Two weeks to go in the 2025 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. A total of 14,719 lake trout entries have been turned in during the seven weeks of the event-just 98 ahead of the 2024 Fall Event. Monday to Thursday total is at 2,724 and Friday to Sunday 11,897. A couple of blustery windy days hampered the anglers-Fridays total 494, Saturday-633, and Sunday 134. These hard-working anglers don’t quit when the weather is not working for them. As soon as there is a break in the weather they are putting lines back in the water and it is FISH ON AGAIN. The anglers make the fishing events a success. Entries will be taken until the last day of the event November 2^nd. One lake trout entry puts you into the drawings that begin at $2,000. Come out and be a winner!

The $10,000 tagged lake trout, 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 and over 9,000 with values from $100-$500 are still lurking out in the murky depths of Flathead Lake. Ryker Bair turned in 3 tagged lakers over the weekend-2 were $100 and one for $200. Ria Redd was lucky fishing from a charter boat with 2 tagged lake trout at $100 each, and Steve Mack and Mike Benson-$100 tags. 

David Myers of Riverton WY is 1^st in the Top Twenty Category with 934 entries. David won the event in 2023 and is 33 lake trout entries ahead of 2^nd place angler Terry Krogstad of Kalispell. Terry with a total of 901 is a seasoned angler of the events and winner of 2013, 2015, and 2016 Fall Mack Days. David has an 18-day average of 50.06 and Terry is at 48.33. Larry Ashwell of Missoula is 3^rd with 807-and an average of 44.83. Larry began fishing these events when they began in the fall of 2002. Julie Perkins of Kalispell is 4^th and has been the Top Lady contender several times. Her total is 789 and 42.78 avg., 5^th Devon Bukowski of Kalispell-666 and 35.33, 6^th Patrick Casey of Townsend 644 and 35.11, 7^th Jack Kirkland of Lolo-619-17 days, 8^th Mike Benson of Lonepine-437-17 days, 9^th Lyndon Lee of Canada-415-22.67 avg., 10^th Bob Stewart of Kalispell 401-16 days. Richard Kreis of Huson is 11^th with 399, Janet Myers of Riverton WY-12^th -317, 13^th Larry Karper of Florence-264, 14^th and 15^th Jerry Benson of Plains-259 and Laurie Kreis of Huson-259, 16^th Angie Morrow of Kalispell-209, 17^th Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls MN-200, 18^th Steve Mack-Helena with 153, 19^th Felix Gauci of Stevensville-152, and 20^th Ryker Bair of Helena-138.

Julie Perkins leads the Ladies with 789, 2^nd Janet Myers-317, 3^rd Laurie Kreis-259, 4^th Angie Morrow-209, and 5^th Shaunda Albert of Ronan-61.

Carter Lindsay of Pablo is 1^st in the 12 & Under with 9, 2^nd Lincoln Gauci of Florence-5, 3^rd-Ria Redd and Rosi Martin of Valier-2, and Flynn Martin of Valier has 1.  

Olivia Cottet of Polson is 1^st in the 13-17 Category with 6, and Liam Martin and Porter Martin of Valier have 1 each. 

Terry Krogstad is 1^st in the 70 and Over-860, 2^nd Larry Ashwell-807, 3^rd Jack Kirkland-619, 4^th Mike Benson-437, and 5^th Larry Karper-264.

Weekend winners were: $200-Devon Burkowski, $100-Carey Hauser of Kalispell, Terry Krogstad, Angie Morrow, and Patrick Casey. 

The last day of the event-November 2^nd all fish are to be turned in by 3:00 at Blue Bay. There will be no fish pickups on that day. There will be special drawings on the last day for all anglers who turn in lake trout. 

All prizes and awards will be announced and posted at 3:00 with light snacks being served. 

The fishing events are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase native bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations. Lake trout were brought here from other areas and have taken over in Flathead Lake. Fish borders do not exist and these invasive fish have gone up into the Glacier Park waters from here. It is important to work together and help the native fish populations increase and slowly decrease the lake trout numbers for future generations. Natural resources including fish need everyone’s attention and belong to everyone. We all need to take care of where we live-our home. 

Thank you Anglers

 & Tight lines everyone!

—CSKT—

Feature photo via MackDays.com

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