Originally posted by Theo Gallus:
I thought the edges of the hole in the first picture looked a little furry. 
Cecil, I have two questions about fish taxidermy from a position of near perfect ignorance:
1) Which is more usually encountered, the subdued, relaxed look for the fish you used in the perch and trout mounts, or the severe action style that seems to frequent "I love me" walls?
2) You have used what I would term a "gloss" finish. Are there semi-gloss or satin finishes available, and if so what are the style and longevity pros/cons for the different finishes? 1.) Most of my customers want the action mounts with flared gills, wide open mouth etc. however I close the gills in bluegill, redear, and other sunfish. In taxidermy competitions we usually close the mouths and do more natural realistic poses. Also opening the mouth in a fish in competition opens up a "can of worms" so to speak as it's almost impossible to get the inside of the mouth perfect due to shrinkage.
2.) Yes, semi gloss and satin finishes are available. I have tried them all and even had problems with some due to the EPA making the manufacturers take certain ingredients out. I am now using a 4:1 Automotive Clear Coat. It's durable, tough, long lasting, and can be very wet looking depending on how many coats you apply, and it's predictable. I would think the manufacturer would have some very upset people if they coated an entire car and had problems.
Sorry for the delay in responding to your post.
