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#26 Jul-11-19 10:11AM

firemunkee
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Ashburn, VA
Registered: May-23-13
Posts: 1766

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Looks good! This is very cool! Thanks for sharing the process with us.


Together we'll fight the long defeat.

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#27 Jul-15-19 6:32AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Here goes bass #2 (9.87 lbs)........pic after catching it in March
https://i.imgur.com/gTfMe4K.jpg?1
Skinned out this morning........
https://i.imgur.com/wurMkKI.jpg?1
Will stuff tomorrow after curing the skin overnight.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#28 Jul-17-19 5:58AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Stuffed her this morning.  Definitely a bigger belly than the first one.  Now wait around 2 weeks to dry.
https://i.imgur.com/sMaSw2h.jpg?1


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#29 Jul-24-19 6:32AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

While waiting on the 9 lb bass to dry out, I've started  on a 28" striper that I caught in May.
https://i.imgur.com/RSINj81.jpg
All skinned out this morning and now soaking in cure overnight.
https://i.imgur.com/rWdOIN2.jpg?1


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#30 Jul-25-19 6:34AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

This morning I sewed up the gullet and tail.
https://i.imgur.com/AzhsTad.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7Qx9vxJ.jpg?1
Then filled the fish with fish filler mache and finished sewing up.  Carded all the fins and gills, shaped into position and is now drying.
https://i.imgur.com/w07RqSY.jpg?1


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#31 Jul-25-19 10:58AM

Bryan
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Bealeton, VA
Registered: Mar-18-11
Posts: 1194

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Great stuff!


tight lines

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#32 Jul-29-19 8:47AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

The 9.8 is now dry.  Sealed the back, trimmed the fins, and set the rear eye this morning.
https://i.imgur.com/WJr4HsK.jpg


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#33 Jul-30-19 4:39AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Set the show-side eye this morning and fixed the shrinkage area at the gullet and spaces in the tail fin.  Will be ready for the airbrush soon.
https://i.imgur.com/lmTAiG7.jpg?1
I'll finish this fish up first before going back to the striper.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#34 Jul-30-19 4:42AM

hookup
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Jan-31-12
Posts: 2299

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Your wall of fame is filling up quickly

Nice work

Thx again for sharing

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#35 Jul-31-19 9:51AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Airbrush painted bass #2 this morning.  Took pics of each color step, but don't know how well the colors will show up in this post from step-to-step.
Sealed the entire fish with fungicidal sealer.  This fills in all the pores to allow a better coat with  the paints, besides inhibiting fungus growth.
https://i.imgur.com/ApTPAn9.jpg?1
The entire fish was painted with a light coat of silver pearl and then gold flake.
https://i.imgur.com/PP1oaU3.jpg?1
Medium bass green is next from the top of the fish and feathered down a little past the lateral line.  The fins and head areas are also blended with medium green.
https://i.imgur.com/xWwot1p.jpg?1
The belly, lower part of head, and inside of mouth is painted white.
https://i.imgur.com/Em7aCgl.jpg?1
Light yellow is blended between the medium green and white.
https://i.imgur.com/kVRuDKK.jpg?1
Gills are painted red.
https://i.imgur.com/D0TpWkN.jpg
The black reticulation lines, patches, and spots are painted next.
https://i.imgur.com/6fg36ra.jpg?1
Finally, a good coat of gloss is put on.  This brings the colors out very well.
https://i.imgur.com/M1OS0EP.jpg?1


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#36 Jul-31-19 10:01AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Here is the first (bottom) and second (top) bass I have done.
https://i.imgur.com/XMLQi3k.jpg?1
I'm thinking the top one looks more realistic in position (head-to-tail) and in the painting.
All comments are welcomed on what does and does not look good or realistic, so that LMB #3 looks even better......got to catch it first.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#37 Jul-31-19 1:03PM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15560

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

They both look different and both look good!


Time to go fishin' again!

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#38 Jul-31-19 1:35PM

drxfish
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Sterling
Registered: Jan-04-14
Posts: 2973

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Both look pretty good.  One thing I think would help is to go less heavy on the black.  Not that I could do anything close to what you have.  Lots of work and good job!


Always wishin' I was fishin'

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#39 Jul-31-19 1:56PM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

drxfish wrote:

Both look pretty good.  One thing I think would help is to go less heavy on the black.  Not that I could do anything close to what you have.  Lots of work and good job!

Agree on the black.  Will see if I can thin it out a little next time!


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#40 Jul-31-19 3:32PM

Junger
Northern Snakehead
From: Potomac, MD
Registered: Aug-14-17
Posts: 720

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Nice work Curly. The eye on the top one looks more natural than the one on the bottom, maybe it's just the angle of the pic though.

If I get a 35" snakehead, I'll procure your services. big_smile

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#41 Jul-31-19 3:59PM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Junger wrote:

The eye on the top one looks more natural than the one on the bottom, maybe it's just the angle of the pic though.

No, I pushed it in too much on the bottom fish......rookie mistake tongue


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#42 Aug-05-19 5:38AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Striper is dry.  Put fin flex on the fins this morning.
https://i.imgur.com/4xQGS0L.jpg?1
When that dries, I'll seal the back and set the eyes.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#43 Aug-05-19 6:49AM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15560

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Jumbo  white perch next?


Time to go fishin' again!

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#44 Aug-05-19 7:23AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Ernie wrote:

Jumbo  white perch next?

12" minimum.  Small fish are hard to skin out.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#45 Aug-05-19 7:25AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Fins have been trimmed and eyes have been set.  Should be able to paint in the next day or two!
https://i.imgur.com/bbv0O0F.jpg


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#46 Aug-06-19 7:45AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Striper is painted.
https://i.imgur.com/9yjME9E.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/gXM0a1o.jpg?1
Not too bad, but I need to o a better job on the lateral spots next time.


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#47 Aug-06-19 8:12AM

drxfish
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Sterling
Registered: Jan-04-14
Posts: 2973

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

Nice looking fish!


Always wishin' I was fishin'

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#48 Jan-13-20 8:21AM

Curly
Patagonian Toothfish
Registered: Mar-15-10
Posts: 5413

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

After a long break I have started on the first Northern Snakehead.  It's about a 4 pounder.
https://i.imgur.com/0tqYlSF.jpg?1
It was so slimy that I had to soak it in alum to remove the slime.
https://i.imgur.com/bbu0W5n.jpg?1
After removing the slime it took about 2 hours to skin out.
https://i.imgur.com/pLJjQYW.jpg?1
Placed it in a borax solution to cure the skin overnight.
https://i.imgur.com/lSt4z4N.jpg?1


Hell or High Water...........I'm Fishin!!   big_smile

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#49 Jan-13-20 10:40AM

Junger
Northern Snakehead
From: Potomac, MD
Registered: Aug-14-17
Posts: 720

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

I'm excited to see how this one turns out!

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#50 Jan-13-20 11:28AM

captmikestarrett
Patagonian Toothfish
From: Potomac River
Registered: May-06-08
Posts: 2164
Website

Re: Curly's Fish Taxidermy

I am expecting the snakehead in the tub to move at any second..LOL

Tried to make boots from the skin and it was not good. All brown on no pattern at all.

Watching with anticipation.

Thanks
Capt Mike


Light Tackle Fishing Guide on the Potomac

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