I am ready to attempt my first fish. (Walleye) I picked up the video with Pete Gierke showing how to do this from start to finish. In the video he test fits the skin on the form and it is clear that the skin does not meet up at the incision before he begins to sew it up. Mr. Gierke states that the skin will pull together once the paste is on the form. At the end of the sewing up procedure the skin definitely does not come together in the body area but he justifies this by saying, "it won't show, it's on the back!" My question; should the skin meet up together at the test fit stage or will this make for a baggy fit once the paste is on the form? If so, what size of a gap should be left on the incision side that would guarantee a closed incision on the final fit and sew? I've read on past posts that a too tight fit is a cause for scales popping up upon drying.
Thanks in advance for the help and I thank goodness for this website to allow me to seek knowledge.
Judi
Return to Beginners Category Menu
If you carve your own forms, the fish should meet perfectly, but if you're like me and buy your forms ready made, well, no such luck. You learn to order SLIGHTLY larger if they don't have the perfect form. You can live with up to almost 3/4 inch, though half is more tolerable. I guess some folks, someplace STILL SEW fish, but staples were invented to eliminate sewing fish LOL. I paint the glue on, and using a towel or fish cradle, I take a paper towel and squeeze the skin as close together as possible while aligning anatomical markers on the form indents and staple it. Then I card and let dry. Once dried, you use Epo-Grip Fish Seam Repair, Apoxie, Smooth Out, SculptAll, or dozens of other products to cover the gap.
Thanks for the information George. Like I said before, this is my very first attempt at mounting a fish and I just went by what I watched on the video I bought. Staples sound great to me, I can now incorporate my handy dandy new 'Craftsman' staple gun. I do plan to use a ready made form. I take it you can not readily sand the form down to make a better fit or build up a form to accommodate a big bellied fish such as the one I plan to do. It's an eleven pound Walleye which has a bulging belly full of eggs. I've been looking over the forms offered and I've noticed they don't really have a huge selection of spawning fish forms. This will be challenging!
George, I thank you again for your input. Any and all help is much appreciated.
Judi
Judi,If you are needing a spawning walleye form,Rineharts is the place to go.I have always been able to get one to fit those big bellied walleyes.
a little gap in the back is ok but make sure the fins are in the right location (i.e. not up on the belly or down the side on top). You can usually shorten the length a little to close the seam or rasp down the belly.
Dave
As Linda said Rinehart's for a Spawning Walleye; and of course the mounting as George say's. You will find Rinehart's form measurements are taken total length of fish X Girth and they do have (spawning) forms; what I would like to suggest to you is go by the GIRTH of your fish even if it has too much length. It is easier to take off in length than it is to add on girth. And yes you can shave down to fit also if girth is too large. If you have any problems or want some tips on adjusting forms/mounting email me.
Wow! My thanks to George, Linda, Dave and Bonnie. What great people in the world of Taxidermy. I can't thank all of you enough for steering me in the right direction on this.
Bonnie, don't be surprised to get an E-mail or two or three from me in the near future. So great of you people to share your time and wisdom. I have three walleye in the freezer to do. Here's hoping the third one resembles a Walleye! ;)
Judi
As long as the head and fins line up in the right spots and the skin smooths out, I dont pay attention to the gap. Fish forms are easy to alter and many times I find myself doing so. It is always better to have some gap then none. The customer does not want a smaller fish sent back, but will not complain if it is a little bigger.