The odds and why to put big ones back. Update!

[MT204]

I have also considered replicas for a couple of fish, but they are just more than I would like to spend, especially when wanting to upgrade for a bigger catch.  A fishing friend keeps his trophy memories by getting quality photo-transfers put on canvas; it looks almost like a painting and is much more impressive than a simple photo... plus these are a fraction of replicas in size and cost which can help in having more trophy displays and/or upgrades.

Great idea!

[Bass Boys]

I have also considered replicas for a couple of fish, but they are just more than I would like to spend, especially when wanting to upgrade for a bigger catch.  A fishing friend keeps his trophy memories by getting quality photo-transfers put on canvas; it looks almost like a painting and is much more impressive than a simple photo... plus these are a fraction of replicas in size and cost which can help in having more trophy displays and/or upgrades.

  I would like to see the photo transfer idea.

[Mike J]

I like the canvas idea. I have had fish mounted in the past, but honestly have no desire to get one mounted ever again. A good picture is better than a mount to me. Plus I love watching those big gals swim away!

[efishnc]

  I would like to see the photo transfer idea.

I'll see if I can get him to send me a picture or two to post... (though he may not want to have anything posted on a public forum).

[efishnc]

A good picture is better than a mount to me. Plus I love watching those big gals swim away!

I agree, it preserves so much more from that experience than just the fish... I wish I would have had this practice much earlier in my fishing history... Dang, the pictures I wish I had!

[efishnc]

Here's a couple of the trophy pictures my buddy has... (click the close-up pic to see the canvas detail).

[Bass Boys]

Wow, very nice ! 
 I like the idea.

[Lamar]

  What this makes me think of is the fishing camp I go to in Canada. I first went to this camp 24 years ago and the fishing was good. The son of the owner was starting to take over and he made some rules that he asked all the guest to go by. Being the only camp and a very hard to get to for the public he wanted to make sure the fishing on this chain of 13 lakes would be good for years to come. So he made some lakes catch and release only. You could keep some for shore lunch but that's it. He also made all the lakes you can't keep any walleye over 18 inches not even for shore lunch. The results of this over the years has been amazing. Very few lakes I fish have gotten better over the years like this place has. Now the only problem we have when fishing for shore lunch is sorting through the larger fish to get a few under 18 inches.

[Slow Burn]

I get those canvas prints made like that as well.  I get them done at Walgreens and they are not too expensive.

[efishnc]

I get those canvas prints made like that as well.  I get them done at Walgreens and they are not too expensive.

Really?!?!?...  How much do they cost for what size?

(My buddy's are 20"x30" and said he paid about $140 each two years ago through mpix.)

[WALLEYE WACKER]

Sweet pics to remember a awesome day. I’ve got a ton of pics that need to be printed and I’ve seen the canvas one look great also. This is one I’m having made for my mom that a pic from the lake.

[Slow Burn]

Really?!?!?...  How much do they cost for what size?

(My buddy's are 20"x30" and said he paid about $140 each two years ago through mpix.)

I sent you a PM

[MT204]

So a quick follow up.
This weekend My son caught, you guessed it the same fish...... again.
Now this isn't a we think it's the same fish, this fish has very distinct markings on the side of it's jaw which are the same.
And yes this is a large lake, over 25 miles of shoreline.
What are the odds?

[efishnc]

That's awesome!!!

A buddy's son is big into flathead cat fishing and he has caught the same cat (nicknamed "yellow spot" because of its particular marking) several times over the years... he not only has multiple pictures of it and has documented its weight increases every time.