931-Arley Grandchamp with a lake trout entry.
One week is all that remains in the 2019 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event. Seven weeks have been completed in the eight week event. Mack Days Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with UP to $150,000 in CASH and PRIZES that will be awarded to anglers on November 10th.
Four hundred eighty eight anglers have entered the event with one hundred fifty two entering one or more lake trout entries. Total lake trout entries are at 16,298 with week seven total 2,043. That total surpasses ending totals for 2018 (15,423) and 2017 (14,700) and will be close or over the 2016 total of (17,527). Record total for a Fall Event is the 2015 total of 19,540 with 195 out of 494 anglers turning in entries. The events are used as a tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.
Marie Laveau the lovely $10,000 lake trout is still evading the anglers. Kim Mack of Helena thought she had her at the end of her fishing line on Friday but after struggling to bring her line in for several minutes she found an old trolling cable tangled with her line-Marie is still working her magic. Avery and Arley Grandchamp of Polson tried their luck with Arley catching a laker on Saturday from shore. Sunday both young anglers each caught a lake trout from shore with Avery catching one with a clipped adipose fin that was worth $200. Also bringing in $200 tags over the seventh week were Ken Rickert of Thompson Falls and Sam Cusker of Bigfork. Tags with $100 values were caught by Richard Kreis of Huson, Larry Karper and John Gauci of Florence, Mark McMillin, Kenny Garrett, and Scott Bombard X 2 of Missoula, and Terry Krogstad and Julie Perkins of Kalispell. There are (3) $5,000 and (5) $1,000 along with over 9,000 lake trout with values from $500-$100. Fish Tuesday through Sunday the last week to try and bring in one of the tagged lake trout at the end of your line.
Mike Benson of Lonepine continues to lead the Top Ten anglers with 1,141 entries and a 68.27 average. Top Ten anglers are placed by their best fifteen day average on Saturday evening. Sundays total will be added for bonus amounts but does not count for Top Ten competition. Felix Gauci of Stevensville is 2nd with 989 and 62.33, 3rd Scott Bombard-958-58.27, 4th-Larry Karper of Florence is at 721-48.07, Sam Cusker is 5th with a total of 699-no average, 6th Larry Ashwell of Missoula-660-38.8, 7th-Terry Krogstad-596-34.87, 8th Julie Perkins-574-33.87, 9th Jack Kirkland of Missoula-415-27.67, and 10th Bob Stewart with 351 and no average. Anglers have two days left to add to their averages. If they do not have fifteen days they can use zeros to go into the average. Anglers have to make a choice of staying in the Top Ten or if they are leading in another category they can choose to stay in that category.
Julie Perkins is 1st in the Ladies with 574, 2nd Laurie Kreis of Huson with 119, 3rd Bobbi Hereford of Missoula with 81, Gina Schiff of Whitefish is 4th with 67, and 5th is Kim Mack of Helena with 48.
Larry Karper has 721 for 1st in the popular 70 and Over Category. There are several anglers in this category with at least two of them 89. There is years of fishing history and experience in this category. 2nd place Larry Ashwell with 660, 3rd John Gauci with 345, 4th Bob Christensen of Missoula with 158, and 5th Thompson Falls anglers Mike Cosby with 81.
Matt Kreis of Huson leads the 13-17 Category with 17, 2nd Matt Guckenberg of Kalispell-8, Tayven Moua of Missoula is 3rd with 3, John Ross Jr. of Stevnsville is 4th with 2, and Mike Ross of Stevensville is 5th-1.
HD of Arlee has 14 in the 12 & Under group with 14, Alison Putzler of Kalispell has 13 for 2nd, 3rd Darien Moua of Missoula-7, 4th Kieran Incashola of St. Ignatius with-6, 5th Arley Grandchamp of Polson with 4 and 6th Avery Grandchamp of Polson-1.
The third and last Bucket Day was Sunday with Rick Skates of Polson coming in with the heaviest bucket of four lake trout under 30”-31.95 lbs. 2nd Ted Petersen and Paul Gyles of Stevensville-30.45, 3rd Mike Benson with 28.45, 4th Kreis-20.5, and 5th Mack’s of Helena with 17.75.
Weekend winners of $100 were: Marty Herak and David McDaniel-Polson, Kenny Garrett and Bob Christensen, and Larry Karper.
November 10th is the last day of the event. All entries are turned in by 3:00 at the Blue Bay headquarters. The fish fry will begin at 3:00 with awards at 4:00.
Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. There is no entry fee. Go to www.mackdays.com for information or telephone 406-270-3386. Fish on everyone.
(Feature photo credit:1021-Avery and Arley Grandchamp with lake trout entries. Avery turned in a $200 tagged fish.)
