Got my 2.88 Lb. Black Crappie back. Don't feel much like typing a long spill on what I think. You guys let me know what ya'll think.

On a scale of 1 to 10, (remember you asked) I'd give it a 6.5..
I would have rather the crappie be going up with it's mouth open and a JIGUM JIG about to get inhaled in the upper part of it's mouth...
Nice fish,,,
Matthew
aka JIGUM

I can do that Mathew. What do you think about the mount compared to the football in the bottom pic? Just doesn't look like the fish I caught to me. I am gonna back the screw off and adjust it lookin up for sure.

Might look better, size-wise looking up... No football as in the pic, that's why I give it the 6.5.... Should have explained....
JIGUM

It looks darker and smaller than the fish in the bottom picture. Could just be lighting though. I agree with head pointing up. The mount still looks good though !!

I've had the same thing happen on mounts George. Some guys know how to paint fish and some don't. The good thing is that you can always get it repainted, as it's a plastic mount.

It's really not the paint that bothers me Guy. Look at the top line and belly line of the fish that I am holding. I know it is kind of hard to see, but look where the belly line meets the tail as well. I think that he had to get the replica that matched the measurements best, and the girth measurement is no where close. Looks like a white crappie body, with the fins of a black.

I don't know, looks more like in that pic.

Im not a fan of the color. Thats a huge crappie and that mount doesnt do it justice.

Doesn't look like the same fish at all to me...I wouldn't be happy with it...

It's a pretty replica, but it ought to be to your satisfaction, particularly that distinctive football shape of a real chunker. I'll bet your fish had "wider shoulders" as well.

I'm next to positive both the fish in the picture and the mount are white crappie. Count the spines. Also, pretty easy to see the bands up and down (White) as opposed to random but equally dispersed black dots. You're right in saying the fins look like those on a black crappie. White crappie fins are often milkier and have less contrast between dots, lines and background.

Surest way to tell White from Black is: 1) count the dorsal spines - White Crappie -typically 5-6; Black Crappie - typically 7-8; and/or, 2) measure from the eye to the front of the dorsal fin; if it's about equal to the length of the base of the dorsal fin where it intersects the body, it's a black crappie; if it's greater than the base of the dorsal fin, it's a white crappie.

I like the idea of using a ready made form for commemorating certain game fish that ought to be subject to catch and release. A picture and quick measurements can make that happen. But on crappie, only the dinks go back in the water from my boat. I'm going to eat them or feed them to my family and friends - all of them. But I will sacrifice the first one I ever catch over 3# for a full old-style mount. I've come close but so far no cigar.

It's still a great catch, and you have the photo to prove it!!!!

nice id give it a 7

That's a heck of a fish even if the pic doesn't look the same as the mount.