The 2015 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes continues until November 15th with Up To $150,000 in Cash and Prizes. After the fourth weekend of lake trout fishing on Flathead Lake the leader is Kalispell angler Terry Krogstad. Terry keeps reeling the lake trout in and entered one hundred sixty nine fish over the weekend bringing his total to seven hundred and three for the first twelve weekend days of the event. Anglers can fish Tuesday through Sunday with only the weekend fishing counting toward the top angler and other awards and the weekday fishing (Tuesday-Thursday) counting toward the bonus dollars anglers receive. Mike Benson of Lonepine is in second with six hundred thirty four entries. Benson turned in one hundred fourteen fish. Third place angler Felix Gauci of Stevensville has a total of four hundred sixty with a weekend of one hundred fifty eight. Phil Meredith of Kalispell is in 4th with 371, 5th place-Bob Stewart of Kalispell-347, 6th-Richard Kreis-Huson-295, 7th-Larry Karper-Florence-247, 8th-John Gauci-Florence-233, 9th-GW Schneider-Kalispell-221 and in 10th two anglers-Scott Bombard and Bob Christensen both of Missoula have 214 each.
Laurie Kreis of Huson turned in sixty three fish over the weekend to bring her total to 165, Julie Vacca of Florence has 66, Jeanee Mooney of Missoula-55, Kim McMillie-Ronan-35, Brandy Hilde-Missoula-33, and Debbie Pike-Polson-33.
Larry Karper continues his lead in the 70 and Over group with 247, 2nd Glenn Hoffman-Missoula-134, 3rd-Jim Hoover-Whitefish-117, 4th-Leonard Lewis-Missoula-92, and 5th-Richard Hembd-Columbia Falls 68.
The Kreis boat with Richard and Laurie both having a good weekend turned in a total of two hundred nine lake trout. Sunday was an exciting day for them with four $100 tagged fish in the cooler. Richard also had a $200 tagged fish on Friday. Jeff Montgomery of Stevensville turned in two tagged fish Saturday that were both $200. Jeff Cox of Rollins was lucky on Saturday with a $100 tagged fish and a $200 one on Sunday. A complete list of tagged fish can be seen on the website at www.mackdays.com along with other information on the contest. There is still a $10,000 tagged lake trout out there along with 3-$5,000, and 5-$1,000 tagged lake trout. Over 6,000 have values from $100-$500.
Ayden Tripp still leads in the 13-17 age group with nine fish, Garrett Beville of Bigfork in second with eight, 3rd-Tyler Varge with 6. Ellyana Tripp leads the 12 and Under group with 19.
Total fish for the weekend fishing is 7,406 and 1,868 for the weekdays with a combined total of 9,274. The 2014 Fall Event had 12,888 in twenty four days of weekend fishing. Anglers are having good success trolling and some are still jigging in the deeper waters. Water temperature is high yet and some say that is keeping the fish deeper so casting hasn’t been as successful so far.
Saturday October 24th is the second day in the Heaviest Bucket of Fish Contest. Anglers weigh in their four heaviest fish in a bucket. Heaviest bucket wins $200. The first day was won by a bucket that weighed in at 27.8 lbs. that was entered by Ted Peterson and Paul Gyles.
Smallest lake trout entries by Larry Karper-148mm-5 ¾’ and Larry Ashwell of Missoula-144mm-5 ½’ are still holding. NO large lake trout entries so far.
The fourth weekend prize drawings were won by Tim Vacca of Florence-$300 and Felix Gauci of Stevensville-$200.
Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Go to www.mackdays.com or telephone 406-270-3386 for information.
(Report via Cynthia Bras-Benson)
