Spring Mack Days: Lots of fish and one net
Anglers had a good fifth weekend of fishing on Flathead Lake, reeling in 3,093 lake trout entries plus one fishing net that Jack Kirkland of Missoula landed on Saturday. He recognized it right away. It was a net that he lost a year ago in the event.
Spring Mack Days 2023 is moving into the sixth week of the nine-week long event. Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes there is Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of the event.
Mack Days began in 2002 and consists of two events per year, spring and fall. Managers use the events to reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake to increase the populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat which were once the dominant fish of the lake.
Friday’s total came to 1,091, Saturday was 1,060, and Sunday was 942. Steve Benson of Spokane Valley hooked onto a $500 tagged lake trout on Sunday to make his day. Chris Demmons of Missoula and David McDaniel of Polson each turned in $100 tagged fish. Tagged fish worth $10,000, $5,000, $1,000 and with values from $100-$500 are still waiting for the right lures to entice them to bite.
Kolton Turner of Kalispell has a total of 1,292 lake trout placing him first in the Top Ten Angler’s. Bob Turner of Kalispell is second with 1,030 and Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is third with 827.
Leah Banyai of Lakeside is in the Ladies Category with 177, followed by Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 91 and Connie Jones of Kalispell with 54.
Brodie Smith of Kalispell leads the 13-17 age group with 155; and Wyatt Best of Florence tops the 12 and Under with 14. Mike Benson leads the 70 and Over age group with 725, followed by Terry Krogstad with 518, Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 336.
Weekend Winners were $200 to David McDaniel of Polson, and $100 to Scott Bombard, David Myers of Riverton, Wyo., Rick Dietrich of Thompson Falls, and Scott Johnson of Kalispell.
Bonus dollars begin after anglers turn in their 11th entry and continue to move up as their totals go up. Bonus amounts are to compensate for fuel, equipment, etc. Examples: 11-30 lake trout earns $45, 101-125 earns $263, and on up.
The largest lake trout entry is still the 36.65-pound, 45.5-inch lake trout turned in by Bryan Long of Kalispell. Smallest lake trout entries so far are 158mm for Bob Turner and 169mm for Mike Benson.
The second Bucket Day will be Saturday, April 22. Leading the Bucket Day weights is the Colyer boat of Missoula with a 25.35-pound, four fish bucket, followed by Rick Skates of Big Arm with 24.8 pounds, and the Demmons boat of Missoula at 24.5. The winning bucket on Saturday earns $200. The third Bucket Day is May 7.
Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. New anglers are becoming involved and learning how to fish Flathead Lake. There are 564 anglers registered and 176 have entered one or more lake trout in the event. All it takes is one entry to qualify for lottery drawings that begin at $2,000 and go to $50. Check out the website www.mackdays.com for information.