Fish Mounting
Today, fish mounting is often carried out without using the skin. You can get a more lifelike mount by having your catch molded and cast without trying to preserve the skin.
There are however situations when an angler wishes to preserve the skin rather than the entire fish, and for such situations we have compiled this guide for salting fish skin in the field. A salted fish skin rolled into a ball can be easily transported and takes up a minimum of space.
Please note that this field article is aimed at angler's that knows how to properly skin fish for for fish mounting.
Salting skin in the field
If you find it difficult to bring the entire fish home (e.g. frozen or preserved in formalin) you have the option of skinning the fish in the field and salting the skin. This way, the skin can be used for fish mounting without you having to bring the whole fish back to civilization.
Skinning should be commenced as soon as possible, since it is important that the fish is not allowed to turn soft. Before you start removing the skin, place the fish on a piece of paper and make a detailed outline drawing. This will help the taxidermist responsible for mounting the fish. It is also a good idea to measure the fish and take photographs, preferably from many different angles.
If time is limited, you don't have to meticulously flesh and clean the skin. You will probably do a better job later when you have more time on your hands.
In order to salt the skin, turn it inside out and pour liberal amounts of salt around the base of the fins and tail. Rub salt into the head, making sure all areas are well covered. Then, fill the head with a handful of salt.
During the next step, pour roughly 2-3 centimeters of salt over the entire fish. Turn the skin so that it is no longer inside out, and roll it into a ball while adding even more salt. Do not skimp on salt when salting fish for fish mounting!
Cover the bottom of a suitably sized container with 3 centimeters of salt and place the rolled skin on top of the salt. Fill the rest of the container with salt and put the lid on solidly. The ideal container will be air tight.
Keep the container as cool as possible during storing and transportation.
Back to civilization
When you return to less rustic quarters, place the container in deep freeze without opening them first. If the skin has been properly salted and stored up until know, it will most likely keep in the freezer for at least one year, probably more. There is therefore no need to start with the fish mounting as soon as you get back to town.
Tips for skinning fish for fish mounting!
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Make sure that skin, fins and tail are kept moist during the entire process. Trying to work with a fish that isn't moist enough will result in lost scales, and this isn't very pretty on a fish mount. You also risk cracking the fins, another unsightly problem.
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When separating the skin from the body, try to use your fingers as much as possible and you knife only when necessary. (There are exceptions, some types of fish skin need to be cut lose all the way and can not be pulled.)
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Be careful when cutting the fins from the body. It is easy to accidentally insert the scissors too far and cause damage to the skin. Minor damages can be repaired during fish mounting, but avoiding them altogether is naturally better.