Our seventh replica took a while to get here, but it was worth the wait. The fiberglass smallmouth bass from Advanced Taxidermy looks like it could flick its tail and swim away — and reminds me daily of that incredibly special catch.

If it’s not obvious by now, my goal is to fish as much as I can, travel as much as I can, and celebrate my most memorable catches with true-to-life fiberglass replicas. I’ve written about my love for taxidermy quite a bit. In case you missed them, here are 13 Half Past First Cast articles I’ve written that in some form deal with fish replicas.

A fiberglass replica from a reputable taxidermist is a great way to celebrate a memorable catch, but if you’re not careful you may end up disappointed. Do your due dilligence and you can celebrate that trophy forever.

My 30-pound payara was the fishing highlight of a very good year in 2019, and when my friend Leroy Boss got his replica before I got mine I was more than a little jealous. Two weeks later mine arrived from the great white north and it was truly worth the wait.