Mack Days update - Week 9
The 2014 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event is in the final week of competition.
A total of 24,544 lake trout have been entered by 238 anglers. Mack Days fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Up to $150,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the 34 days of fishing on Flathead Lake. The event will end on May 18 with a fish fry beginning at 3 p.m. and awards at 4 p.m. at the Blue Bay Campground.
Restoring a balance to the fishery of the lake by reducing the non-native lake trout and increasing native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout numbers is a management action agreed to in the Flathead Lake Co-Management Plan. The fishing event is used as one of the management tools by the CSKT to make a difference and reduce the numbers of the lake trout in Flathead Lake.
Jason Mahlen, of Kalispell, continues his lead with 1,480 lake trout entries and an 18-day average of 68.1 pounds, which is a new record for the event. Jason turned in a total of 1,635 in 2012 and may beat that total by May 18. His totals over the ninth weekend were 75, 57, and 82.
Second place is held by Mike Benson of Lonepine with 1,046-47.6 average, third-Scott Bombard-Missoula-954-44.6, fourth-Kevin Burns-Kalispell-879-41.11, fifth-Robert Turner-Kalispell-836-42.22, sixth-Jerry Benson-Plains-815-36.44, seventh-Danny Smith-Hot Springs-814-40.8, eighth-Steven Benson-Four Lakes, Wash.-798-36.5, ninth-Ryan Shima-Kalispell-796-44.2-17 days and 10th-Danner Shima-Kalispell-727-39.6. Top 10 anglers will be placed by the 18-day average at the end of the event.
The third bucket-of-fish day was won by Terry Krogstad and Chris Steen, of Kalispell, with a bucket weight of 20pounds, 5 ounces. The team of Tyson Cottet, of Charlo, and Chad Cottet, of Polson, came in second with a weight of 18 pounds, 7 ounces. and third was Dan Smith, of Kalispell, and Jim Hoover, of Whitefish, with 17 pounds, 15 ounces.
Danner Shima is leading the 13-17 age group with 727, second-Garett Vaughan of Charlo-404, third-Roger Guillory of Kalispell-235, fourth-Kobe Cox-Charlo-215, fifth-Austin Shima-Kalispell-182.
Matt Guckenberg, of Kalispell, leads the youth 12 & under category with 206, second-Abby Hodgson-Kalispell-83, third Aaron Lang-Kalispell-62, fourth Leah Banyai-Kalispell-51 and fifth-Shelbie Guckenberg-Kalispell-12.
Larry Karper, of Florence, is first in the 70 & Over group with 439, second Conn Hodgson-Kalispell-270, third Roger Smart-Ronan-80, fourth Jim Hoover-Whitefish-63, fifth Jens Gran-Polson-57.
The $10,000 tagged fish is still out there. Tagged fish with $500 tags were turned in by Larry Ashwell, of Missoula, and Mike Benson, of Lonepine, and $100 tagged fish winners were Tim Vacca, of Missoula, Jason Mahlen, Matt Guckenberg, Chris Steen, and Terry Krogstad, all of Kalispell, Larry Ashwell, of Missoula, and Steven Benson, of Four Lakes, Wash. Two $5,000 tagged lake trout, five $1,000 tagged lake trout, and more than 5,000 with values from $100 to $500 are still out there waiting for a lucky angler. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event, and there is no entry fee. All it takes is one fish to enter the lottery drawing.
Go to www.mackdays.com for information or telephone 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.