I had to mount a small mouth bass today. I thought I would post how I do things, in hopes someone could pick up something new from me as I have from many of you. I am going to do this in steps.
#1 mounting
#2 finish & paint
#3 making a small habitat base
This is for a customer and due back in a week ( so I'm on time) I am sure a lot of people will NOT agree with my ways...... sorry it works for me.
This is the bass I will be doing, it's a little dark in color. First I wash it in {slim off} alum works also. Then rinse good.
This is the fish after a quick skinning. Next I use puffed borax to help rough flesh.
This is the fish after rough fleshing.
Now I final flesh on my "Heavy duty" wire wheel. A bird wheel don't work to well. You need some more umph! Yes I have had a fish skin get away from me....they don't spin like birds or small mammals, they shoot. Fortunately I have only had it happen once or twice and the skin has been fine. The wire wheel gets rid of tight flesh in fin joints.
"Is it weird that I shave large pike and muskie on my shaving wheel? It works great." I should mention, other than using puffed Borax to rough flesh, I use no preservatives whatsoever. I have done it this way for 20 years and even took 1st place in 1992 in professional division. That fish was done in this same method. Additionally, that fish still looks great today.(I think) x wife won't give it back......Provided, all flesh and slime is removed. I believe soaking a fish in a "tan" or borax/ glycerin solution has no additional benefits.
The body I used was an old Rinehart form I had laying around. It was a 21" form cut down to fit a 19". I think it is more economical to use forms opposed to carving for commercial use. I like Tom Sextons old forms, the ones from WASCO for LG ass, and I use Rinehart for SM bass. I kinda skipped sticking the mannikin in the fish.... I forgot "My Bad"
The fish was a little dark, so I bleached it. You can see the tooth brush and small cup, I usually use a tooth brush to put it on, however today after this pic I walked over to the sink and just poured it on. Then quickly ran it under water for about 3 min's. I always use straight bleach. I have never diluted it ...just the way I do it. As the fish dries it keeps getting lighter.
Bleached fish right after rise.
I card the fins with posted signs, like NO HUNTING, NO TRESSPASSING. I rip them off the posts around here, just kidding.... I buy them for a .89 cents at the hardware. They work good, the screen I use is the light duty for small fish, as it don't leave screen lines in the fins. I use super glue to hold the anal and soft dorsal fin close to the body before I card it.
To get the pins in the stiffer plastic I use a lighter to heat the t-pins or bird pins.
When I got out my fin carding box, I thought I should take a pic of how organized Wendy has me, If you don't have a Wendy, get one!
Next I make a small cut behind the pectoral and place a small amount of critter clay to build the pec muscle.
I don't know if you can see the muscle in the pic.....
To card the gills I use card board cut into strips. To keep them from sticking when the fish is dry, I spry them with mold release. Then they slid right out.
Carded gills.
This is the mounted fish, you can see how light it has gotten as I was mounting it.
As I said, this fish is due soon, so I put a fan on it. If I put it in front of the heat vent, it would be dry tomorrow. I think I may..... Look out this was fun and I have the camera on my work table!
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