128 How To Make Fish Mounts 



supply stores and hobby shops carry them. If you own a small 

 soldering iron it may be used instead; but it is a bit awkward 

 to employ because the handle of the soldering iron is high, 

 thus making it hard to manage. 



The thickness of the line is a matter of taste. Practice a bit 

 on a piece of scrap wood with the different points before 

 attempting the fish outline. It is better to go over the entire 

 fish lightly several times, rather than to attempt to burn the 

 line deeply into the wood at the first burning. Of course, always 

 apply the stain or varnish to the plaque when all the burning 

 is finished. A fish trophy of this type does not look well with 

 a glossy finish, and the wood looks best natural. Brush on a 

 thin coat of shellac (thinned 50-50 with alcohol). When that 

 is dry apply a coat or two of rubbed-eff ect varnish ( satin finish ) , 

 available at any paint store. 



Wood Silhouettes 



Another easy but satisfying way of making a fish trophy col- 

 lection is to cut the silhouettes out of wood. Here, again, is a 

 method that can satisfy a wide range of individual abilities. 



Fish silhouettes in wood can be an excellent project for 

 boys who like to fish and who also like to handle tools. The 

 outline should be produced on the wood as described previ- 

 ously. If the boy is just learning to handle tools, I would sug- 

 gest /4-inch plywood for the fish silhouette. The wood can be 

 clamped to a table to make sawing easier, or it can be held by 

 hand as shown in Fig. 128. The edges of the fish should be 

 sanded, and the spot for the eye can be drilled. Stain the sil- 

 houette and glue it to a /2-inch pine plaque with beveled edges. 



Any angler who is handy with tools can have fun making a 

 series of wooden silhouette trophies which require more care. 

 For example, the silhouette can be produced from %- to 1-inch 

 stock. A power jig saw or band saw should be used. The 

 edges of the wooden fish can be beveled with a rasp, or the 

 edges can be rasped until a "half round" effect is achieved. The 

 eye should be hollowed out with a drill. The lines denoting 



