GRAPHIC PHOTO'S

Caring for your fish

Once you land a fish that is mountable handle it with care. The mounting process really begins when you land the fish. Do not bruise it, cause it to loose scales, nor damage it's fins.

Please do not use a stringer nor put the fish in a fish basket.

Wash the fish in cold water to help remove slime and blood before you freeze it.

If you must put the fish on ice don't plan on icing it for more than a day. It will become very slimy and, just like in an animal with a cape, it will start experiencing loose scales. I can't put them back once they become loose. This really will not be noticed until the tanning starts. I do not use dry preservative on my fish. I wet tan them in True-Tan fish tan!   

When freezing I prefer using a "tall kitchen" trash bag. Roll the fish up at least 2 times. No less!! The reason for at least double rolling is it helps keep the cold air in the freezer from blowing on or around the fish. Once it's bagged, lay it flat and freeze it immediately.

PLEASE DO NOT FREEZE THE FISH ANY OTHER WAY.  

Any other wrapping method will cause the fish to create a lot of slime as it thaws out and may effect the tanning process. Please do not roll the fish in a cloth and freeze it. The cloth is extremely difficult to remove.

Below are a series of photo's that depict Lee Alford's bass going through the preparation, skinning, tanning and mounting process.

You can look at the photo's and tell why you must be careful in caring for the fish until I get it. After I get the fish I have to handle it a lot and don't want any loose scales.

Lee's fish in good shape. Yes, I remove the eyes first.	An incision is made on the non-show side. From the tail fin-rays to the gills.	Cutting through the collar bone at the gills. This is a tough bone.	This is where I start to remove the skin. See why I don't need loose scales?	He's half way skinned out.
The back bone is cut into and the body is removed.	The skin is free and needs to be fleshed just like a deer. This step is very important in not having loose scales.	Trimming fat and bones from the fin-ray. Cleaning out the throat and skull cavity. Did you know fat is stored at the fins? Take a close look.	Into the tanning bath. Whewwwwwwww! Lee didn't have any loose scale. Get an idea how much I have to handle the fish?	The skin has been mounted to the form and dried.
The eyes have been sculpted with apoxy clay and the the fin backing material added.	We are ready to start painting.	Painting complete!	It's time for Lee Afford to come and pick up his finished mount.

 

See why one has to be careful in handling the fish before I get it? Hope this helped.

 

 

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