So you’re going fishing, and you plan to take your catch to get mounted? Make sure you do a little work before you go on your trip. A little planning will ensure that your trophy looks its best. To get the nicest possible trophy, bring your fish to the taxidermist by following a few simple guidelines.

Fish lose their color after they’ve been dead for a while, so get your fish to the taxidermist quickly. The taxidermist needs to see the natural colors of the fish to get the most accurate reproduction. Your trophy will end up looking better if you take good care of it before you take it in. Here are some tips for making sure your fish is in good shape when you to get it mounted.

First, When you catch a fish you’d like to mount, record the time, date, location, and type of lure used. Take a picture of the fish. The taxidermist can use the photo to make your fish mount as accurate as possible. Plus, you can put this information on your trophy for everybody to see.

Treat the fish gently. You want the fish to look great after it’s mounted, so handle it with care after you catch it. Blemishes take time for a taxidermist to repair and may show up in the final mount.

If possible, pack the fish in plastic and ice right after you catch it. This will help keep the fish’s color. It will also preserve the fish, which helps the taxidermist. Keeping the fish in good shape is the aim. If you can’t freeze the fish immediately, put it in a cooler or somewhere else cold. Another option is to keep the fish alive in water.

If you treat your catch with care the taxidermist will have a much easier time making you the most realistic trophy possible. Plus, it’ll come out looking as natural as it did right after you caught it. Have a great time fishing!