Fall Mack Days: Tenacious anglers make progress

Week four of the nine-week long Fall Mack Days Fishing Event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, ended with a total of 8,489 lake trout entries. Sunny skies were the norm most of the week. While anglers say fishing was good, they report that catching was a little tough.

There were no more reported sightings of a black bear sighted the weekend before by Scott Bombard and Tim Mooney. The Missoula anglers both had pictures of the bruin enjoying a swim and taking a rest on Bird Island.

Missoula angler Larry Ashwell continues to lead the anglers with 603 entries, followed by Felix Gauci of Stevensville with 549. Mike Benson of Lonepine is third with 491; Terry Krogstad of Kalispell holds fourth with 380, and Scott Bombard of Missoula is fifth at 376.

Julie Perkins leads the women’s division with 315, followed by Laurie Kreis of Huson with 188, Kim Mack of Helena with 107, Janey Myers of Riverton, WY, with 66, and Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 34.

Taking the lead in the 12 and Under category is William Grob of Missoula with 20 entries. The young angler just started fishing and has been besting all the adults in his boat. The 13-17 category leaders – Marcus Lucus of Polson and Shelbie Petersen of Columbia Falls – are tied with are tied with three entries each.

The new smallest lake trout entry was Larry Ashwell’s 157mm catchwith Mark McMillin’s 155mm (6.25”) lake trout coming in a close second. The largest lake trout entry is still held by Carey Hauser of Lakeside with a 36.5-inch, 21-pound fish.

Last weekend’s $200 prize went to Mike Benson. The $100 winners were: Todd Wood, John Gauci, Larry Ashwell and David Myers.

The experienced anglers in the Natural Resource Department encourage anglers “to write your own story out there. Change how you are fishing if you are not catching – do what works for you.” And while no one owns real estate on the water, anglers should keep a healthy distance that’s at least double the casting length between boats.

Bella, the $10,000 tagged female lake trout, is still swimming out in the depths of Flathead Lake and has so far eluded all of the anglers. There are also three $5,000 and five $1,000 tagged lake trout. Plus, there is a $1,000 tagged lake trout sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine and over 9,000 trout with values from $100 to $500. Turning in $100 tags over the fourth week were: Jim Schriever of Bigfork, Carey Hauser of Lakeside, Jamie Canham of Lolo, Ken Rickert of Thompson Falls, and Julie Perkins of Kalispell.

Mack Days offers up to $200,000 in cash and prizes to all anglers who enter one or more lake trout. The fishing derby is used as a tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Head to www.mackdays.com for more information. Be sure to read the rules page or call 406-270-3386 for more information.