Mack Days Update, Week 5

The 2013 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event continues with a total of 10,061 lake trout entries.  The event continues through November 17th with the last 10 straight days of fishing beginning on Friday November 8th. Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes-Mack Days are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.  Native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout numbers have declined in numbers over the years from where their numbers historically once were.  Bull trout were once very abundant in the Flathead system.  Some travel up into high-mountain streams in the upper Flathead to spawn with a few that even make it into Canadian tributaries and others moving into Glacier Park streams and lakes.  They are an important part of tribal history and an important part of the history of Western Montana. Mack Days are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

Up to $125,000 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event on November 17th with a fish fry beginning at 4 p.m. and awards at 5 p.m. at the Blue Bay Campground. Entries continue to be taken until the last day.  All it takes is one fish to receive a ticket for the lottery drawings.  Lake trout spawn in the fall and come into shallower areas along the shore. Shore anglers have been reporting some success using bait or casting with spinners.  Boat anglers are catching lake trout jigging, casting, and trolling.

There is still a $10,000 tagged lake trout-4-$5,000, 10-$1,000 and more than  4,500 with values from $100-$500.  One $5,000 tagged lake trout was turned in on October 26th by Roger Schiff of Kalispell.  Anglers Tim Mooney and wife Jeanee were very lucky over the 5th weekend and turned in five $100 tagged lake trout on Friday and Jeanee had another on Sunday.  Casting towards shore in the steep rocky areas their catch for Friday was 108 lake trout. More information about the event can be found at www.mackdays.com or telephone 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.