Holter Lake Fishing

Holter Lake Fishing

While on Vacation in Montana this spring, I was lucky enough to head out to Holter Lake and go Trout fishing. We had beautiful weather, despite the somewhat slow fishing. Here are some pictures from the trip. I always have a camera or two in my hand trying to capture everything around me.

Photography is no longer a profession, its more like an obsession!

Photographs taken: Nikon D800, Nikon D600, 300mm 2.8, 24-70 2.8, Sigma 35mm 1.4

Largest Trout I have ever Caught. Released this nice guy as well, soon after!

Bim's our trusty boat fishing dog!

Truly is BIG SKY COUNTRY!

Fishing Continues

Fishing Continues....

Here are more shots from our 3 months of Fishing in Pina's Bay, Panama. Some of these images where taken aboard the Picaflor, under the direction of Captain Adolfo. The first Marlin gave us a dazzling display. Jumping straight at us. The boat was powering forward and Justin, the angler, was reeling as fast as he could in order to take up line. When I get a chance later in the week, I will post the video that goes along with this fight. It was pretty amazing to see this fish jump like this. Nice release on the fish after as well.

Justin reeling his heart out to try and take up line on this crazy jumping fish.

This Marlin just kept jumping and jumping. These are the flights that photographers dream of.

Hook out and lure back, the boys release this nice Marlin.

The special Lure to win them all! Custom Made by Matt, even has our Mates face pictured in the Lure.

Marlin's Bill hitting the drop back bait

Mike Crossland taking a breather on his nice Blue Marlin

Justin trying his hand at pitching a fly back to a sailfish. The sail hit the lure a couple of times, but just couldn't get her to bite.

Nice Sail, our Mate Jonathan almost got a Bill in his arm.

JACK!!!!

The Captain looking over things!

Little Neighbours

Little Neighbours The best part about anchoring the ship in Pina's Bay, are all of the wonderful people that would paddle over to check us out. The Mama Nido became the hang out spot, the coolest place in the bay, the place where everyone wanted to be.  Not a day went by in our 20 something days at anchor where we didn't have more than 3-10 different Little Neighbors all the time just hanging out. The kids would be hand lining for fish off of the back swim transom, everyone smiling and having a great time. Or swimming around the ship, laughing and giggling.

Every day after fishing, we would pull up to the Mama Nido and all eyes would be focused on our crew to see what they might pull out of their fish coolers. Our boys would often save extra pieces of Bonito or other fish, to give to our Little Neighbours, so they could use it for hand lining.

The back of the Mama Nido became a Canoe parking lot and a safe haven for people to congregate on when a big storm was rolling through.

 Here are some pictures of our Smiling Little Neighbours. We are headed back down to Pina’s Bay next week and I can’t wait to capture more of them!!!

 

  

 

 

Hand Lining in the early Morning Hours

We unfortunately had a Blue Marlin die on us, but that one fish most likely fed over 20 families from Pina's Bay.

A whole group of our Little Neighbours, just hanging out!

The Kids are pretty shy at first, but then they seem to love the camera!

Chasing Records

Chasing Records

The Hooker was nursing a broken Turbo Booster, so the beautiful Picaflor was to be our trusty ship for 9 days of Record Fishing with Gary Carter in Pinas, Panama.

With Captain Wade leading the charge, Gary and the Picaflor managed to raise 17 Blue Marlin, Caught 7,  broke 2 record fish off the line; and caught plenty of sailfish and Tuna. Even though he didn’t yet get his record on this trip, the fishing was hot and the Weather was a bit variable.  Gary was using light pound test line, 8lbs, 12lbs and 30lbs line. He was trying to get the 8lbs Blue Marlin Record, 12lbs Blue Record and 8lbs Dorado Record as well.

In the releases that Gary had, he managed to hook 2 different fish on 8lbs test line. Both fish were too small for the record of 315lbs, but he came close with both of the fish approximated weight around 280lbs or so.

Here is a Selection of Shots from our 9 Days of Fishing with Gary. Record Fishing was pretty neat to watch, the patience and skill it takes to be able to handle the fish is truly an art!

30lbs Test Line, Nice 360lbs Blue Marlin

Nice Blue Marlin

Gary on 30lbs Test.

Nice Blue Marlin

Gary's Captain from the SILVER-ROD-O, Yoan; tries his hand at leadering!

Taken from a remote camera on the Tower of the Picaflor.

"DUCK!!"

The Picaflor got Her work out on this Marlin Fight!

"Whoops"

Nice Blue Marlin smacking at the drop back bait.

We had this guy on 8bls test. The pictures later revealed that he wasn't actually hooked. Just carrying the bait around with him.

Captain Yoan, ready for the Fish.

Bait Ball's stacking up under the boat.

Yoan and Gary ready to Gaff in a nice Tuna! Gary using 8lbs Test Line and a Spinner Real.

Captain Wade Richardson, trying his hand at Leadering! Nice 200lbs Blue Marlin.

If you are looking to stay dry, then the back of the Picaflor is not for you!

Gary Taking a much needed Reeling Break.

Yoan, Trying to get us some bait!

Bait Ball's are one of the coolest things to be able to photograph.

Hand Lining with Wade 101!

TUNA Frenzy!

Ligorio Showing off his Filleting skills!

The Man and General Badass!!

Big Sky Fall

Big Sky Fall Fall is one of the best times to be in Montana. The trees are slowly turning, the weather is generally favorable and the day-by-day lighting is a photographers dream. I started my trip off with a little trout fishing in Holter Lake. The lake is a incredible intricate lake; one that Lewis and Clark navigated on their way through the State. I was fortunate enough to see some beautiful Big Horn Sheep, Antelope and lots of deer like usual.  Most of the shots are taken with a Nikon D800 or a Nikon D600. The animal shots are with a 300mm 2.8 1.7x Tele convertor.

The largest Trout I have ever caught! Beautiful Rainbow Trout!

Holter Lake. The mountain ranges surrounding the lake are incredible.

I was trying to be sneaky and get a photograph of some White Tail's feeding on some apples. I got caught and they took off running.

A beautiful Morning on Lake Holter

Amazing Skies and country.

Our fishing Partner. Bim's!

Big Sky Country!

Nice White Tail feeding on some apples.

A nice big Antelope. He had a harem of females with him.

Calm Holter Lake morning.

Missouri River, feeding into Holter Lake.

Love the big skies!