Luckily, I found a young man less then two miles from me who had a taxidermist business in a nice shop area behind his home. I didn't realize it at the time, but my broken fin was not exactly the job he was really excited to do.
Now this guy is a true professional. He has been doing fish taxidermy since he has been in his early teens. He still has his original project hanging proudly in his home. I have never seen it, but being a truly gifted man he decided not to have it on display in his trophy room where he worked. Of course I was really interested in what he was doing and he was proud to show me his operation. He had a large work room where he was working on many different fish. He only mounts fish he told me as he has no talent for anything else after trying to do other game mounts earlier in his career.
And, to see his fish you would know why he has two very large 1950ish top load freezers full of fish waiting for his expert attention. He told me he has a backlog all the time of two to three years. What? Now how good can a guy be? As I soon found out, he is the best of the best. Like I said, he had many fish in different stages of completion. He had two or three skins on a tanning rack and had as many forms he had molded out of fiberglass for the bodies at the next station. Then there were the heads. He prefers to make his own heads out of Fiberglas as they hold up better and are easier to work with. However, I believe he does either on request.
The last stage before the finish is applied is airbrushing. But only after he has painted each fish scale by hand... Can you imagine painting each tiny scale? The finished product is totally unbelievable! He also does reproductions for people who either just want a beautiful mounted fish or the catch and release guys who want a copy of the one they had released. Take him a picture, the length and the circumference and you well have the twin. I am not into the reproduction thing as I can't get to inspired about what amounts to a fake fish. However, I would challenge any fisherman to tell which is which my just looking when he is done. So, if I were to own one it would be his.
He had a beautiful display of a 35 inch or so Steelhead mounted on a platform that looked like it was in it's natural habitat. It was a $2500.00 mount and awaiting customer pickup. Now you know why I feel this poor overburdened guy was not real excited about a $25.00 fin repair for me. I felt so bad I asked if he could touch up a couple small almost unnoticeable blemishes and to clear coat it again for me. I obvious left having another friend and in complete awe of his abilities and customer loyalty.
One week later he called and told my wife my fish was ready. Of course she was thrilled!! Again, I went back looking as much forward to seeing him and his fish as I was getting my own Big Brown back! He had not only fixed the fin and corrected all the blemishes but had actually smoothed out some areas with his painting skills that were not blended as well as he thought they should be and worked on the inside of his mouth where he found a bit of decay. Talking about going above and beyond.
Now I have one great looking fish, a new friend and an inspired hobby acquiring more. The man that I inherited this first fish from can look down on all this and be proud he started this new contentment of mine. I have obviously caught my wife at a weak moment and I can't help taking advantage of her good nature. Besides, I am real good to her also. Can you imagine me slapping my back right now?
So, this is the new me for this year. I have since been reading up on Taxidermy and who knows, I may even try it myself.. or at least when I get my hobby room back? I hope this article gives you some insight to fish mounting and the craziness it can lead too. Like my wife says, our home makes a great fish mausoleum. Have fun fishing!
See Part 1 of this story >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
