2012 Fall Mack Days-3^rd Week

 Up to $125,000 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of 2012 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event. Mack Days ends on November 11^th and just concluded the third weekend of lake trout fishing.  Fish Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until October 28^th then-from November 2^nd to November 11^th it’s ten straight days of Flathead Lake fishing. Every lake trout entered gives the angler a ticket in the lottery style drawing for fifty cash awards which begin at $1,000 and go to $200. There are several additional ways to win in the event-captains prizes, smallest fish, largest fish, ladies and youth categories, Over 70 category-go to www.mackdays.com for more information. The tagged fish category has 1-$10,000, 5-$5,000, and 10-$1,000-plus over 4,000 $100-$500 tagged lake trout that have been released in Flathead Lake.  The higher dollar tagged fish were released the week before the event began and were located in several areas of the lake. Once an angler reaches twenty entries they receive bonus amounts depending on their total at the end of the event.  There is no entry fee and entries are taken until the last day of the event.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes sponsor the Mack Days Events which are used to slowly reduce the non-native lake trout numbers in Flathead Lake. The event is sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. We encourage anglers to be a part of the Fishing Events-be involved-become a part of making a difference for the native species in the lake-by slowly reducing the numbers of lake trout.

2012 Fall Mack Days third weekend total was 1,494 lake trout entries-highest weekend number in the 2012 Fall Event.  Mack Days anglers struggled Friday with rough water but still brought in a total of 342 lake trout entries.  Max Martz of Corvallis was high angler with 51 lake trout entries.  Saturdays total was 548 with Alvin Haase of Stevensville high angler with 47 entries.  Sunday’s total was 604-Steve Benson-Four Lakes, Wa. turned in 59 lake trout.  Scott Bombard-Missoula and Terry Krogstad each had 56. Total for the first three weekends is 4,257.

Mike Benson-Lonepine leads anglers with a total of 378, Scott Bombard-Missoula-2^nd-312, Max Martz-Corvallis-3^rd-306, Steve Benson-Four Lakes, Wa.-4^th -294, Craig Morigeau-Polson-5^th-187, Phil Meredith-Kalispell-6^th -173, Larry Karper-Florence-7^th-159, Alvin Haase-Stevensville-8^th-151, Don Beville-9^th –Lakeside-147, Chad Cottet-Polson-10^th-136.

Kim McMillie-Ronan leads the ladies with 34, Sharon Beville-Lakeside-27, Julie Vacca-Florence-22, Susan Martin-Polson-17, and Kathryn Cox-Rollins-15.

Youth 13-17: Eric Sams-Polson-36, Cody Ashbury-Missoula-5, Tom McDonald-Niarada-3.  Under 12 group-Mark Herzog-Missoula-5 and Garett  Vaughan-Charlo-3.

Thirty nine tagged lake trout have been turned in during the event totaling $4,700. Tagged fish that were turned in the third weekend were by John Gauci & Larry Karper-Florence, Terry Krogstad, Reed Blackburn, Phil Meredith X2-Kalispell, Mike Benson-Lonepine-$100, Scott Bombard-Missoula-$200, and John Gauci-$500.

For information go to www.mackdays.com or telephone 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.