I am wondering when and why you would put fake fins on a fish if they are not torn or broken?There is a recent post on here that says you might have to cast the tail on a salmon.I just got a chinook in and want to know if I need to put fake fins on or not.I have not done any trout or salmon yet; this is my first one.I know I need a fake head.Not sure how to attach it to the body.
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The reason why we replace them is because of the grease and oils they have. All cold water fish should have their heads replaced by a cast head. Now I also replace all my fins on all cold water fish. One reason is large cold water fish carry oils and grease in them, so in time that will leach out. Now on smaller ones you can get away with it but again I don't do it but you can anad many do. They should be sealed good to help prevent grease bleed.
Now a salmon tail has plenty of oils and grease in them. Personally I would cast it for that reason, plus, there is a lot of shrinkage in big fish as far as fins go.
Now the head is attached in many different ways. You can use a two part foam to attach the head to the body but make sure there is no pin holes in the mouth area. It will leak out there and make a mess.
One other way is using bondo to attach it to the form. Make sure you make some holes in the form so the bondo can attach itself to the form.
Frank and a few others replace them not only from the oil standpoint, but because of the massive shrinkage Frank mentions. I however am one of those hacks trying to pretend to be mid-range and I rarely replace the fins or tail. I will on a very large greaseball, like the 32 pound Lake Michigan Laker I did (on my website). But, the mid-range sized salmon and trout on down can certainly use the real fins w/o any problems.
Getting down deep in those fin roots is key. Get EVERYTHING OUT. Solid degreasing techniques is also imperitive. A good sealer coat will help too, but if you fail doing an adequate job getting all the meat out and proper degreasing, no sealer coat I know of is going to hold back them oils from coming out.
The question is how big does a fish have to be to make the artificial fins and tail call? And that is typically an educated guess based on your experience and the typical fat content of the fish you're doing. Lake Michigan fish are typically greaseballs compared to most anywhere else a salmon or trout could be caught. I've had no problems with any fish so far (knock on wood). I chose to cast the fins on that big laker because during the mount up process I made that call based on how greasy that darn thing was! I had trouble hanging onto it. I felt like I was swimming in baby oil. It was gross. It was a clear candidate for cast fins and a tail. If it's a close call, you're always best off erring on the artificial side. After all, that's the only 100% surefire way to be certain...
WOW I didn't realize Marty was back! LOL I started reading and Marty's back everywhere! LOL! Marty you'll give Cecil a run at this pace! Kidding Cecil! I call you Cecil this week on September!
Well as a High end Guy (LOL) I like to use artificial fins whenever I can. In some cases as Frank mentioned real fins are ok but due to shrinkage and greasing as Frank said... Hey lets just go with what Frank said! Hey Frank!
Well I have to get back to work well filming well painting all of the above! I'm in Cleveland this week for part 2 of the paint schedule DVDs series that I'm doing with Kastaway Joe Kulis. We have about 8 fish completed so far in the skin and reproductions DVDs.
We all know I can talk the ears off a mule but put in front of a camera or several cameras man I'll tell you it is really different and hard! It is a lot of fun and Joe is a great guy for sure. Frank we should talk soon. I'll be back Friday maybe this weekend if it works for you.
Marty be careful with the High-end stuff we don't want to go down that road again! LOL! Be good and do some work!
My Best!
Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry
312 Chesterfield Rd
Hinsdale NH 03451
603-336-7296
...customer's whom I behind on DON'T frequent this board. Truth be told, my rug rats have been animals this summer. I have to break up a fight every 5 minutes. Can't get anything done. SO I spend the days TRYING to get something done. But mostly doing domestic housework-type stuff and feeding my kinds once in awhile. And of course goofing off on this website. I then actually go to "work" for a few hours after dinner when mom inherits the animals. Weekends are about the only time I get anything done. 2 more weeks before they start school though! YIPPEE!
Lysol is no longer a bacteriacide because it no long has phenol and you can cast your heads really cheap as time is not money! HeHe
The one thing that stuck out in this whole message was for me 1. Remove all Grease ! and 2.get EVERYTHING OUT ! That's got to be the most important thing on doing fish. The rest is in the search button.
Buck...
in putting a fake head and fake fins and only use the skin.Wouldn't be easier to just do a repo than to mess with the real thing?If the customer oks it.I do not cast my own I would buy one.