Weather chills early Spring Mack Days numbers
The third weekend of the 2022 Spring Mack Days event saw more wind, cold, rain and even a bit of snow, which made for some tough going. Weather is the determining factor when it comes to the fish totals, and anglers have had to battle some blustery spring days.
Friday’s total was 896 entries, with 425 on Saturday and 905 on Sunday. The bite has been off and on, with many saying the fish are there but they are not interested in anything they have to offer.
A total of 9,039 lake trout entries have been turned in so far by 159 anglers. Each lake trout entry gives an angler a chance at lottery prizes that begin at $100 and go up to $2,000.
Mike Benson of Lonepine had a surprise catch last weekend on the end of his line. He caught a net that he had lost in the same area a few years ago. It was in good shape and still usable.
Dan Hoffman of Missoula and Sheldon Woldstad of Somers each turned in $100 tagged lake trout. There are more than 9,000 tagged lake trout with values from $100 to $500. You have to be a Mack Days angler and turn in at least one lake trout entry before the event ends to win a $100 prize. Bonus dollars are available to all anglers who enter 11 or more lake trout entries. Categories in the bonus go up every 25 fish. Visit www.mackdays.com for more information.
Leaderboard
Overall: Kolton Turner, Kalispell, 544 entries; Jason Mahlen, 518; Bob Turner, Kalispell, 449; Steve Benson, Spokane Valley, 323; Mike Benson, Lonepine, 311; Sam Cusker, Bigfork, 272; Larry Karper, Florence, 269; Jerry Benson, Plains, 241; Scott Bombard, Missoula, 224; Larry Ashwell, Missoula, 224.
Ladies: Julie Perkins of Kalispell, 76 entries; Connie Jones of Kalispell, 46; Rebecca Spring (Alberton), 18; Ia Thao (Missoula), 11; Amanda Hoback, Arlee, 5.
Age 13-17: Brodie Smith of Kalispell, 22 entries; Matt Guckenberg Jr., 12; Karson Cox (Charlo), 6; Michael Palmer (Kalispell), 2.
12 and Under: Wyatt Best, Florence, 6 entries; Gage Spring, Alberton, 4; Tripp Bick, Arlee, 2; Martin Phan, Kalispell, 2; Allydia Yang, Missoula, 2; Ava Yang, Missoula, 2.
Smallest lake trout: Kolton Turner (6.5 inches); Mike Benson (6.7 inches).
Largest lake trout: Jade Smith (41 inches, 25.25 pounds). The award for the largest lake trout is $500 and is sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine of Missoula.
Up to $225,000 will be awarded at the conclusion of the event to anglers of all ages and experience levels. The $10,000 tagged lake trout is still waiting for a lucky angler. There also are three worth $5,000, five worth $1,000 (plus a $1,000 tagged lake trout sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine) and more than 9,000 worth $100 to $500.
There are a lot of ways to win in this event. Go to www.mackdays.com for more information. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Every fish counts and is entered in the lottery drawings. You can fish as many times as you like, Monday through Sunday.
The 40th Mack Days Event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Mack Days began in 2002 and are used as a tool to reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake to increase numbers of the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat. Flathead Lake was historically a bull trout and westslope trout fishery. Now those fish populations are a small portion of where they once were.