Modified Half Cast Method for Panfish.

I'd like to make my own filler to save on shipping but as of yet haven't done it yet.

It can't be that difficult and some experimenting would allow you to change setting times.

To do the three fish at once you can't dilly dally around though. I would recommend one fish to start out.

 

If I go to half cast an egg filled fish out of the freezer and its shrunk down or is distorted I shove a challking gun tip into the anal opening and pump the fish back up. I then plug it up with paper towel and then do my half cast.

 

That must have been at the Indiana show eons ago!

 

Just happened to be in my photobucket account and came across a picture of the 21 inch crappie after it was finished using the modified half cast method.

It's actually a natural white/black hybrid. Not that uncommon in bodies of water where they both exist. Fish only weighed 3.25 pounds.



This stringer mount was done using the half cast method:

 

Marty,

You got that right about customers and not knowing what their fish are. I have another issue. I have a certified scale and I've had it more than once a customer comes in and says he has a seven or eight pound bass. The fish is not frozen yet and it's obviously no where near 7 or 8 pounds. When they want me to weight it on the scale I caution them that it typically deflated egos. LOL I had one guy bring me in a so called 8 pound bass that was under 5 pounds! How in the world can they be that off!

As far as the crappies the hybrids will have the spine count of one species but the appearance of the other. I.e., a fish that has 7 or more dorsal and anal spines but have a spot pattern that is more like a white crappie, or a crappie with has only 6 dorsal and anal spines but have a more blotchy spot pattern of a black crappie. My theory is these fish are so large due to "hybrid vigor." A local biologist tells me he sees them from time to time.

 

Very true!

 

Jim,

I've never timed it but my guess is about 20 to 25 minutes, but I could be wrong. That said it may vary a little from batch to batch, and twice over the years I've either had it fail to set up or set up very slowly. And know I'm not the only one. Some temp guy with two ear rings and a nose ring hiding behind the mixer smoking a joint, probably couldn't remember how much catalyst he added. LOL

The first time WASCO cheerfully sent me another bag, but the latest was with McKenzie and whoever I was directed to acted like I was trying to pull a fast one and promised to get back with me. Of course he never did. The guy acted like I knew nothing and he was God's gift to taxidermy, but I pretty much know everybody in the fish taxidermy world and had never heard of him. I got it to set up faster by adding a little plaster but it wasn't optimum. If this happens again I'm getting his name and going up the food chain.

As far as the fins you can just spray them with a spray bottle. I use an emptied Windex bottle filled with plain water.

 

Randy,

Sounds like they sent you Van Dykes filler if it was grainy.

As far as not setting up been there twice. The last time, as I mentioned it here, the guy didn't believe me and acted like he was God's gift to taxidermy. Never heard of the guy. And he promised to call me back and never did. My last order was O.K. though although I think the set times vary a little.

 

Which is owned by Mckenzie. .