Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

The International Game Fish Association has declared Hector's 5 pound 12 ounce Redear Sunfish, caught Feb. 16th 2014 in Lake Havasu, Arizona, a World Record.

I was chosen to do the mount of the fish and am honored to present to you the completed custom cast replica of the new World Record Sunfish.  The artificial nightcrawler and drop shot rig depicts how the fish was caught

 

 Hector's record beats Bob's old record, caught in 2011, by 4 ounces. The IGFA rules state a new world record has to beat the old record by at least 2 ounces.

Bob Lawler's catch of a lifetime!

 

This is the replica made from a mold of the fish.  Bob caught it on a rocky point on the second cast with a Texas rigged 7-inch Berkley Power Worm.

 

 

The two photos above are a skin mount of the fish.  I was requested to mold Bob's fish as a replica and a skin mount. 

It was an honor and a challenge to do such a magnificent specimen!

 

 

Views: 14798

Comment

You need to be a member of Bluegill - Big Bluegill to add comments!

Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Comment by arthur cole on February 5, 2012 at 7:24am
Very nice job sorry I did not see this post and I posted it to .Well just a bump.
Comment by DAVID L EITUTIS on January 20, 2012 at 11:01am
GREAT LOOKING FISH AND CONGRATS TO YOU. It gives all the rest of us hope that MONSTER GILLS AND REDEARS ARE STILL OUT THERE WAITING!
TOOTY
Comment by Steve Crowder on November 23, 2011 at 8:27am

Pictures ARE worth a thousand words. Fine job.

Comment by Leo Nguyen on November 22, 2011 at 9:13pm

Just plain jaw dropping..WOW! Just out of curiosity though, what is the mounting process for these beauties?

Comment by steve kooyers on November 14, 2011 at 11:16am

Wow! Awesome fish, fantastic mount. You both should be proud.

Comment by Tim Overbaugh on October 8, 2011 at 8:39pm

Thanks for all your great comments.  

Here's what a world record certificate looks like. This is the one Robert received for his sunfish.........

 

Long story short, I ended up making three different molds of this fish. One of which was a mold of the skin mount and two of the actual fish.  The fins and eyes were also molded from the fish to give it realism.  

The skin mount is a hybrid mount, meaning the head and fins are casts from the original fish. The rest is the skin mounted on a mannikin molded from one of the other molds. Ya, I know, don't ask.  But know this, It's as accurate as I can possibly get a skin mount. This mount can be seen at John Galbraith's Bass Tackle Master sport shop in Havasu Arz.

Robert has the replica reproduction.

The Qaugga Mussels were sculpted then molded.  Hope I got that right as I only had pictures and descriptions to go by.

The 7" power worm was also molded, cast and painted.  Hook and sinker are the same size as the original.  Here is a picture of it (the one in the middle is the real one) one cast is unfinished and two are finished.

 

Comment by Nick Holt on September 29, 2011 at 3:19pm
Congratulations to Bob on his record catch, and great work by you Tim.  Nick Holt
Comment by John Sheehan on September 28, 2011 at 1:19pm
Excellent work Tim !You are a dedicated artist for sure!
Comment by dink dailey on September 25, 2011 at 8:20pm
this is super great stuff!!!!
Comment by Jim Gronaw on September 25, 2011 at 2:54pm
This work sets the standard...period!

Latest Activity

John Sheehan added a discussion to the group Lure History
Thumbnail

Discontinued Lures

Some of my favorites I can't find anymore: Acme Fash King Flutter Spoon, Eppinger Flutter Chuck,…See More
15 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
18 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

25"+Spoon Pick

"25+inch Pickerel was best of the 13 Fish caught today a day after the Worm Moon. Two Bass and the…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"1/16th oz., good!"
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"These are my last build. I added more colors."
yesterday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"No Jon I went with the 1/16 oz jig heads so I could have a larger hook for crappies. It's a #4…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"Colors are great !"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"Thats a good Crappie size! Are they 32nd Oz Jigs?"
Monday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"They are right at 2" long."
Monday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"I Can see Crappie and Bass chomping on them, Dick!"
Sunday
dick tabbert commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"I made these up for crappie in mind. They might be a little big for gills unless it a bigger gill."
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on dick tabbert's photo
Thumbnail

IMG_0186

"What Species you got in mind for these great Minnow ties , Dick?"
Sunday
dick tabbert posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Sam k.'s group Trout Bums
""Trout Season opens April 6th 2024 in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for…"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's status
"An Instrumental Guitar recording of mine to commemorate. …"
Sunday
John Sheehan posted a status
"Trout Season opens April 6th in New Jersey. Waters are runnin' high for stocking."
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
"My favorites through the Years: Manns Jelly Worm, Manns Auger tail, Charlie Brewers 4" on a…"
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
John Sheehan replied to John Sheehan's discussion Plastic Worm varieties in the group Lure History
Sunday
Troy Dorman commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003444

"Thank you, Jeffrey!"
Sunday

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service