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WHY AN ACRYLIC REPRODUCTION AND NOT A REAL SKIN MOUNT??

The trip of a lifetime and you have just landed your dream fish... a trophy to be mounted-- to preserve the memories of this moment. This could only be, if you choose to kill this game and actively struggling trophy. There really is another choice....

Over the years, Sport Fishing popularity has increased thoughout the America including most of the remote areas of Alaska, Canada and the Northwest Territory. With the increased ability to travel, the population increase, urban development, industrial pollution and the destruction of the natural habitat, it has unfortunately decreased the wild stocks of fish, primarily those of trophy sport size.

Anglers and camp operators who are attempting to preserve quality fishing are limiting their catches instead of trying always to catch their limits. It is now quite evident that Catch and Release fishing is a necessity and is growing at a fast pace.

Everywhere, Catch and Release is appealing to the Sportsmen, it has and is proving to be very effective as a conservation measure to the vast majorities.

In the past, most anglers catching a trophy fish, still wanted to preserve it as a wall mount, but unless they chose to kill the fish they really had no other choice. Some of the taxidermists made attempts to produce fish reproductions but most were very poorly done, no detail, unlife-like and very badly finished. Size selections and the various species were also very limited.

Being aware of this void-- In 1970, Bob Davis, owner of Ike Shaw & Co.(est.1899), started building his mold selections on the catch and release idea, that it would eventually be needed. He has, over the years, developed a technique of molding directly from the fish, catching all the detail that is available to anyone and by casting direct, it gives you the natural look. By this we mean not a cast off of a mounted fish, which is a taxidermist interpretation of what a fish should look like.

CAPTURING THE DETAIL
His methods as mentioned were developed over many years of experimenting with various products for the capturing all the detail available on the specimen, we capture all the muscle detail-- the definition of the muscles, the indentations of the body structures that are natural, the fin rays and most important of all the scale definitions--even down to the minute ones on the Brook Trout. These acrylic reproductions are the finest available and are as Natural as the real fish. There are no prefect ones in real life.

Please remember that a fish does have changes that happen when he dies--however, we have found and it has proved to be a fact, with modern technology, most can be restored. In this way, even the best cannot tell the difference, and this has been proven with Sports Writers and Anglers at Numerous Sports Shows.

By using a special process, we capture the natural detail in the mouth, ridges, teeth markings and any other detailed items. Teeth are then artificially restored back into the mouth of the specimen to give it a real life appearance-- the natural look. Open mouths are standard on all of our Acrylic reproductions and open gills can be added. However we don't recommend this on most of our cold water fish. Very seldom are the gills seen on these trophy fish because of the smallness of the gill opening.

DURABILITY
When the molding process has been completed, all trophies are individually cast using hand lay-up casting methods to insure that the detail is precise. Acrylic fibers are saturated with resins, similar to the same methods used on fishing rods and boats, which keeps them light in weight and extremely strong. We have found over the years that flexible fins aren't really necessary, since any mounting is not supposed to be handled and most important of all--not to bend fins, tail or tap on the body. This is a form of art to be admired--not handled as a toy--remembering this --Acrylic reproductions should last a life time.

Acrylic Reproductions over skin mounts--Surely you have seen the many specimens around Sport Shows, Restaurants, that the skin has cracked, the tails broken, fins frayed, worm holes, turning yellow with the grease coming out, smelly, and worst of all, the paint cracking and coming off the body. Remember the Acrylic Reproduction with a minimum of care will eliminate all these unsightly and unfavorable problems.

CAPTURING TRUE COLORS OF TROPHIES
Most anglers are not aware that fish trophies have to be restored or repainted in order to appear lifelike and natural. Skin mounts will lose most all of its color while being mounted and dried while an acrylic reproduction does not have any color even for a guideline. Since there is no color or background on the reproduction the artist must know the species and or the specimen to really be able to apply the correct colors to make it lifelike.

Being avid fishermen with numerous color photos, slides, magazine articles with photos and actual experience with a lot of trophies, we have learned through a process of time and painting to color them correctly. We have learned over the years that fish from different areas have different colors and surprisingly most anglers are not aware of this difference. This is why the airbrush artist must really know his fish or have a good color library for reference in order to do the job properly. Largemouth Bass is a good example, 5-7 different color patterns and variations, not to mention the sub-species.

While attempting to restore the unique color shading of your trophy requires the talent of a true artist who with his talents can blend and intermix the colors--highlights, etc. to give it that shimmering effect that will bring it to life. Truly an Airbrush artist is sometimes believed to be a genius, to be able to accomplish that natural look. We are fortunate in that we feel that we can do this for our customers as has been proven over the years.

This is one of the reasons we would like to have a color photograph of your trophy catch, so that we can try to duplicate the natural colors. Please remember that we do not have to have a photograph since we have a wide range of knowledge regarding colors of fishes both fresh and saltwater varieties. Lacquers are used to give you that wet look and for the durability that they will provide--this also helps to keep your upkeep to a minimum.

WHAT SPECIES ARE AVAILABLE??

Since 1970--Bob Davis (Ike Shaw & Co.est 1899) has built as extensive inventory of molds of freshwater and saltwater gamefish--over 3000 and adding new ones weekly.

A partial list is provided (see CATALOG for most)-- freshwater--Largemouth Bass, 8" to a copy of the world's record 22lb. 4oz., Smallmouth Bass, all Trout, Rainbow, Steelhead, Brook, Brown, Cutthroat, Dolly Varden, Arctic Char, Lake Trout, all Salmon, Chinook-Spring-Tyee, King, Coho, Silver, Red-Sockeye, Dog-Chum, Pink-Humpy, Atlantic Salmon, Taiman Salmon, Arctic Grayling. Muskie, Northern Pike, Pickerel, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Striped Bass, Catfish all types, Crappie, and of course, all the sunfish family.

A partial list of saltwater is provided--Amberjack, Barracuda, Striped Bass, Bonefish, Dorado, Mahi-Mahi, Flying Fish, Atlantic & Pacific Sailfish, Blue Marlin, Striped Marlin, Sharks, Various Snappers, Snook, Tarpon, Wahoo, Speckled Trout and many other varieties too numerous to list, as stated over 3000 molds available.

We are constantly adding to our list to better serve you and no one has a better variety of reproduction casts available. We are the leader in the acrylic reproduction field.

WHO SHOULD ORDER ACRYLIC TROPHY REPRODUCTIONS??
Acrylic reproductions were introduced in 1970 for the catch and release anglers, so that they could, without killing the trophy, have the opportunity to have a trophy mount that closely resembles and is approximately the size of their actual catch.

Over the years we have been able to satisfy 1000's of customers and in the past five years reproductions have been more readily acceptable. We have been very satisfied with the reception received at Sport Shows, Catch and Release specialists and the fact many remote camps, lodges, fly-ins, and outposts just don't have the facilities to take care of trophies.

Since spoilage, time in the bush, being unable to get out, catches caught years ago, many that would liked to have mounted, but were unable to, are all factors to be dealt with in handling, now with acrylic reproductions, we can take care of these with no problems.

We can also make these products available to Sporting Goods Stores, Fish Camps, Lodges, Interior Decorators, Seafood houses, the Catch and Release Program, Markets, Restaurants and anyone having the need for a mounted fish. We can supply most anything you want from a Flying Fish to a Killer Whale and even a Coelacanth. All that is needed to order an authentic Acrylic Reproduction is to request the species and size desired. With that you are assured of a beautiful trophy.

Try us, you will be glad you did.

Order here

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Fintastic Fish Mounts of Lake Helen, FL and Westbank,  BC is NOT associated with any other organization bearing similar names at any other location.
The Bitterness of poor quality remains long after the Sweetness of low price is forgotten!

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