Fish head?

[Trophy Wildlife]

I am restoring a 30 year old Chinook Salmon mount. I stripped all the paint off and peeled all of the epoxie or whatever filler they used back then off. The epoxie or whatever  was already cracking before I started. My question is should I remove the original real head, or replace it with a repro? I would like to rebuild the original real head with epoxie clay and call it good; it did make it 30 years the first time around. My concern with a repro head is that I will have trouble fitting it since the fish is already mounted. Could use some advise before I continue. Thx.

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[NOAH@aarrkk]

I'd check the measurements and IF I could acquire a fishhead of the right size, I'd go with that.

[Trophy Wildlife]

There is one that I think might fit but I have never tried to fit a head to a already mounted fish. Usually I fit the head to the mannakin, then mount the skin, then install the head. Is it possible to just buy a head and make it fit a already mounted skin?

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[Clew]

If at all possible , I would keep it as original as I could.

[FishArt]

To each their own here, but I'm not a real big fan of swapping out parts if I don't have to. I'm with Clew. Especially mounts this old oftentimes there's sentimental value and the customer wants as much repaired vs. replaced as possible. Unless the head is oozing oils or is MORE work to rebuild than to swap out I'd most likely stay with the original head. In most cases, it's more work and more $ to swap out vs. fixing what's there. And that's typically with fins and tails too. Unless they're really dinged up badly or missing chunks. IMO I'd do whatever you think needs to be done and is within budget. And is within your comfort zone. Some people find it easier to swap and blend vs. repairing. For me, it's the other way around. A good fit is always a potential issue with swapping out...

[Trophy Wildlife]

Thx guys I'm going to keep the original head. It seem to me to be the right thing to do in this case.
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