2010 Madck Days: week five update

Anglers had it all when it came to weather on Flathead Lake during the fifth weekend of the eleven week event. They endured rain, snow, sleet and lots of big wind. The event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as part of the Flathead Lake Co-Management Plan to restore a balance to the fishery of Flathead Lake. Beginning March 12 and ending on May 23 this event is held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with $100,000 in prizes and drawings given on the last day. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event.

Anglers entered in Spring Mack Days have reached a new high of 1037 and they have turned in a total of 13,577 lake trout entries. The total is the second highest in the fifth weekend of any of the events.

Youth angler Stephen Naethe continues to gain places, first place in total lake trout entered with 651, first in the largest lake trout category with his 41 inch, 30.4 pound lake trout, and now smallest is added with a 240mm small lake trout entry. Nicole Peters is in second with a 242mm laker. Naethe's total for the weekend was 121 as he struggled on Friday like everyone else dealing with the wind and 21 was his high number for the day. Considering the whole day's total was 170 he did quite well. Saturday and Sunday were 50-fish days for him and fishing partner David McDaniels, of Polson. Sid Bitney, of Kalispell, was also lucky enough to reach the 50 fish limit on Saturday, which was the best day of the three days and 1,114 fish were entered by anglers. Another youth angler, 8-year-old Garett Vaughan, had a great day on Saturday and, with a big smile, brought in 33 lake trout. Vaughan reported that he was so far ahead of his dad in the middle of the day that he heard he might have to swim back to shore. Sunday's winds hampered the event again with 451 lake trout entered for the day. The wind brought the boats off just after most had launched and some were waiting to launch. The anglers who had made it north stayed out of the worst of the rough water.

Tagged lake trout with tags worth $100 were turned in by Brad Forgey of Spokane and Michael Benson of Hot Springs. Tagged fish count is at 37 with their values from $100-$500. There are still two $5,000 tagged lake trout and over 2,000 others with $100-$500 values.

Leaders in totals behind Naethe are Steven Benson, of Columbia Falls, with 503, Michael Benson, of Hot Springs, with 413, David McDaniels, of Polson, with 410, Charles Forgey, of Arlee, with 406, Jerry Benson, of Plains, with 326, Don Peters, of Missoula, with 312, Gerald Willet, of Townsend, with 284, Sid Bitney, of Kalispell, with 269, and Dean Vaughan, of Charlo, with 268.

Lady anglers are led by Nicole Peters with 209, Debbie O'Hara, of St. Ignatius, with 59, Charlotte Benson, of Plains, with 56, Terry Biere, of Butte, with 52, Deana Knipe, of Polson, with 46, Michelle Zempel, of Polson, with 41, Amber Sturgis, of Missoula, with 41, Kim McMillie, of Polson, with 24, Nancy Ryan, of Sula, with 24, and Cindy Upwell, of Kalispell, with 22.

Youth anglers 13-17 are led by Naethe and followed by Brady Weible, of Charlo, with 70, Terry Biere, of Butte, with 52, Connor Kowalski, of Florence, with 12, Keegan Noyd, of Missoula, with nine. The 12-and-under division is led by Vaughan with 79, second is Roger Guillory, of Kalispell, with 35, Kobe Cox, of Charlo, with 34, Daniel Hunt, of St. Ignatius, with 34, Donald Soukup, of Ronan, with 16, Myles Tripp, of Missoula, with 14, Tanner Murry, of Columbia Falls, with 13, Kimberly Biere, of Butte, with 12, Stetson Stipe, of Charlo, with 11, and Alia Dada, of Kalispell, with 11.

Go to www.mackdays.com for more information or call 406-883-2888 ext. 7294. Anglers can also enter at the end of the day when they turn in their lake trout. Anglers can keep their fish or turn them in. The fish are processed and delivered to food banks in the area.

-Courtesy of Cynthia Bras