A Essay on the complete mounting of a Brown Trout

[Rick Krane]

A Essay on the complete mounting of a Brown Trout through the eyes and hands of Anglers Artistry Student Chadd See of Elkins West Virginia. I recently spent some time in West Virgina after having the honer to be asked to judge fish at the WVTA. folowing the show I spent a week with Chad See and his wife Amanda. There gracious southerhospitality was wonderful and it was hard to head back tot he mountains of New Hampshire but I thought I would share a bit of Chad's workshop.

Chad had what we call in fish taxidermy an "old boot" of a Brown trout. In the late fall the spawning male goes through a cetabolizing metamorphosis and as the skin changes to accommodate the hormonal changes so that it may continue in the journey of the life cycle. 
 
Chad begins to draw his intail templet for his fish.
Once Chad finalizes his drawing he is ready to transfer to the foam block.

[Rick Krane]

Chad moves on to casting the head in silicon so that he may use a head made from the real head mold. This allows Chad to avoid the potential problems of inaccurate shapes and possible grease bleed.

Chad removes the fish leaving a mold which a casting material can be poured to make the positive of the head.

Chad helps the curing time with a little heat.

Chad next pulls the positive from the mold.

Before getting in to carving we had such a nice day we worked on painting eyes out doors.

A little bit of pre head work so that we could use it to fit to the body.

Hand painting the eyes! How rewarding if you haven't tyred it go for it!

[Rick Krane]

Chad gives the final painted eye a once over look for detail and accuracy.

Chad begins to cut the basic body out on the bandsaw.

The templates are in place for the initial cuts.

Chad has made the first 2 cuts to give the body a pre shape.

Basic cuts are made to begin the shape.

Some shaping now is in order.

Some sanding in of detail and the fish is ready for a look at the fin placements.

[Rick Krane]

Fin placement is the next order of fishy business.

Chad gives the pectoral fin pockets a look over.

Happy Camper!

One more look at over all body posting for Chads end product.

On to the ready skin! Tanned and ready to mount!

The intail move!

A little tax work and some pinning.

skin movement to complet the taxi of the skin.

[Rick Krane]

Chad has the skin of the old boot in place ready for the head.

Chad places the head to assure the alignment of the lateral line to have bi- lateral semitry.

One long hard look for what needs to be seen in one artists mind to assure confidence!
A well mounted fish on a custom body that awaits drying!



Some fish have great skin but we offten don't get to pick our specimens. In this case Chad had to work with a tough skin fish that will need some attention when it is time to paint! I look forward to seeing the final fish!

I hope this may help some folks look at differnet ways to go about mounting a fish.!

I thank Chad and Amanda for being such great hosts to me!

My Best!

Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry

[sparkyf]

Thanks for sharing!  Cant wait to see more!!  NO SLEEP FOR CHAD....NO SLEEP FOR CHAD..

[Taxidermy101]

Thanks Rick! Now I can't wait until August. This post is worth the price of admission
Tax101

[dbess]

Great work Chad!!! Glad you enjoyed the Mountain State Rick.....

[Chad See]

Rick!!! Thanks so much for posting up the pics of my brown.  I hope all can learn something from this, I know I sure did.  There is nothing like a little one on one to take your work to the next level.  Thanks to all for the kind words and a special thanks to Rick.  It was an honor to host you at my home.

Chad

[mshipman]

Rick thanks for taking the time to post. Very informative it got me itching.

[Tracy]

love to know and learn more thanks to rick and chad for this post

[rnviper3]

thanks rick for the pictures and walk threw of carving your own body.  i have been wanting to start doing my own. this does help the understanding curve.  now if i can just do it.  thanks again rick.

[ims]

Great job!

What casting material you have used for the head!!
Thanks

[RokSAN]

I would like to know to!!!! 

[scot14222]

Hi, what did you use for the mold material for the head?

Thanks   Scot14222