Service · Fish replicas
Fish replicas — sourced from 12 manufacturers, hand-finished one fish at a time.
A replica is not made to match the measurements of your fish. The goal is to match the measurements of your fish to an available replica — by shopping the inventory of many different manufacturers I can usually get within 1/4-inch.
How real do they look?
As real as a good photograph can make them.
Fish vary in coloration from lake to lake and even within the same lake. If you provide a good color photo of your fish, I can get the coloration VERY close. I have built my business on getting that right.
Most reproductions are completed in 1 to 6 months. It depends on the time of year you place the order, current backlog, and the company I obtain the repro from. Many companies make the blanks to order — that's the slow part, not the finishing.
All replicas come ready to hang on your wall. Many people like the look a panel gives to a mount, so I offer several types of background. Habitat or scenery bases — sand, muck, driftwood, plants, water surface, lily pad — are also popular and priced separately.
Three quality levels
Premier, standard, economy — pick the level that matches the fish.
Premier
Excellent detail throughout
Excellent detail on the back AND belly, fine fins, separate gill plate, sharp eye and mouth detail. The right call for a once-in-a-lifetime fish.
Standard
Most common choice
Some features of the premier line, but less detail overall — especially in the belly, back and mouth areas. The majority of replicas fall here.
Economy
Big species selection
The older companies have a lot of molds and selection of sizes and species. The replicas lack scale detail on the back & belly, with thicker, solid fins.
Why I don't charge per inch
Different manufacturers price the same length differently — sometimes by a wide margin.
As you can see from the differences in the wholesale cost of replica blanks, there is often a huge disparity in prices charged by various manufacturers for a fish of similar size. I price the finished work, not the inch.
Quoted prices are good for at least 30 days. Prices DO NOT include shipping the finished replica to your home or business. Replicas come with a hanger, ready to hang. Driftwood or finished panels are extra.
Replica abbreviations
When you're picking a pose, here's the shorthand.
Specialty
Lake Sturgeon — replicas & composite mounts.
Sturgeon is a regional specialty for me. The studio offers replicas and composite mounts (skin head plus replica body) for the Lake Winnebago system and beyond.
Recent work
Replicas from the studio.
Ready when you are
Need measurements before you call?
Length nose-to-tail (tail spread), girth around the belly, weight, and a good color photo. Then ring the studio.