As y'all know, I am on a crusade to up my PB in 2006. I will accomplish this feat, but have no intention of mounting the fish. However, I do take exception with state record fish. I think that a state record fish is worthy of the taxidermist. If the world record should be mounted than why not a state record?

If one can locate a good replica artist, then why mount the real thing? Spend the extra $$$$ and save a life!

fair question.  But just like the world record would be questioned if not authenticated and viewable, so would a state record.  At least from a state like Florida, Texas, and California, where the state records are monster fish.

I am a firm catch and release person.  As a matter of fact it is one of the main reasons I don't hunt anymore.  Can't throw back a dead deer.  But to use deer as an example.  There are what? a couple million or more killed every year, yet there numbers are so high they are considered a nuisance.  Any water system that can't tolerate the loss of one major female is a lake thats already in big trouble.  As far as having bass grow to trophy size.  Most fisheries biologists will tell you that a major reason for small bass in a lake is too many bass.  They need to be culled so the remainder can grow to full size.  

Conservation is vitally important.  But like anything else, being a zealot about it is rarely the correct option.

I've got some nice pictures on my office wall. In addition to the show off factor, which is not insignificant, by the way, they get me through annoying days at work... when I look at them, I picture myself out on the lake.....usually, I picture myself fishing with the particular employee causing me stress at the moment....we always have the lake completely to ourselves, with only the Osprey and Hawks, and the occasional deer drinking at the shore....we have a great day on the water, catching huge bass after huge bass. As the day ends, and he or she leans over to pull the trolling motor, I wrap the anchor chain around their neck, a quick hip into their butt, hit the throttle, and go.....I always feel better.....

Oh yeah, to mount or not...nah, I'd rather release the real thing, and I'm way too cheap to spend the $$$$$ for a replica......

I always keep a tripod and camera in my boat. I have five frames on my wall that I keep a running record of the five largest bass that I have boated. I enjoy keeping my record this way. The fish lives and I still get it on my wall.

That's a good idea I think I will do this as well

I love to catch big bass but the only way you catch big bass is to turn the nice ones back to get BIGGER! So go with the replica and let them grow into bigger monsters

i have a 6.5 lber that i caught catfishing, it swallowed a big circle with a live perch on it and it died while try to release it :'( so it is getting mounted but caught some 4's & 5's and a 6lber that i release so i vote replica

I see nothing wrong with mounting a nice bass.  I release most bass that I catch.  But taxidermy is a hobby of mine and if I catch something that I think will look good on my wall, Im going to keep it and mount it.