By Dennis Murawska We've all marveled at them, glaring down from the walls of countless tackle stores, resorts, and bars. So much for the Neanderthal in us. From remote Canadian outposts to exclusive private angling clubs, the release of trophy fish has become mandatory in many areas. In many cases, this is the only way to preserve quality fishing for the future.
Any musky fisherman can attest to that.
Additionally, there is perhaps no act so satisfying as releasing a worthy warrior back into its native element, alive and healthy. The future of fish taxidermy lies heavily in a new wave of awesomely realistic resin composite reproductions that are artistically molded from real fish. Thin, flexible, transparent fins now set the standard. You can even coun scale rings on some of the better replicas. No shrunken tissue rebuilt with epoxy or bondo, no lifted or cracked scales or skin after many years, and no grease bleed that can surface to spoil a paint job.