[sauger57]

Well I can't catchem but I get the pleasure of mounting some really nice fish. This is a 47" pike reproduction. It's one of my favorites from 2008 but I do have to take credit for finding one on the finest pieces of driftwood ever! Courtesy of Lake Superior. Yep caught 4 smallies then I stopped to do some driftwood collecting.

[Cory]

Beautiful fish!
Nice driftwood too

[Zhockey66Fish]

Without the driftwood, just wouldn't complete the mount.

[carp948]

about 8 years ago in caught a 44' and released it. often very sorry I didn't mount it but I wanted it to fight another day! just wondering what you charge for a repro like that one, by the way it is beautiful you should be proud! I have a few photo's of my pike just wondering if you would be interested. please p.m. with info.

[sauger57]

Here is my latest pike reproduction. Definitely one of my favorites. 38 inches long.

[Photoguy]

Excellent work Tom.

Being totally ignorant, can you tell me what the difference is with fish reproductions and fish taxidermy and how long is the process for you to make one of these things? How do you go about making something like these? Just curious.

Thanks!

[sauger57]

Thanks Photoguy

Reproductions are just that, reproduced in this case from a mold. For example, this northern it was molded from a actual fish and then cast in fiberglass. Then painted.

Fish taxidermy is done by using the actual skin from a fish and arranging it for display. TAXI means move or arrange and DERMY is for dermis or skin.

[Photoguy]

Ah! Got it! Thanks for the explaination.

[cardori]

hey tom, the second smallie i ever caught was around 23 inches long and since it was my second it is a trophy for me... is there anyway you could make a reproduction of it for me with just a couple of pictures? or is that not possible?

[Cory]

cardori,
Take a look at Toms avatar. That is a repo of a 5.5lb smallie I caught in Lake Erie. IT was a pig and top captured it beautifully from pictures.
You would not be disappointed at his work. Give him a call and he will take care of you.
Cory

[sauger57]

Cardori,
PM sent. Any picture you have would help in painting. The painting of the pike for example I printed out the customers picture to 8 x 10 and painted the spot pattern to match the photo. As you know some pike have very elongated spots and some have simple rounded ones. And any combination of the two could be on the same fish. My point is,I try to paint the fish as close to the picture as possible.
Tom

[cardori]

Cory and Tom thanks for your responses, pm was sent!

[sauger57]

I am sorry that I haven't learned how to take good photos with my new camera yet because this photo does not do the fish justice. This is a realy nice 39" ice caught pike that was brought to me fresh and had a great green color with yellow spots. Fish was nice photo not so.
The pickled pike that the angler brought was excellent!!!!!

[Cory]

Awesome Tom! Oh boy I love those Pike!

[wsj_outdoorsman]

Tom have you done with perch swimming about to be eaten?

[frisbee3557]

Hey Tom,

I'd like to get a Big Northern mounted for a buddy of mine, but the problem is his catch was 45'! All other taxidermists I've talked to say that for a fish that large, a special and very expensive blank is required that makes getting it mounted cost over $1K. Are their any alternatives for getting this beauty mounted?

[sauger57]

Dave

I did a 45" replica last year for Steve Everretts of Finseekers guide service from a fish he release up in Canada on an ice fishing trip. I believe Steve Ryan did a story on that trip for the In-Fisherman. Anyway give me a call and I can help you.
Tom Wendel 847-253-0937