Mack Days: week six update

A fantastic weekend of spring weather helped anglers in the 2010 Spring Mack Days fishing event turn in a total of 3,679 lake trout making it the most successful weekend yet in the eleven week event. The Mack Days Fishing Events are 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 12th and ending on May 23rd 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 1075 and they have turned in a total of 17,292 lake trout entries which is the highest number in any of the previous events.

Youth angler Stephen Naethe continues to gain places, he is currently first in total lake trout entered with 765, first in the largest lake trout category with his 41", 30.4 pound lake trout, and now another smallest is added to his 240mm small lake trout entry-he turned in a 206mm to take first and second in the smallest lake trout entries. Steven Benson, of Columbia Falls, had three perfect 50-fish days during the sixth weekend. Charles Forgey, of Arlee, had two 50-fish days while Jerry Benson, of Plains, and Michael Benson, of Hot Springs, each had one 50 fish day.

Tagged lake trout with tags worth $100 were turned in by Jason Furhman, of Charlo, Jim Hoover, of Whitefish, Glee Bratt, of Somers, Mark Hagen, of Arlee, Jim Gollehon, of Ronan, Daniel Hunt, of St. Ignatius, Alvin Haase, of Stevensville, and Naethe.

Leaders in totals behind Naethe are Benson with 653, Michael Benson, of Hot Springs, with 545, Charles Forgey, of Arlee, with 526, David McDaniels, of Polson, with 507, Jerry Benson, of Plains, with 400, Roger Smart, of Ronan, with 337, Sid Bitney, of Kalispell, with 324, Craig Morigeau, of Polson, with 313, and Don Peters, of Missoula, with 312.

Lady anglers are led by Nicole Peters with 209, Debbie O'Hara, of St. Ignatius, with 90, Charlotte Benson, of Plains, with 72, Deana Knipe, of Polson, with 54, Terry Biere, of Butte, with 52, Michelle Zempel, of Polson, with 41, Amber Sturgis, of Missoula, with 51, Laurie Randall, of St. Ignatius, with 31, Kim McMillie, of Polson, with 25, Nancy Ryan, of Sula, with 24, and Cindy Upwell, of Kalispell, with 23.

Youth anglers 13-17 are lead by Naethe followed by Brady Weible, of Charlo, with 96, Terry Biere, of Butte, with 52,Connor Kowalski, of Florence, with 12, Keegan Noyd, of Missoula, with nine, and Eric Sams, of Polson, with nine. The 12-and-under division is led by Garett Vaughan with 85, Tanner Murry, of Columbia Falls, with 72, Daniel Hunt, of St. Ignatius, with 55, Roger Guillory, of Kalispell, with 35, Kobe Cox, of Charlo, with 35, Donald Soukup, of Ronan, with 22, Myles Tripp, of Missoula, with 14, Alia Dada, of Kalispell, with 14, Kimberly Biere, of Butte, with 12, and Stetson Stipe, of Charlo, with 12.

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.