As the 2012 Fall Mack Days fishing tournament comes to a close on November 11th, the seventh week of the contest on Flathead Lake proved to be full of fish-reeling fun!
See their report below:
2012 Fall Mack Days is in its final days and lake trout anglers are reeling in the fish. Total entries in the event are at 11,940. The seventh weekend total was 2,672 which is just 9 shy of the best 3 day weekend in 2011. Anglers turned in 1,029 lake trout entries on Friday, 928 Saturday, and 715 on Sunday. The typical fall weather in Montana threw a little bit of everything at the anglers-but most of the hours out on the lake were good ones for the anglers. Temperatures were mild with a few rain showers and slight breezes off and on throughout the weekend.
A sincere thank you goes to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for sponsoring this important event and to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for sanctioning it. The fishing events are used as a management tool to slowly reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase the numbers of native fish-westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout.
The success of the events goes to the anglers who are very dedicated and who spend hours and hours out on the water. They pay out the money for the fishing equipment and gear it takes to compete. It is their boats and gas used out on the water. The rewards they get in prizes and drawings are earned by each and every one of them. They are part of making a difference for future generations of anglers who may someday have the chance to fish for native fish in Flathead Lake again.
The Fall Event will end on Sunday-November 11th with a fish fry at the Blue Bay boathouse for friends and families of the anglers. The fish fry will begin at 4:00 and the awards will begin at 5:00. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the time with the anglers. Sunday is a separate day and has prizes only for that day. Totals do count for bonus amounts but not for average points in the top angler contest. All lake trout entries are to be turned in by 4:00 at Blue Bay. There are no fish pickups on that day in Big Arm, Polson, Wayfarers, or Somers.
Max Martz-Corvallis angler continues to lead with a total of 964 and 56.8-15 day average. Max turned in a total of 100 lake trout entries on Friday, 56 on Saturday, and 36 Sunday. Mike Benson-Lonepine is second with 855 and a 49.8 average-his weekend numbers were 53, 21, & 49. Scott Bombard-Missoula-3rd with 822 entries and a 45.9 average- weekend numbers of 72, 28, & 44. Craig Morigeau of Polson is 4th with 559 and a 33.0 average. Morigeau’s weekend numbers were 23, 28, & 27. Phil Meredith of Polson is 5th with 553 entries an average of 31.5 and days of 48, 53, & 14. Steve Benson of Four Lakes, Wa. is 6th with 473 and an average of 31.5. Seventh place is Don Beville-Lakeside with 441, 8th-Nick Fister-Kalispell-410, 9th-Terry Krogstad-Kalispell, 10th-Tyson Cottet-Charlo.
Ladies leader Jeanee Mooney-Missoula has a total of 104 followed by Julie Vacca-Florence with 82, Deana Knipe-Polson-62, Kim McMillie-Ronan-54, and Susanne Albrecht-Polson with 46.
Garett Vaughan-Charlo is first in the 12 & under division with 39 and Mark Herzog of Missoula has 20. Eric Sams continues to lead the 13-17 group with 36.
Tagged fish with $100 tags were caught by Connie Jones-Kalispell, Tim Mooney-Missoula, Larry Karper-Florence, Don Beville-Lakeside, Bill Swaney-Missoula, Jeanee Mooney-Missoula, Deana Knipe-Polson X 2, Pete Hillberry-Oak Harbor, Wa., Nick Fister-Kalispell, Alfred DeRouche-Arlee, John Gauci-Florence, Jeff Montgomery-Hamilton. Tags with $200 values were caught by Cody Woolstenhulme-Driggs, ID. , Larry Karper, and Don Young-Polson.
Entries will continue to be taken until the last day of the contest. Go to www.mackdays.com for information or telephone 406-982-3142-Blue Bay or 406-883-2888 for information.
