crappie mount

[dairyman]

whats the magic size for getting a crappie mounted. I just caught a 13+ incher the other day. For me thats my biggest so far. Out of a local lake too.

[Scott K]

A trophy is different for everyone. If it was special for you, then it is worth it. A 13" is respectable, but there are bigger ones out there, if you try for them. But, if you mount this one, and catch another one bigger, you could have 2 mounts. If you already kept it, and it is dead, you might as well mount it.

[mainbutter]

A fish doesn't have to be HUGE to look beautiful.

Some of the most artistically done mounts I've seen (even artificial mounts) haven't been composed of mutant monstrosities, but rather just slightly larger than average fish.

A beautiful, healthy looking fish makes the best mount.

[mr_jman]

I think the low end for a lot of people is 14". Me personally, it has to be 15" before I'm hangin one on the wall (Biggest was 14 5/8" so it went back) Some people will say 16" as well! Other people will strictly use weight and usually a 2 pound fish is the goal for a mounter!

I also have this feeling if or when I get that 15" I may think I can get that 16" and throw the 15" back as well. Other goals are 10" gills (I have caught and released about 2 or 3 and want to go after a bigger one!)

I also hope to get a 30" walleye someday but can only claim a 23" so far but I'm working on it!!!!!!

[harvey lee]

A fish doesn't have to be HUGE to look beautiful.

Some of the most artistically done mounts I've seen (even artificial mounts) haven't been composed of mutant monstrosities, but rather just slightly larger than average fish.

A beautiful, healthy looking fish makes the best mount.

I totally agree.

[deadeye]

Ya if its a good looking fish then go for it. I agree that a good sized healthy fish is better on the wall than a giant old worn out looking mutant.

[harvey lee]

I hav both a 11.5 and 7# eye on the wall.

I like my 7# eye much better than the pig eye.To each his own I guess.

[matthothand]

My magic number for black crappie is 17". Once they get that big they look like a whole new fish. I'm young and have already caught slabs pushing that mark so that is where it'll stay for me. Do what makes you happy.

[ozzie]

my biggest is 13.75" and I exclusivley fish for crappies.....that being said I am holding out till that magical 16" to hit my wall and even then I might let it go since I had a goal of 30" for walleye and I caught and released a fat 30" walleye a couple years ago......to each their own when it comes to trophy mounts!!

[pikestabber]

I have several 14s and a couple 15s, but 16 is my mark and I can't seem to hit it (not that I am alone in this regard, that is a VERY nice fish). I found an 18" crappie washed up on the shore once, and I'm telling you, that is the most ridiculous looking thing you have ever seen! It had to be 3+lbs in its prime. Dang thing died of old age!

[NEANGLER]

16" seems to be the magic number, I have a 16.5" on the wall but caught a 18" this year that was not as nice a looking fish so glad i did the 16". Going to get a 29 inch walleye repo done, for this fish it was a lot more of the experience and the memory of the day that made it special, not so much hitting the 30" + mark. Caught a 25# Smallmouth Buffalo the other day that look really cool but don't think the wife would have liked that one on the wall.

[Jim Panfish Uran]

For me a 16" will do! I've got plenty in the 14" range and a few in the 15" range. A 13" crappie is a darn nice fish no doubt about that. If it was a PB I'd say go for it, it would look great on the wall.

[DinnerPail]

There's only one person that matters and that's you. If your happy with it, go for it.

[LETSgoFISHIN]

i got a pair of 14.5 inchers that look pretty good on the wall

[jigginjim]

The trophy is in your eyes, don't get all worried what everyone says is a mountable fish. That fish you catch can great memories of a day with family or friends. I have attended taxidermy competitions, the size don't matter it's how good does the mount look? I have 12" crappies from guys for mounting. You could be fishing a lake that a 12" craapie, 9" bluegill, even a 27" walleye may be the biggest fish the lake can produce. It's your mount that's t is important.

[Deitz Dittrich]

As many others have said.. It really about your memory.. thats what a mount is for.. re-creating your memory.. One of the best skin mounts I have seen is my dads.. its only about a 5 lb bass, small really when you think of mounted bass. but its beautiful.. 360 table mount. Flat out beautiful..

If it brings you to a memory.. go for it.. only you can judge yourself and it maters?

[genegodawa]

As the years go by, the memory of that mount means more than the size.

My only (crappie) mount is a 14 3/4/ 1.75 lber....but the memory of 25+ yrs ago on how it happened (I begged my buddy to go after the rain, 'cause that's when they bite ya know) means more than the size.

I haven't been too lucky on big fish 'cause I mostly chase pannies, but when I didn't mount my PB pike (only 7 1/2 lbs) that decision also has memories for me --- like when my buddy kidded me about letting it go swimming in the harbor and trying to "catch it" again -- we still joke about that one from 1990. The pic of me in my yute holding that "monster", means more than any mount of such a small fish would hangin' on the wall.

The thing about mounts is it only means we were blessed to be in the right spot at the right time ----- and so we keep chasin' them for the memories.

[jwmiller33]

i'd mount a 10 incher if it is trophy in my eyes and had a meaningful story and memory to go along with it. remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. its your mount and going on your wall. do what you want! some guys say 16 inches, some say 2 lbs, some say 15 inches.. its whatever you want man!