Mack Days: week seven update

A new record of 20,829 lake trout has been turned in during the Spring Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. New records were broken all over on the 7th weekend-Stephen Naethe has a total of 911 lake trout entries beating Mike Benson's 847 in 21 days set in the 2007 Fall Event which was the highest ever in the events. Anglers entered in the event have also exceeded all other events with 1095 being entered. Friday was a great day for fishing and 11 anglers turned in 50-fish totals, another record to beat. There were 1,394 lake trout entered on Friday. Saturday winds brought anglers off the lake with a few boats stranded in the boat ramp areas. Several were having a very successful day until the winds hit. A total of 638 lake trout were turned in. Sunday was a little breezy on the north end of the lake but the total was great with 1,470 entries. Sunday there were seven 50-fish totals. We continue to caution everyone to use common sense and get off the water during the windy-stormy weather events.

Leading is Stephen Naethe with his 911 total and fifteen best day average, Steven Benson, of Columbia Falls, follows with a total of 776, Michael Benson, of Hot Springs, has 645, Chuck Forgey, of Arlee, has 610, David McDaniels, of Polson, has 609, Jerry Benson, of Plains, has 450, Craig Morigeau, of Polson, has 425, Roger Smart, of Ronan, has 405, and Sid Bitney, of Kalispell, has 363. Top angler prizes are based on the 15 best day average.

Ladies are lead by Nicole Peters, of Missoula, has 209, Debbie O'Hara, of St. Ignatius, has 105, Laurie Randall, of St. Ignatius, has 81, Deana Knipe, of Polson, has 76, Charlotte Benson, of Plains, has 72, Michelle Zempel, of Polson, has 55, Terry Biere, of Butte, has 52, Amber Sturgis, of Missoula, has 51, Teena Zempel, of Ravalli, has 30, Julie Duncan, of Polson, has 27, and Kim McMillie, of Polson, has 25.

Youth angers are bringing in some awesome numbers of fish. They are a great group of kids who are already showing their experience and expertise in fishing lake trout on Flathead Lake. The 13-17 group is lead by Stephen's 911. Brady Weible, of Charlo, has 99, Terry Biere, of Butte, has 52, Connor Kowalski, of Florence, has 23, Keegan Noyd, of Missoula, has 9, and Eric Sams, of Polson, has 9. The 12-and-under group is lead by Garett Vaughan, of Charlo, has 145 (50 fish day on Friday for this 8-year-old), Tanner Murry, of Columbia Falls, has 89, Daniel Hunt, of St. Ignatius, has 68, Kobe Cox, of Charlo, has 56, Roger Guillory, of Kalispell, has 53, Donald Soukup, of Ronan, has 22, Myles Tripp, of Missoula, has 14, and Alia Dada, of Kalispell, has 14.

There are over 2,000 tagged lake trout in the lake with values from $100 to (2) $5,000. Fish with $100 tags were turned in over the weekend by Bob Christensen, of Missoula, Blaine Cox, of Charlo, Jim Hoover, of Whitefish, Dutch Turner, of Columbia Falls, Jason Mahlen, of Kalispell, and Dean Vaughan, of Charlo. There were two $200 tagged lake trout turned in by Dan Smith, of Columbia Falls, and Jason Furhmann, of Charlo.

Smallest lake trout category is now held by Leonard Bowen, of Whitefish, with a 177mm-7" lake trout and second is held by Ryan Reed, of Hot Springs, with a 190mm lake trout.

Largest is still Stephen Naethe's 41 _" 30.4 lake trout.

There are four weekends left in the Spring Event. Over $100,000 will go to anglers at the end of the event on May 23rd. All it takes is one fish to win in the lottery style drawing. Entries continue to be taken until the last day. For more information go to www.mackdays.com on the Website or call us at 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.