One week remains in 2017 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake. The seventh weekend of the event was one of the quietest and hardest ever. The fishing lines were not flying very far. Cold, windy, and snowy weather kept many anglers off the water. The anglers that went out had to be dressed right for the bitter cold and wet weather and fought frozen lines and reels for most of the three day weekend-a total of seven hundred thirty six lake trout were entered-Friday was bitter cold and windy with 105 entries, Saturday was better weather still cold but not as windy-452 lake trout entered, Sunday it was back to the wild wind, snow, and huge waves-179 entries. Total lake trout entries for the seven weekends Friday-Sunday comes to 9,064-Tues-Thurs fishing total 3,136 for 12,200 total Tuesday-Sunday entries which is one of the lower totals for a Fall Event.
Sunday November 12th will be the last day of the event with all entries required to be in at 3:00 which is when the fish fry for families and friends will begin. Awards will begin at 4:00. Up to $150,000 in Cash and Prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be awarded to the well deserving anglers who are helping to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake as part of the management plan to increase native bull trout and weststlope cutthroat populations in the lake.
The $10,000 tagged lake trout, three $5,000, five $1,000 and over 6000 with values from $500-$100 are out there yet. Turning in $100 tagged fish the seventh week was: Terry Krogstad, Richard Kreis X 6, John Malatare of Arlee X 2, Mike Benson X 2, and Laurie Kreis. Turning in a $200 tagged lake trout: Mike Benson.
Leading the anglers in the Top Ten Angler Category in 1st place is Mike Benson of Lonepine with a total of 1,095 and a 63.13 average Friday-10 entries, Saturday-73, and Sunday 29, 2nd Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 844 and 50.67 average-7-29-0, 3rd Felix Gauci of Stevensville 764 and 48.2 average-0-59-28, 4th Richard Kreis of Huson 462 and 28.53-34-23-24, Larry Karper of Florence is 5th with 459 and 28.53-15-30-11, Larry Ashwell of Missoula is 6th with 447 and 26.93-22-20-11, 7th Sam Cusker of Whitefish with 362 and 24.13-no entries, 8th Scott Bombard of Missoula with 356 and 23.47-1-32-10, John Gauci is 9th with 249 and 16.20-30-4, and David McDaniel of Polson is 10th with 241 and 16.0-2-41-25. Even though these anglers compete they also help each other out when needed. Larry Ashwell had Larry Karper fishing in his boat on Friday when Karpers boat motor would not start. Felix Gauci has kept his eyes on Scott Bombard most of the event helping him out when needed after Bombard had a few setbacks. Then there is Randy Hovet a shore angler who has not missed a day in the Friday-Sunday fishing turning in 84 entries. He has stood on the shore or docks every day fishing all day long-changing locations as needed in all kinds of weather. He has turned in another 78 during the Tuesday-Thursday fishing days. All of the anglers fishing in the event-men and the ladies-are dealing with difficult weather that makes everything twice as hard. Mack Days would not be successful without them.
Lady angler Laurie Kreis of Huson continues her lead with 181, 2nd Bobbi Hereford of Missoula with 97, Gina Schiff of Whitefish has 91, Julie Woolley of Madesto, CA has 77, and Jeanee Mooney of Missoula has 57.
Larry Karper is leading the 70 and Over Category with 459, 2nd Larry Ashwell with 447, 3rd Bob Christensen 207, 4th Dan Olsen of Helena with 64, and Jim Hoover of Whitefish with 30.
Ali Putzler of Kalispell came out and caught 8 lake trout to put her in the lead in the 12 & Under Category. Makenna Garrett of Missoula is in 2nd with one entry.
Tyler Varga still is in first in the 13-17 group with 55 and Abby Hodgson of Kalispell has 5 entries for second.
Larry Ashwell won the third day of the Bucket of Fish Days with a bucket that had a weight of 22.05 pounds.
Richard Kreis won first in the seventh weekend drawing for $300 and David McDaniel won second place for $200.
Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. For more information go to www.mackdays.com or telephone 406-270-3386.
(via Cynthia Benson)
