Kyle Ploehn is an artist, illustrator and writer living in Billings Montana. He likes to spend the few hours he isn't painting hiking the mountains of Montana. Check out his website at http://kyleploehnart.com or come by and say hello on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kyleploehnart. 

Blue: By Moonlight, was the first in the ‘Blue’ series and one of the first in the style. A style born from my illustrator background and my love of highly detailed scratchboard style art. I was a pen and ink drafting artist long before i ever painted my first painting and have always looked for ways to include my love of classical drawing into my paintings. It may be made with a paintbrush, but I feel it reflects my drawing passions more than my painting ones. The relationship with wolves is complicated here in Montana. They are majestic and beautiful creatures, but in the world of free-range livestock they can also be deadly and troublesome. I have always been torn on the subject, for I love nature and long to see it preserved and unaffected by the ever-spreading influence of industry. On the other hand however, I am proud of the farmers and ranchers of Montana and the healthy products they provide. Perhaps it’s that complicated nature of wolves that makes them so very interesting to me. The conflict draws emotions and makes those deep ancient eyes seem to see so much more than we can easily say. Original framed 9×12 painting available for $250 Matted Print 11×14 available for $45. Other sizes and print options available! Contact me at [email protected], if you’re interested in purchasing the original or a print. Visit my online gallery and blog at http://kyleploehnart.blogspot.com or drop by Facebook and say, hey. https://www.facebook.com/kyleploehnart

A state record for the Mackinaw or Lake Trout was nearly broken on Tuesday.

The 45-inch, 36-pound fish was caught in Flathead Lake by Captain Mike Howe of A Able Charters and his client John Muraski of Tucson, Arizona.

The entire measurements -- length, weight, and girth -- of the fish didn't break the state record, but the length of the Mackinaw is 2.5" longer than the record.

The previous record was set in 2004 with a 42.5-inch, 42.69-pound fish caught by Ruth Barber, also in Flathead Lake.

Howe said, "John actually said that he was going to hang that in his man cave, and Tina said, 'What man cave?', and then he said, 'The one I'm gonna build around this fish!'"

Howe posted on his website: "OK, so we didn't break the overall Lake Trout record, which computes both length AND weight, but a fish like this is what dreams are made of."

MORE>>>KBZK