2016 Fall Mack Days Update – Week 7
By angelamontana

Posted: November 7, 2016

Kalispell angler Terry Krogstad continues to lead the four hundred fifty two lake trout entrants in the 2016 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake. Terry has the lead with 1,185 entries and a 70.3 15 day average in the event. A total of 14,688 lake trout have been turned in during seven weeks of the eight week-long event. He turned in 61 for Friday, 84 on Saturday, and 35 on Sunday for a total of 180 entries. Mike Benson of Lonepine comes in 2nd with 1,136 entries with a total of 160 for the weekend. Friday 61 lake trout entries, Saturday 48, and 51 on Sunday and holds a 61.2 fifteen day average. Felix Gauci of Stevensville is in third place with 703 and 42.0 average. Fourth place is Larry Karper from Florence and leader of the Golden Oldie (70 & Over) category with 601 and 37.9 for an average. Sam Cusker of Whitefish is 5th with 542 and 34.2, 6th Scott Bombard-Missoula-534 and 30.4, 7th Richard Kreis of Huson with 458 and 26.4, 8th Larry Ashwell of Missoula-455 and 29.1, 9th Bob Stewart of Kalispell with 377 and 24.8, and 10th Danny Smith of Hot Springs has 331 and 18.0 average. Final placing in the Top Ten Anglers is by the fifteen day average.

A total of 14,688 lake trout entries have been received so far during the event. Friday’s total entries were 638. Saturday was a beautiful day on the lake and the fish were biting well a total of 905 lake trout were entered, and on a blustery, cold, and rough water Sunday a smaller catch of 381 lake trout were entered. There are six days of fishing left in the event. Anglers fish Tuesday-Thursday for bonus amounts and tagged fish and Friday through Saturday this week for the contest portion of the event. Sunday is a separate day with separate prizes for the day. All fish are to be turned in by 3:00 on Sunday the last day with the fish fry beginning at 3:00 and awards at 4:00 at the Blue Bay Campground.

Bear Malatare of Arlee, Richard Kreis, Scott Bombard x3, Mike Benson x3, Tim Mooney, Larry Ashwell, Steve Mack, & Jeanee Mooney of Missoula, Bob Stewart, Paul Soukup of Ronan, Greg Karlson of Hot Springs x2, and Sam Cusker each turned in $100 tagged fish. Terry Krogstad turned in two $200 tagged lake trout. There is still the $10,000 tagged lake trout-three $5,000, and five $1,000 tagged lake trout along with over 7,000 with values from $100-$500. Tagged fish since 2007 are used for growth, movement, and other types of information. Tags remain active throughout the years.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes sponsor the eight week-long event with Up to $150,000 in Cash and Prizes available to the competing anglers fishing from shore or boat. The events are used as a management tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Mack Days are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. There is no entry fee. The tribes offer a special $13 combined use and fishing permit for the south half of Flathead Lake to anglers. Go to www.mackdays.com for information.

Marty Herak of Charlo won the third day of the Heaviest Bucket of Fish competition with four lake trout in a bucket that weighed in at 23.75 lbs. Overall winner of the three days of that competition is Richard and Laurie Kreis of Huson with 20 point overall, 2nd place goes to Monte and Donna McPherson of Silverdale, WA with 14 points, and third place goes to Roger and Gina Schiff and Jerry Luderman of Whitefish with 12 pts.

Dawson Adley of Pablo is in 1st place in the 12 & Under group with 7, Ellyanna Tripp of Missoula and Hayden Hall of Missoula come in 2nd with 2 each. Tied for third is Dalton Kleusner of Frenchtown, Connor Foley of Kalispell, Keenan Foley of Kalispell, and Bailey Randall of Missoula each with one entry.

Laurie Kreis of Huson is in first of the ladies category with 174, Brandy Hilde of Whitefish 2nd with 119, Jeanee Mooney of Missoula 3rd with 109, Gina Schiff of Whitefish if 4th with 76, and Deb Amdahl of Kalispell is 5th with 53.

Tyler Varga of Kalispell holds onto 1st in the 13-17 group with 53, Danner Shima of Kalispell 2nd with 12, and Ayden Tripp of Missoula is third with one.

Larry Karper is first in the 70 & Over category with 601, Bob Christensen of Missoula 2nd with 175, 3rd Glenn Hoffman of Missoula with 164, Leonard Lewis 4th with 109, and Gerald Luderman of Kalispell with 41.

It is not too late to come out and enjoy a day of fishing during Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake. Shore fishing is picking up and boats are using all techniques and methods to catch the lake trout. All it takes is one fish to win!

(Report via Cynthia Bras)
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