How to Take Fish to a Taxidermist

Proper field preparation of the fish is important to the quality of the finished mount.

Care in preserving a fish that is going to a taxidermist begins as soon as it is caught and removed from the water. The skin and fins of the fish must be kept moist to prevent drying and cracking. Several steps are involved in mounting a fish. It is first skinned. The skin preserved and mounted, and then allowed to dry. Once dry the mount is completely repainted back to its natural look. Proper care by the fisherman between catching and delivery to the taxidermist will result in a better finished mount.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cloth dish towels
• Paper towels
• Plastic grocery or trash bag
• Ice
• Picnic style cooler

Instructions

1. Lay out two wet dish towels one on the other for a double layer. Lay the fish on the towels. Pour a small amount of water over the fish to keep it wet.

2. Wrap pieces of moist paper towel around each fin and the tail. Wrap the paper towel several times around the tail and each fin, including the adipose fin on the back. Pour a small amount of water onto the toweled fins to bind them in place.

3. Fold the double layer of dish towel over the fish and wrap it around the bottom of the fish and back over until the towel is completely wrapped around the fish.

4. Slide the wrapped fish into a plastic bag and wrap the bag around the fish closing off the open end of the bag.

5. Lay the wrapped fish out straight in the cooler on top of the ice. Cover the fish lightly with ice; do not bury the fish under the ice.

6. Take the fish directly to the taxidermist. In the event the fish cannot be taken in right away keep the fish in the cooler or in a refrigerator until it can be. The fish will last in this manner for two or three days if kept cool and moist.

Tips & Warnings

• Take several photos of the fish as soon as it is caught. Give these to the taxidermist so he can have a guideline for painting the fish back to its original colors.

• If you anticipate having a fish mounted take the necessary items with you on each fishing trip so you will have them on hand.

• If you are in the field and cannot get the fish on ice keep it moist, cool and wrapped. This will preserve it for a day.

• Do not clean or scale a fish that is meant to be mounted. This will render the fish useless for a mount. Keep it preserved intact.

• Do not submerge the fish in water. Once the fish is dead prolonged exposure to water will weaken the skin.

References

• "Outdoor Life Complete Home Taxidermy;" Tim Kelly; 1987
• "Shooter's Bible Taxidermy Guide;" Russell Tinsley; 1967