i caught a tiger on loon back then that was around 2# shy of the record. that was the most beautiful fish id ever caught. that one had turquois stripes that looked metallic. i wish we still had some. i was going to have her mounted. she rested up on the stringer for a while, then tail walked and broke off. i was bummed to say the least. after the fact i realized how much it would have cost and wasnt so sad then. lol
Yeah those taxidermists are rich I tell ya!
I had a woman call me one day years ago. Was asking how much it would cost to mount her grandson's fish. When I told her she replied with, "That's highway robbery!" Was having a bad day that day, and found that rather insulting so I replied with: "O.K. here's what ya do. Put the fish in a clear plastic bag and whenever you or your grandson want to admire the fish just pull it out of the freezer." And then I hung up.
Truthfully even as a taxidermist, considering the ease and high quality of photography these days, with just a cell phone, most if not all of the big fish I catch are released and I'm fine with just a photo. And I think it's fine for others too. Of course i have fish in my growing ponds that rival if not surpass what's in the pubic lakes. You've seen my trout, bluegills, yellow perch, and largemouths.
I do get lake people that bring me 14 inch bass to mount and and are besides themselves at the size. "Yeah that's a nice one!"
I have no problem taking their money since many of them would keep me off their lake if they could.
