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Comment

Comment by trent houtz on January 31, 2010 at 7:34pm

very nice... those jigs are my favorite way to catch bluegill other than on flies

Comment by Greg Wade on December 26, 2009 at 10:13pm

Jeff,
The mount pictured is actually my fish. I agree that the taxidermist used way too much resin on the fish. Not much I can do about it now. But all in all, not a bad representation of the fish. I learned a lot from this experience and will do more research finding the appropriate taxidermist next time.

I helped her look for a taxidermist on her mount. The man we picked, also mounted the IL state record bluegill, at the time. He did an outstanding job on her fish. He also competes in taxidermy competitions across the country. A true artist with an incredible sense of realism to each piece.

I'll try to post some pics of her mount and more on her story soon. I don't have digital pics, so I'll have to scan the prints I have.

The experience with my fish, helped make her process easier. If you catch a trophy or potential record fish.....do not freeze it, prior to being certified by a conservation officer. Try to get it weighed on a certified scale immediately. Visit local meat markets or someplace with a certified scale. Be sure to have someone working verify the weight in writing and get their contact information, as a witness.

Then keep the fish in water and keep it refrigerated or on ice, until a conservation officer has a chance to see it. Contact the local conservation office by phone or visit the facility and show them the fish.

After the conservation dept. has certified your catch you can wrap your fish in wet newspaper and place it in the freezer.

Do your research and look at lots of mounts for the particular fish you want mounted. Some taxidermist are really good at mounting some species of fish, but not so good at others. Make sure you have a good clear close-up picture of the fish to give them. And ask them lots of questions!

If there are any taxidermists on the site...correct me if I'm wrong regarding the proper care and handling of the fish to be mounted.

Personally, when I catch large fish now, I just take a pic and have a replica made. It might cost a little more, but they will last forever and the fish you catch can be released. Much better deal for the fish and fisherman.

Comment by Michael Thompson on December 26, 2009 at 9:06pm

nice lunker sunfish 4 sure!

Comment by Jeff Soto on December 26, 2009 at 1:56pm

Wow! I think her trophy fish mount fell into a bucket of polyester resin! Other than too much gloss and the gill cover "wings", it's a great fish. Some taxidermists call this type of pose as ReelAction.

Comment by Greg Wade on December 26, 2009 at 10:13am

Thanks guys!
Actually this lake was only stocked with bass, and they are not sure how the sunfish got in there?

The lake is owned by the uncle of a girl I used to work with. Shortly after my fish was caught, we went out there on a hot Saturday in June. I loaned her a small floating Rapala to use. The wind was blowing and when she went to cast, the Rapala blew up onto the bank and got caught on a weed. When she jerked the lure off the weed and reeled it in, she hooked a big Greener! We took it to the market and weight it @ 2 lbs. 4.8 oz. The fish was certified as a new IL state record!

The IL Dept. of conservation took a few organs and a fin, which was sent to the University of IL., and officially labeled it as a hybrid Green Sunfish. Her state record has since been beaten.

I'll try to post more pics and the article regarding her fish. The owner does not fish the lake. But there are rumors that a priest caught one as big as a steering wheel, which he ate!!

I have not fished there in a number of years, but I'm certain another record fish is swimming in the lake!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on December 26, 2009 at 10:09am

Could this fish possibly be a GSF/BG hybrid? Be easier to tell if we had a photo of the fish alive.

Comment by Bruce Condello on December 26, 2009 at 10:01am

That's IMPRESSIVE! I'm featuring that photo. I think that's the biggest greenie that's been added on this site!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on December 26, 2009 at 9:55am

Wow! That's got to be some kind of a record!