The forty-seventh Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is underway. The nine-week long event began September 4th and will end on November 2nd. Two weeks of lake trout fishing are complete with a total of 5,173 lake trout turned in. The Monday -Thursday total was at 1,024. Fridays total came to 766, Saturday 751, and Sunday 524. The 2024 Fall Event at this time was at 4,201 with 857 Mon-Thurs and 4,201 Fri to Sunday fishing. Totals can change fast and weather is critical for these anglers. Wind is the worst, so far this event there has been several nice fishing days.
Mack Days are used as a tool to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Preserving and protecting the native fish populations of bull trout and westslope cutthroat in the lake is important to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Montana anglers. Efforts made now will make a difference for the future of these fish. It is difficult for some to understand the importance of stepping up and helping to preserve the native fish that have been here for thousands of years. Declining native fish populations everywhere happen very easily and quickly when non-native fish like lake trout are introduced into a system where they outcompete the resident fish for food and territory. This fish conservation effort is part of the fisheries management plan for Flathead Lake and is a tool that will continue to be used.
Turning in a tagged lake trout is always exciting. Most anglers dream of landing the $10,000 tagged lake trout from the depths of the lake. There are also 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 and over 9,000 with values from $100-$500. Dave Myers of Riverton WY turned in $500 and $100 tags. Chris Commers of Somers turned in a $200 tagged lake trout, and Julie Perkins and Mike Benson each turned in $100 tagged lake trout during the second week.
Another fisherman’s dream is catching “the big one” the largest lake trout in the event. New comer to the event Angie Morrow of Kalispell while fishing with her husband Devon Burkowski hooked onto a huge laker on Saturday. She knew there was a fish on but when it bent the pole and the tip of the pole was hitting the water she realized it was the big one! It measured 38.5 inches & weighed 19.9 lbs. Angie is not a very big lady but she is tough and it is a good thing she is. She reported it was a struggle getting it up off the bottom of lake and it took a while to get it into the boat. Even though it was disappointing that it was not heavy enough she has a great memory of winning the fight. They enjoy fishing the events more and more as they become experienced.
Lady angler Olivia Cottet of Polson has a total of 5 lake trout entries in the 13-17 Category. Carter Lindsay of Pablo has 5 in the 12 & Under.
Julie Perkins of Kalispell is in first in the Ladies Category with 282, 2nd Janet Myers of Riverton Wy with 126, 3rd Laurie Kreis of Huson with 115, 4th Angie Morrow of Kalispell 113, and 5th Lorinda Freeman of Polson with 26.
Top angler is Terry Krogstad of Kalispell. His high catch on Sunday of 70 lake trout moved him into 1st with 340. David Myers of Riverton Wy is in 2nd with 323, 3rd and 4th Devon Bukowski of Kalispell and Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 313, 5th Julie Perkins 282, 6th Jack Kirkland of Lolo 206, 7th Patrick Casey of Townsend 197, 8th Lyndon Lee of British Columbia 189, 9th Bob Stewart Kalispell 167, 10th Felix Gauci of Stevensville 150, 11th Mike Benson of Lonepine 142, Larry Karper of Florence has 141 for 12th, 13th Richard Kreis of Huson with 140, 14th Janet Myers 126, 15th Laurie Kreis of Huson 115, 16th Angie Morrow 113, 17th Ted Stewart Kalispell 105, 18th Jerry Benson of Plains 100, 19th Paul Grove of Wyoming IL 69, and 20th Steve Mack of Helena with 60.
The Smallest Lake Trout Category leader is Justin Bair of Dillon with a 124mm (4.75”) lake trout and Larry Karper with a 130mm lake trout. Using a small fly a few inches above a jig is usually the set up for catching a small lake trout. Sometimes the anglers pull up a larger one and are surprised to find the small fish on the fly.
Weekend winners were: $200-Richard Kreis and $100-Patrick Casey, Laurie Kreis, Lyndon Lee, and Jerry Benson. Trolling is picking up out on the water. The lake trout are getting into the spawning mode and are moving in closer to shore.
Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Fish one day or several days. Every entry put you in the lottery drawing and gives you the chance to win. Bonus dollars are added once an angler reaches 11 lake trout entries and go up as the total of entries goes up. Check out the bonus chart, entry page, fish ID, fishing tips, etc. on the website at www.mackdays.com.
Be safe out there. Wear your PFD’s, keep your cell phone dry, be alert to weather predictions, have dry clothing on board, and let someone know your plan. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Cindy Benson at (406) 270-3386. Thank you to all of these hard-working anglers! They make the events a success.
Tight lines everyone!
—CSKT—
Photo: Lady angler Angie Morrow of Kalispell with a 38.5 inch lake trout that weighed in at 19.9 lbs.
