How to Preserve a Fish for Mounting… And what to Do Right After the Catch

You just landed the fish of a lifetime. Big walleye, giant bass, whatever it is, you already know, that thing is going on the wall.

So what do you do right now? Within the next 30 minutes?

This is where most guys mess up. Fish are really delicate to preserve. The slime coat, the fins, the scales, they all start breaking down fast once that fish is out of the water. Sun, heat, dry hands, all of it does damage. I've seen fish that looked perfect at 7am look rough by noon because nobody knew what to do. Don't let that be your trophy.

Here's exactly how to handle it.

Keep it alive as long as you can. Livewell, stringer in the water, whatever you've got. A live fish is in perfect condition. Once it's dead, the clock starts.

Wet your hands before you touch it. Dry hands strip the slime coat and mess up the scales. Keep it wet every time you handle it.

Get your photos fast. Hold it horizontal, support the belly, keep it out of the water as little as possible. Then get it back in or into the cooler. Quick and clean.

Do not gut it. If you're mounting it, leave it whole. The body structure matters for the taxidermist.

Now here's the step that protects everything. The Tagged and Bagged Fish Preservation Kit. It fits any fish up to 36 inches and it's super simple to use. Here's exactly how it works straight from the direction card.

First, put on the gloves and eye protection that come in the kit. Then rinse the fish off, get any algae or debris off of it. From there you're going to evenly coat the fish with the preservation powder, both sides and under the fins. Here's the big thing though, pat it in, do not rub it. Just gently pat the powder in so the whole fish is covered.

Once that's done, carefully place the fish into the first preservation bag and squeeze out as much air as you can. Then soak the towel that's included, wrap it around the bagged fish, and slide the whole thing into the second bag. Release the air again, seal it up, label it and put it in the freezer.

That's it. Seriously, it's that easy. And that fish can stay good in your freezer for 5 plus years until you're ready to get it mounted. No rush, no stress.

A couple mistakes I see all the time that you want to avoid. Dry ice, do not do it. It burns the skin and damages the scales. Sun exposure is a killer too, even 20 minutes on a hot day can fade the color.

The Tagged and Bagged Fish Preservation Kit is $29.99 and it works on any fish up to 36 inches. Recommended by taxidermists all across the USA. When you think about what a quality mount costs, this is the cheapest and most important step in the whole process.

Shop the Fish Preservation Kit here

You worked too hard for that fish to lose it between the water and the wall. Do it right and you'll have a mount that looks incredible for the next 20 years.

At Tagged and Bagged, we are here to preserve your once in a lifetime memory!