Submitted by Joe Shaski on 2/23/1999. ( DShaski@aol.com )
I have problems when skinning a Northern Pike. They seem to get markings on there sides or loose scales. Is there any special techniqe you use when skinning a Northern Pike and is there any way I can blend in the markings before I paint the fish.
This response submitted by John C on 2/23/1999. ( taxidermist118@hotmail.com )
I think you are possibley using the JIM HALL fleashing tool on your pike?
Dont I use a scalpel held at a about a 35 degree angle. to flesh pike they seem to have two layers of skin. That could be part of your prblem.
Next I suppose you are soaking the skin in borax? Dont as many water based preservitves soak into the pockets under the scales. Get a ink rollor from a artist supply store and roll out the water before mounting and again after mounting to get all air pockets out from under the skin. Ley me know if this helps. or schedule a northern pike seminar with me. We will get it fixed for you. JOHN C.
This response submitted by Paul on 2/23/1999. ( stuff-it@worldnet.att.net )
Pike have a fragile and thin skin on top of their scales,this skin seems to hold the colors that make up the markings on their sides too.
so when you skin them without being extra careful you end up with a scarred up looking pike with scales starting to fall out.
What I do when skinning a pike is skin it very carefully, staying as close to skin as possible so as not to leave any flesh on skin at all. This way you don't have to scape it, which causes problems you described.Also I've found that skinning them out on a garbage bag instead of newspaper is less abrasive on the skin(sometimes a bit slippery though),but thats why it works. You see when you slide the fish around on newspaper maybe with a little borax in between its abrasive and damages that fragile skin, that doesn't happen on the plastic. Remember to be careful putting fish on form because it doesn't take much to mess up the skin here either. After you get it mounted the last thing you want to do before you leave it to dry is to take a small brush,get it wet and go to those scarry looking areas and brush them lightly. Sometimes you can brush out the skin to where it was before you damaged it.
Good Luck! Paul
This response submitted by Ken Peters, Silver Doctor Taxidermy on 2/27/1999. ( )
I no longer have the problem with damage to the fragile
epidermis of pike and musky skins as a result of using
three different procedures. I skin all my fish on several
layers of newspaper so that I move the newspaper, and not
the fish, when turning the fish around during skinning.
Second, I sprinkle the skin with a light coat of table salt
before I begin skinning. During skinning, I take care not to
be too rough in grabbing the skin edges and pulling it. Unlike
Paul, I don't concern myself with leaving too much flesh on
the skin. This is because I initially flesh the skin using
an Ulu, or curved Eskimo skinning-fleshing tool. The Ulu is
sharpened on only one side, like a chisel, and can skate along
the surface with the sharpened side down, quickly and
effortlessly removing the flesh. It's a great tool if you
suffer from tendonitis or "tennis elbow" as the weight seems
to do the work for you. Following the removal of most flesh
using the Ulu, I sprinkle a bit of borax on the skin and
carefully do some fine tuning with my Jim Hall scraping tool.
I soak my fish skins in cold water to remove any salt residue
since I put them in Methyl Hydrate until mounting and the
salt-methyl hydrate combination is a "No-No". If there are
any defects on the skin after mounting and drying, usually
due to the customer's handling of the fish, use a soft, lead
(2B) pencil to darken and conceal them before sealing and
painting. By the way, I described the use of the Ulu in a
recent issue of the Canadian Taxidermists Association
magazine. You should be able to obtain one at a specialty
knife store, a native craft outlet, or Reinhart catalogue.
This response submitted by Don Frank on 3/1/1999. ( )
Two tools I have found that help with fragile fish skins like pike. I use a thin rubber matt to skin fish on. If you live near a coast, salt water boat stores sell them for putting on tables, counters etc. to keep plates etc. from sliding off in rough water. Also, graphic arts stores sell them as self sealing matts for cutting on with exacto blades and framing matt cutters. They are 1/8" thick, real dense rubber. Expensive, but I've had the same one for 15 years! To flesh skins, I like a Red Devil brand paint scraper,(red plastic handle, 2" wide blade. (Has a U shaped blade). You can leave a 1/4" of meat on and this will clean a skin in nothing flat. Good luck!
This response submitted by Rob H. Alberta 5/3/99 on 5/3/99. ( )
Living in Alberta i encounter alot of pike specimens in my shop, i have found that skinning the fish on a piece of artificial turf like you put on a patio deck ,it cusions the scales and works great.