Fall Mack Days – Week 2 Update
By angelamontana

Posted: October 15, 2013

One fish, two fish, one hundred fish!!! Terry Krogstad of Kalispell turned in a total of 100 lake trout on Sunday his first day of fishing the 2013 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. It was eleven hours of continuous fishing with some good weather-no wind or rain-to reach the 100 limit of lake trout per day.

Mack Days anglers turned in a total of 2,201 lake trout over the second weekend-879-Friday, 617-Saturday, and 705 on Sunday. Total lake trout catch over the first two weekends is 4,315 entries. Up to $125,000 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event. Entries are taken at any time and all it takes is one fish to win in the lottery style drawing.

Lonepine angler Mike Benson-leads the top ten anglers with 329, 2nd Max Martz-Corvallis-321, 3rd & 4th-Roger Dilts-Polson-274 & Scott Bombard of Missoula, Tim Mooney-Missoula-5th, Danny Smith-Hot Springs-227-6th, Phil Meredith-Kalispell-7th-203, John Gauci-Florence-8th-163, Steve Benson-Four Lakes, Wa.-9th-157, Larry Ashwell-Missoula-10th-136.

Lady angler Jeanee Mooney continues her lead with 112, Deana Knipe-Polson-68, Kim McMillie-Polson-36, Julie Vacca-Florence-28, and Debbie Maze-Kalispell-24.

Youth 13-17-Eric Sams of Polson leads with 33, Tom McDonald-Niarada-5, Cody and Jake Norberg-Rapid City, ND.-each with one. 12 & Under-Dylan Hodgson-Kalispell-21, Abby Hodgson-16, Ethan Hafliger-Moiese-2, and Dawson Dumont-Charlo-1.

Tagged $100 lake trout were caught by: Bill Violette-Missoula, Kathleen Bell-Polson, Tim Mooney-Missoula x 3, Ralph Johnson-Columbia Falls-had been waiting years and over 1,000 lake trout for this, Debbie Maze-Kalispell, Doug Hodgson-Kalispell, Roger Dilts-Polson x 2, Jeanee Mooney-Missoula-x2, and Terry Krogstad-Kalispell. John Gauci-Missoula caught a $200 tagged lake trout.

Non-native lake trout numbers have increased dramatically over the past several years and native bull trout and westslope cutthroat numbers have decreased. Mack Days are used as a tool to reduce the non-native fish and increase the numbers of native fish. Non-native fish greatly impact the Flathead system and move up into the Glacier Parks waters causing effects on the fishery in the park. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes support and sponsor the events and use it as a management tool to help native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout which are a part of the history of Montana and the CSKT Tribes.

Go to www.mackday.com for more information or telephone 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.

(Report by Cynthia Bras; Cover photo: mackdays.com)

 

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