All images courtesy of Jake Billings
Avid ice angler and passionate photographer Jake Billings has an insane eye for detail when it comes to taking pictures of his ice fishing trips.
Continue reading this article and behold the fantastic and mystical beauty of ice fishing as you’ve never seen it before!
Let’s not kid ourselves; this winter has been far from perfect for us ice anglers, and the ongoing high temperatures could mean the end of ice on many waters.
So, what’s better than visually bathing in a few genuinely amazing ice fishing images to think of winters past or better winters yet to come?
I know, I’m putting it on a little too thick, right? But wait until you see Jake’s awesome photography!
Jake Billings lives in South Dakota and takes most of his pictures in the state’s glacial lakes region.
He’s out during the day and at night and uses a Nikon D750 to capture the incredible images you’re about to see.
And that’s about it. He’s a regular guy who loves to ice fish and take photos. Nothing more, nothing less!
Well, except for the fact that Jake appears to possess a true talent, or gift, that allows him to see and capture what few of us notice when we’re out fishing.
But don’t take my word for it. Have a look for yourself:
Jake perfectly incorporates natural settings, like the sunrise, stars, snow patterns, and ice formations, into his images.
Furthermore, he has the ability to transform a conventional ice fishing picture into something really beautiful and natural.
I mean, how many horrible ice fishing pictures haven’t we all seen on the internet? Am I right?
Jake’s images are different! They capture the mood and the atmosphere of ice angling and draw you into them. It’s pure magic, I think!
When I sent Jake a few interview questions for the article, I wanted to know where he gets his inspiration from and where his ideas for photos come from.
“The ideas come to me mainly while fishing and sometimes when doing something unrelated to fishing. For example, while moving snow or working. It’s more of a vision than a thought.”
Again, this is what raw talent looks like! It just comes to you, and if you’re smart, you’ll use that talent you have been gifted with.
Jake certainly has! Check out the following evening and nighttime images. They blew me away:
Aren’t they something?
This next one especially caught my attention. That photo shows the true mysticism of ice fishing!
Everyone who’s ever been on a frozen lake at night or very early in the morning probably knows what I’m talking about.
The crisp air, the super-clear sky filled with the brightest stars possible, the cold, the intense glow of the snow (even at night), and, perhaps most importantly, the all-engulfing silence of the world!
When you’re out there during that time of day, and you happen to look up, you’re able to take a glimpse at the eternity of all things.
It’s an immensely captivating sight, and Jake’s image manages to mirror that perfectly:
So, now you might ask: does that guy get any fishing done, or does he just take pictures all the time?
He certainly does! That’s what he’s out there on the ice for, after all!
I asked Jake what species he likes to target through the ice:
“Mainly walleye and smallmouth bass. Late ice, I like to go after big pike, though.”
Here are a few really nice fish pictures of Jake’s:
This one is really special, I find. What an extreme eye for detail!
I hope you’ve enjoyed Jake’s ice fishing and nature photos as much as I have.
I also want to thank Jake for letting me use his awesome images in this article and answering all my questions.
Mostly, though, I want to thank him for making me feel good! Because that’s precisely what his images do!
And remember guys, this winter has been crazy so far, but hopefully, there will be colder once in the future.
If not, at least we’ll always have our memories and images like Jake’s to remind us of how amazing our hobby really is.
Alright, here is one more photo of Jake’s. But that’s it!
Tight lines, and stay safe out there!
Leave a comment