First of 3 Mack Days bucket events in the books
With six weeks to go in the 2021 Fall Mack Days fishing event, Felix Gauci of Stevensville is the man to beat. Gauci leads all anglers with 572 entries, and he managed to snag one of several tagged fish worth $100 last week.
Friday was the first of the three Bucket of Fish days. Winning with his four largest lake trout under 30 inches was Jens Gran of Polson with a weight of 24.7 pounds for 10 points. Rick Skates of Big Arm was second with a bucket weight of 23.95 lbs. for eight points, followed by Roger and Gina Schiff of Whitefish (20.7 pounds, six points). The second Bucket Day is Saturday, Oct. 16. The third is Nov. 7. Heaviest weight wins $200. Points will be totaled at the end of the three days and overall awards will be given.
Freddie Mack, the $10,000 tagged lake trout, is still out there, along with three $5,000 tagged fish, and five $1,000 tagged fish, plus more than 9,000 tagged fish with values from $100 to $500. There is also a $1,000 tagged lake trout sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine.
The top entries for smallest lake trout entries so far are from Brad Ivanoff of Arlee with a 191-millimeter (7.5-inch) fish, and Scott Bombard of Missoula with a 202-millimeter lake trout (8-inch) entry. There have been no entries for largest lake trout, which need to be over 36 inches and 20 pounds.
Overall leaders
Felix Gauci, Stevensville (572); Larry Karper, Florence (409); Sam Cusker, Bigfork (366); Mike Benson, Lonepine (311); Jack Kirkland, Missoula (292); Richard Kreis, Huson (289); Scott Bombard, Missoula (287); and Larry Ashwell, Missoula (248).
Ladies
Laurie Kreis, Huson (211); Julie Perkins, Kalispell (190); Kim Mack, Missoula (75); Debby Sacchi, Thompson Falls (49); and Gina Schiff, Whitefish (43).
70 and Over
Larry Karper, Florence (409); Jack Kirkland, Missoula (292); Larry Ashwell, Missoula (248); John Gauci, Florence (197); and Paul Grove of Wyoming, Ill. (101).
Up to $200,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event, which runs through Nov. 14. Every lake trout entry gives anglers a chance to win cash awards from $50 to $2,000 in the lottery drawings that are done by a random electronic program.
Weekend drawing winners were: Sam Sacchi, $200; Jeremy Williams, $100; Larry Ashwell $100; Richard Kreis $100; and Sam Cusker $100.
Catching $100 tagged lake trout last week were Sandy Lanch, Larry Ashwell, Felix Gauci, Ken Rickert, Roger Schiff, Gina Schiff and Julie Perkins (2). Catching $200 tagged lake trout were Dan Deutchman and Dan Seman.
There are six weeks remaining in the 2021 Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake that is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Up to $200,000 in Cash and Prizes is available to many of the hard-working anglers who have caught at least one or more lake trout. Catching one lake trout and entering it qualifies you for a chance in the lottery drawing that begins at $50 and goes to $2,000.
Total catch for the event is at 6,743. The weekend catch was 1,604. Friday’s total was 559, with 555 Saturday and 490 Sunday.
Visit www.mackdays.com for information about the event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.