Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2018 - 44

or taking extreme care to get
the fish home from the lake
or river.
There are other advantages
of high-quality replica
mounts over traditional skin
mounts. Fish heads and skins
are composed of fatty oils
that are difficult to remove.
Years later, these oils lead to
cracks and distortions from
shrinking. The tail, fins and
gill plates become cracked
and membranes along the
dorsal fins thin. Eventually,
the skin begins to fade and
the mount loses its luster.
This is true with all fish, but
trout, salmon and Hybrid
Today, high-end casting companies create molds of the body, head, gills, tail and fins separately Striped Bass tend to be worse.
It is especially difficult to
instead of the whole fish mold at once.
keep the oils from seeping
from the heads years later.
Replica heads are used for larger skin mounted fish. The
provided detail not previously possible. The lack of detail
combination of real skin and replica mounts are far more
that turned customers away from reproduction mounts
common than I was aware.
decades ago has been addressed to such a lifelike detail it is
I visited the shop a week later to see how the pike
hard to distinguish the replica from the real thing. Walking
mount was progressing. The boxed pieces just days earlier
around the showrooms, there were times when identifying
was now starting to take shape. The durable polymer
which were skin or reproduction mounts was difficult.
fins were bonded in place, along with the living eyes and
Many of today's best reproduction mounts are cast
gills. Looking at the pike assembled, the detail of the
from actual fish and fish parts, unlike casts of years
reproduction stood out. The features and characteristics
ago, where the whole fish was molded at once. Today's
of this magnificent gamefish were coming to life.
high-end casting companies create molds of the body,
The detail of each feature was nothing short of
head, gills, tail and fins separately. To further add detail,
amazing. This reproduction was nothing like those I
multi-piece molds are used to allow exact likeness of the
inspected decades ago. The head, inside and out, had so
head. While the casting materials vary, the bodies tend
much detail that I had to remind myself that it wasn't a
to be a combination of fiberglass and graphite resin. The
skin mount. Teeth, tongue, jaw, gill markings and even
fins and tail tend to be made from a polyresin that can
life-like eyes made me question myself.
be formed and reshaped with heat to create the desired
Seeing this mount come together from pieces to
likeness. The fish heads are a combination of plastic
completion was an impressive process. The artistry from
composites that make them extremely durable, and
a competent taxidermist is more than just natural talent.
some can be manipulated by heat to flare the gills or get
Many taxidermists study dozens of photographs of the fish
a specific fit and effect. This multipiece approach allows
species they are trying to reproduce. Angler photographs
taxidermist to mix and match as needed. The casting of
can help taxidermists create nearly exact replicas.
the Northern Pike head (top) shows the detail in these
With the advances in today's reproduction technology,
reproductions. Even the level of detail inside the mouth
this catch and release take on taxidermy is a wonderful
is evident, showing the rows of the vomerine teeth inside
way to share the memories of your trophy catch.
the roof of the fish's mouth.
Successfully reconditioning mounts that are vintage,
Another reason replica fish mounts are so popular is
damaged or aged is possible with these individual replica
that there is no need to harvest the trophy fish. All you
components. The thin membranes of the tail and fins
need is the measurement of the fish's length and girth
are easily damaged. Replica fins are more durable and
along with a photograph of your trophy catch. The fish is
less prone to damage. Since the parts can be purchased
released to fight another day. The taxidermist works off
individually, parts can be added to existing skin mounts
the photograph and measurements provided to create a
during the process of reconditioning.
near exact replica. No rushing the fish to the taxidermist

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2018

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2018