted the fish because I've taken so many more fish that were larger. I won't ever mount another bass.......well, maybe a big pea**** bass if I ever get to South America

johnnie crain outdoors · Mon Aug 25, 2003 4:08 am

Cole, I agree with most that replicas, best serve our industry of fishing. We need to keep the large fish gene pool intact. I however; offer another alternative. How about taking a quality photo of you and the fish, releasing the hawg and having a good quality enlargement of the photo nicely framed. Serves the same purpose, is less expensive and the big one still lives. I hope that soon you get that lunker and can decide on your own what to do. Good luck, Johnnie