View Full Version : Who makes a good muskie replica?
Eddiebait
10-23-2002, 09:58 AM
Who makes a good muskie replica?
Jim McCullough
10-23-2002, 10:50 AM
Eddie,
I have been in Matt Yrnatich's studio and checked out his work. He lives just up the road from me. He does an excellent job. He can be reached at-
Artistic Anglers
5289 Rice Lake Road
Duluth, MN 55803
(218)-721-4900
The other guys that always gets mentioned when these questions pop up, are Ron and Rick Lax. They can be reached at-
Lax Taxidermy Studio
5455 Hwy 45
Conover, WI 54519
(715)-547-3710
I have heard people recommend both of them highly, so the choice is up to you.
toothyone
10-23-2002, 11:37 AM
Hello-
I really like Mike Thelen at Fiber-Tech's work! He has great selection of molds and his average turn around time is less than a month! Unbelievable- We invited him to come and speak at the North Metro Chapter of MI's October meeting and he did great job explaining what goes into a quality reproduction.
His price is competitive and the quality of his work is second to none. He also paints the fish to look exactly as you want it...if your not happy he repaints it free of charge-
Give him a call
Mike Thelen
Fiber-Tech Productions
Brainerd, MN
218-825-8002
www.fibertechproductions.com
Hope this helps
Toothyone
Jeff Olson
HerbB
10-25-2002, 08:33 AM
Hey Jeff,
Wish I could have heard that presentation, but my Tuesday schedule hasn't allowed me to get to the MI meetings lately. :(
Hope you've had some time to get out fishing some this year.
Herb
Whats the cost of the reps? and how it it applied? I C&R'ed a 44"er last year and might want to have one done down the road.
DR
Jim McCullough
10-30-2002, 02:05 PM
DR,
When I checked into it last year, it was $10 an inch.
Musky Mike
10-30-2002, 02:33 PM
I'd say $10/inch is a pretty fair estimate, Jim. Believe I saw where Lax is getting $12 for single side mounts and $18 for double sided. But if it's a first, the best of many, or a fish of a lifetime, it's worth every pennny.
Mike K.
Musky Mike
10-30-2002, 02:39 PM
Should have probably added that I CPR'd a 45 inch "fattie" last year with a 21-1/2" girth (the best I've managed to bring to net over all the seasons) and am thinking I just might get a replica for that one. But there's no hurry - heck, I just might get a bigger one yet. That's one of the real bonuses of CPR; no need to make a snap decision, ya got all the time in the world.
Jim McCullough
10-30-2002, 03:04 PM
Mike,
You could be right. Now that I think about it, it was two Novembers ago that I was in Artistic Anglers. I went there to talk to him about getting a 10 point buck mounted and checked out his Muskie replica work while I was there. Matt (Yrnatich) had quite a few in different stages that he was working on. The finished ones looked excellent. One other thing I can talk about is the service I got while I was there. It was the first time I had been in his shop, and he didn't know me from Adam. He immediately stopped what he was doing and took me on a tour of his shop. He answered all of the questions I had, and at no time was I made to feel like I was interrupting him. I have been in a few shops where the Taxi's barely looked up when I came in and they did not take me around and show me their work when I asked them questions. I know that their time is valuable, but I am a service kind of guy and appreciate someone who takes an interest in my business. I guess if he is still charging $10 an inch, people would be getting a heck of a bargain!
I have a Replica of a 51" hanging over my right shoulder as I type that was done by Joe Fittante, EXCELLENT, to say the least.
Fittante Taxidermy
715-627-7662
Rocks On,
Timo
MMA\MI #47