Would You ?

[SA ULTRA MAG]

I caught a 14" perch (my largest ever), would you put it on the wall or eat it.
I guess I'm really asking is how rare a is 14" perch ?

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/PerchTest.JPG

Thanks,
Pat

[Crooked Dave]

Plenty more of those out there to be had. Enjoy the meal. Tight Lines

[tommy-n]

It all depends on how much you fish and how many you catch. If you think it's a trophy who cares what anyone else thinks, do you think you will ever catch one larger in your lifetime? It's all about what it means to you, nice fish.

[steve myers]

In this day and age a 14 inch perch is a trophy.Mount it.Lots of people think 12 inch perch are 14 and thats why they think there is so many out there but they are wrong with the fishing pressure nowadays a 14 incher is a trophy.

[yooper357]

it would say it has to do with the body of water you were fishing. down state gr/ lansing area it is a dandy perch. up north id eat it up. ive seen 16 17 even 18 inchers. ya know to each his own

[fishonbb]

There are definately bigger ones out there but i kick myself in the butt for not mounting a 12" 'gill awhile back thinking there will be more so i ate him but now i wish i would've mounted it. I'm sure you could catch one again but i would mount it, thats a nice perch.

[Natlight]

I caught a 12 3/4 inch, chubby beautiful perch last february and had no second thoughts about it. It looks awesome, have zero regrets. I never caught one that big before so it was a no brainer. I had Dan's Taxidermy handle it for me and it came out awesome. On a side note, when I dropped it off at Dan's I asked him if it was a good fish to get mounted. He said well check these out and pulled out of his freezer 2 10-11 inchers, skinny little buggers someone had sent him.:rolleyes:

[bigsid]

For $100 Dan's Taxidermy will mount it for you. I'm sure there are plenty more out there, but how many like it have you caught before? Personally, I'd have it mounted. Or at least throw it in the freezer until I've got a spare hundred bones!;)

Sid

[Ed Michrina]

If I were going to do a mount, It would be a bunch of jumbos on a stringer, hung on wood. Looks like that is the first Jumbo to start the stringer. you can always add more to the stringer.. Looks like a large male? Like I said ,I don't mount fish so in the fry pan it would go/

[MIBIGHNTR]

Heck, it's only money and you've got plenty, mount it!! :lol:

I'll even store it for you at the cottage when it's done! :D

Oh, and thanks for the invite to join you on the ice...:sad:

Mark

[Northbound]

Display it proudly!

[bigbob]

i think i would mount it if i drank enouf :yikes: :lol:

[Ed Michrina]

. Looks like a large male?

LOL

[Robert Hoover]

nice fish like stated bfor dpends where you caught it but the art would be beautiful on that fish nice size to have it done

[SA ULTRA MAG]

This fish was caught on a small inland lake in Lake County. Probably not many this size in that lake.

Thanks for all the comments,
Pat

[GillHunter25]

You are tellin to much detail on the lake...:tdo12: last time I take you to my honey holes....LOL Oh by the way my wife was impressed by the size of yours:confused: :confused: Fish I mean.. Like I said I would display it proudly at your
house!:evilsmile I will let you know when I head back up that way. I do have a lake that will produce gills in the trophy size also. You have to work hard for them but we get them. Near the swamps I drove you thru. Later..

[MIBIGHNTR]

Lake Co....hmmmm...Swamps....hmmmm....Big Gills....hmmmm....I know just the spot! See you there!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[schaaed1]

I agree with the rest in that it is a personal thing. I have a 8.65 lb Eye that DZ's is working on right now. Not the biggest by any means and some would question if it is really a trophy. But, looking at where it came from ... not the Bay or Erie or one of the west side drowned river mouth lakes, just a regular ole lake and through the ice ... that made it a trophy to me.

That being said, I ended up catching one two weeks ago (in the boat) from the same lake that was over 2" longer and went well over 10lbs.:bonk: I can also take satisfaction in the fact that the latest one is back swimming the depths to be caught another day.

Ed

[GillHunter25]

I can't believe SA Ultra Mag took you back in there!:bash: Can't take anyone anywhere anymore.:yikes:

[Pork Chop]

Not looking to start a fight or anything, but sometimes it's not a bad idea to release the true monsters if you aren't going to have them mounted. They aren't all that great to eat when they get big and old, and you do know that they have the genes to produce other big fish.

Again, just a suggestion.

[Fishfoote]

I'm sure I've seen some nice mounts of perch that weren't quite 14":whistle: I figure, you've got to set the bar before you can seriously try to surpass it. And! The $100 deal Dan is offering is a $40 savings on that fish...can't argue with saving money.;)

[RichP]

Jumbo perch not good to eat? You need to try some new recipes Pork Chop! :)

[fish eater]

What about a replica mount? That way you could eat it, and still have a replica on a stringer, or on the wall? You could have the best of both worlds if it's feasible.