Were you wondering how the 2012 Fall Mack Days fishing tournament on Flathead Lake was going?  Well, wonder no more!  Here is their update:

2012 Fall Mack Days-6^th Week

Fish, fish, and more fish-the sixth week of the Fall Mack Days Fishing Event ended with 2,292 lake trout being entered and a six week total of 9,266 lake trout.  Friday was the best day for the anglers with 886 entries.  Turning in the first 100 lake trout limit per day was Mike Benson of Lonepine.  Terry Krogstad-Kalispell also had a great day with 76 fish entries followed by Max Martz-Corvallis with 75.  Fish total on Friday was 886.  Saturday-787 lake trout were turned in with Benson high again with 65, Martz 61, and Terry Krogstad-63. Sunday-619 lake trout were turned in with Martz high at 61, Scott Bombard-Missoula-55, and Jeff Montgomery-Hamilton-46.

Up to $125,000 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded to anglers on the last day of the event November 11^th.  Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used to slowly reduce the number of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.  Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sanction the event.  Five hundred fifteen anglers are entered in the event.  Entries continue to be taken up until the last day and can be found at area sporting goods stores or on the website.

Max Martz leads the anglers with a total of 771 and a fifteen day average of 49.  Mike Benson is second with 732 and an average of 47.  Third is Scott Bombard-Missoula-668-42 average, 4^th-Craig Morigeau-Polson-473-31 average, 5^th-Phil Meredith-Kalispell-438 and 27, 6^th-Steve Benson-473-no fifteen day average, 7^th-Terry Krogstad-Kalispell-361, 8^th-Don Beville-Lakeside-358, 9^th-Nick Fister-Kalispell-321 and 21, 10^th-Chad Cottet-306.  Top ten anglers will all be ranked by their 15 best day averages at the conclusion of the event.

Jeanee Mooney of Missoula made a big step in the ladies category and totals 96 lake trout entries. Second place is held by Julie Vacca-Florence with 56, 3^rd-Sharon Beville-Lakeside-44, 4^th-Deana Knipe-Polson-35, and 5^th-Kim McMillie-Ronan-34.

Garett Vaughan-Charlo leads the 12 & Under category with 21 and Mark Herzog of Missoula is second with 20.  Eric Sams continues to hold on to first in the 13-17 category with 36.

Smallest lake trout entered so far in the event was turned in by Mike Benson at 158mm-6 ¼”-on Friday.  Using a one ounce rattle disaster jig in 180 feet of water Benson couldn’t believe it when he pulled it up.  He also holds the other smallest lake trout entry at 164mm.

There is still no large lake trout entry.

The $10,000 tagged fish is still out there along with 5-$5,000, 10-$1,000 and over 4,000 with values from $100-$500.  There have been 72 tagged lake trout turned in during the event that total $9,400.  Tagged fish with $100 values were caught during the sixth weekend by Terry Krogstad, Tim Mooney-Missoula, Ethan Rogers-Bemidji, MN, Paul Soukup-Ronan, Craig Morigeau, Scott Bombard, Gerald Roat-Polson, Jeff Mountgomery-Hamilton, Don Young-Polson, Phil Meredith x 2, Felix Gauci-Stevensville, Max Martz, and Mike Benson.  Craig Morigeau also caught a $200 tagged lake trout.

Anglers may choose to keep their catch or donate them to be processed and distributed to area food banks by CSKT staff.

November 2^nd -11^th fish ten straight days or choose to fish any number you like.  The event will end November 11^th with a fish fry that begins at 4:00 and awards at 5:00.

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