Bluegill replicas ???

[Fish Chris]

I have heard several people here wanting to mount a trophy Bluegill. I know on the bass forums, it's common knowledge that replicas often look better, and always last longer, than the real thing + the fact that you can release the fish, and maybe catch it again when it has gotten to be even bigger.

Has anyone here gotten a nice trophy Bluegill replica made ? By who ? Where at ? How much ? Can we see a photo of it ?

I've had a couple of big bass replicas done, and they came out awesome !
I know Robert Munoz, who did my 18.4lb PB Largemouth, is very much of a multi-species artist, but I never thought to ask him if he has molds for trophy Gills. He is from that area down in So Cal, with the giant Coppernoses... so I'd be surprised if he didn't.....
Here's the bass he did for me. I love the closed mouth pose. I think it looks so natural, and relaxed.... (photo could have been better... but anyway, you get the point)

Bluegill replicas anyone ?

Peace,
Fish

[Jeff Soto]

Come on Chris! Did you really forget about me, the old Bluegill chaser from Southern California that is also a fish Taxidermist since 1970? Hey Robert is good, but there are a few things that he doesn't do that he should. Here is my "copy" of a 3 pounder. I have mounted lots of big Bluegill through the years. You can send me a message if you'd like.. Jeff

[Fish Chris]

Man, I'm sorry ! I knew I had seen some beautiful Bluegill mounts somewhere... but it's been a long time.

Those you attached look freaking great ! But are they replicas or skin mounts ???

I promise I will remember your work this time :-) .....with Bluegill so heavily on my mind lately.

Peace,
Fish

[Jeff Soto]

Those are replicas. I have not done any skin mounts for many years because they just never look as good as replicas, nor last as long.

[Fish Chris]

Excellent !

See ? What does it say when a fish head like myself has to ask.... are they skin or replica ? :-)

Keep at it.

Fish

[Bruce Condello]

Wow! All those mounts above look wonderful. I'll be honest...I'm a big fan of the closed-mouth largemouth mount.

Oops. Did I say largemouth?

I meant to say "bluegill management device". :-)

[Fish Chris]

Hey Bruce, me too.... and let me just tell you this; In my original post I had said "Photo could have been better".... so to expand on that, I like the closed mouth pose too, but because of flash from the indoor shot, it shows like a white line in between the lips of the bass, which bugs me. You "never" see that under normal viewing conditions. It really looks a lot better, looking at it right here, right now :-) .....for a big, mean, green fish, that is ;-)

Everyone knows Gills are prettier :-)

Peace,
Fish

[Tony Milosh]

Jeff, I caught a redear and I'd like to get a reproduction done. It's a 10.5 x 5 x 2.25. Are you interested?