Has anyone ever tried using skin from a fish for a rod inlay? I have a pretty good guess on how it would work but I haven't seen anything like it done before. Any suggestions? I have done snake skin plenty of times and feather inlays.

and the answer is WHY not if it is cured properly and can be shaped to the rod then WHY not lol go for it I have seen it done on knife handles looks neat

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
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Wi.

I got some salmon skin pieces from a company that was making wallets etc out of it. I found it a bit too thick and the scale pattern just wasn't there for my taste.

Are you familier with the Mudhole RodSkinz product? Looks pretty good. I've also done my own by printing fish skin images onto white vinyl decal media, and some have looked great. But they are suspect for long term fade resistance, although I do have a few that are over 5 years old and look pretty good.

I am familiar but I was going for a more natural approach. Thanks for the info though!

I am familiar but I was going for a more natural approach. Thanks for the info though!

The Mudhole ones and mine just don't have the reflective characteristics of real skin, so I can see why you're trying to do better. 'Real fish on a rod would look terrific.

Hello All.

You could affix to a tube or dowel, embed it in acrylics, drill it out and use it as (depending on size) a reel seat insert or as a handle.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Fish skin is usually tanned for use. This process changes the skin significantly, so as to make it less attractive.

Hello Phil.

What would happen if you did not tan it and put it into the acrylics?

Could it rot or stink embedded in acrylics?

I don't know if it would work or not.

Has anyone tried this?

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Bob, I don't know? Maybe something like formaldehyde would cure the skin so it would not rot, but may also change the appearance.

Maybe someone will do a test and advise the results. Encapsulated within some type of coating (acrlyic or epoxy) rotting might take quite some time. I have seen encapsulated organic animal matter rot over a few months. This was within casting resin.

Hello Phil.

Well Phil if it rotted in casting resin I guess that blows that thought!

Hello Taylor, if you find a way of doing a fish skin inlay without loosing the original color, please let us know, Thanks.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

There is a member of a site(bdoutdoors.com) that goes by the handle Capt Richie) and he has done some of this work. He is a custom builder for a shop that I believe is in the NYC area. Maybe NJ. Perhaps he could enlighten you as to what works for him.