Trout Skin Problem

I'm no expert with the cold water side and it's hard to see in the photo. But I have seen my fair share of what you're describing. And have had a few replicas with these divots. I believe it's normal for this to happen with some Fall run trout maybe? I've only seen it on males btw. Might just be a coincidence though. I think they kind've are absorbing their scales??? Somebody will chime in here with more experience, but I would leave it alone. It actually looks fine once painted...

 

Roflmao
Ok you have a brown trout in its spawning stage.
What’s going on here is during this time the body swells up with fat and the scales get engulfed.
So all those pockets are scales but because of the fat it now shrinks so much that you get gaping holes.
For you in this situation, I’ll fill them with epoxy and recreate a proper scale pocket.
To slow down this process you can mount it and place in the freezer for a few months to freeze dry the skin, or let it dry in the fridge for a week or two to aid in a slow drying process.
It’s hard to stop this using regular drying methods. You have change your process on these puppies.
Ps I love spawning fish lol

 

Good explanation Frank! Ahhh, I wasn't too far off! The only trout and salmon I caught growing up were on Lake Michigan so nothing like this was ever seen til I got into this business many years later. I personally wouldn't bother with filling them though on a commercial mount. Like I said I've seen this on (one of Dave's/Envision 3D's blanks). Once painted those divots actually trick the eye and really aren't very noticeable. Kind've like divots on a golf ball. And similar to painting in missing scales. Not noticeable unless you get right up on it. Since they're really not unnatural, I leave them.

 

Great info guys!!!!!

 

I've done hundreds like this over the years and I agree with Frank on what causes them. I just mount them as usual and I bet $$$$$ your customer will never notice them unless you open your mouth.If he does, tell him to call Frank.
Good luck, JL

 

Frank

Thank you, you answered a question I never could find the answer to before.

1 tahr

Thank you for asking .

 

ROFLMAO