2018 Fall Mack Days Update – Week 2 Update
By angelamontana

Posted: October 1, 2018

Windblown lake trout anglers just completed the second weekend of 2018 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake. The eight week-long event continues until November 11th with anglers fishing Tuesday-Fridays. Three wild windy days in a row kept many off the water during the second weekend. Wind warnings began early on Monday which prepared everyone for what was to come.  The wind began early Friday and the lake trout fish total came in at 316. One hundred one lake trout entries were turned in on Saturday. Boats were rocking and rolling all day from the strong gusty winds. There was no relief from the wind that clocked in at a sustained 37 mph at Yellow Bay. Boats were huddling in along shores that were protected from the wind.  Sunday morning was no different with continued blustery and gusty winds. The afternoon calmed down and relieved anglers were able to get to their fishing areas. There was a total of 333 lake trout entries. Second weekend total came to seven hundred and fifty. Event total through the second weekend is 3,238.

Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with Up to $150,000 in Cash and Prizes awarded at the conclusion of the event. Entries are taken until the last day-there is no entry fee. Turning in one lake trout gets an angler entered in the lottery style drawing that begins at $1,000 and go to $500 which is held on the last day of the event November 11th.  Mack Days Fishing Events are used to reduce non-native lake trout numbers in Flathead Lake and increase the numbers of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.

Walter-the most wanted lake trout in Flathead Lake is still lurking somewhere in the waters of the lake. Reward for this most wanted tagged lake trout is $10,000. His whereabouts are unknown along with those of his three $5,000, and five $1,000 counterparts plus over 6,000 other tagged lake trout with values from $500-$100. These lake trout are very suspicious looking. They can easily be identified by their adipose fin clip. At this time they may be coming in closer to shore as they are getting ready to spawn. Fish are starting to be caught off the docks. If you should find one of them on the end of your line-capture the fish-turn him in to find out if he is a Mack Days tagged lake trout. If he is-the reward would be from $10,000 to $100.  The second weekend of the event $100 tagged fish were turned in by Shawn Madsen of Whitefish and Steve Mack of Helena.

Mike Benson of Lonepine leads the Top Ten anglers with 266 lake trout entries-Fri-22, Sat-11, and Sun-53. 2nd David McDaniel of Polson with 238-32, 14, 36, 3rd Felix Gauci of Stevensville 227-17, 0, & 37, 4th Scott Bombard of Missoula 186 -13, 0, & 32, 5th Sam Cusker of Whitefish with 165-29, 0, & 54, 6th Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 97, 7th Richard Kreis of Huson with 92, Julie Perkins of Kalispell is 8th with 88, Bob Christensen of Missoula is 9th with 86, and Larry Karper of Florence is 10th with 77.

Julie Perkins of Kalispell is 1st in the Ladies Category with 88, Gina Schiff of Whitefish is 2nd with 41, Kimberly Mack of Helena is 3rd with 37, Laurie Kreis of Huson 4th with 32, and Jeanee Mooney of Missoula is 5th with 20.

Bob Christensen of Missoula took over the lead in the 70 and Over Category with 86 entries, Larry Karper of Florence is 2nd with 77, 3rd Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 62, John Gauci of Florence is 4th with 30, and 5th is Jerry Luderman of Whitefish with 22.

12 and Under Category-Tripp Bick of Arlee has 2, Brodie Smith of Kalispell has 1, and Michael Marlatt of Missoula has 1 lake trout entry.

Weekend winners of $100 were Scott Bombard, Terry Krogstad, Ken Richert of Thompson Falls, and Jeanee Mooney X 2.

Smallest lake trout leaders at this time are Larry Karper and Sam Cusker each with a 189mm entry-7.5”. No large lake trout entries so far in the event.

For more information about the event go to www.mackdays.com and click on the events tab at the top of the page or telephone 406-270-3386 or 406-883-2888 ex. 7294 or 7282.

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