Spring Mack Days: Big second week brings in 8,773 lake trout
Youth angler Tripp Bick of Arlee has been fishing the lake with grandfather Dave Hoback as much as he can and is becoming a very good angler. Tripp could barely see over the sides of the boat when he began fishing. (CSKT photo)
Flathead Lake anglers have just completed the second week of the 2023 Spring Mack Days. The fishing event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will conclude on Saturday, May 13. There are seven weekends left and entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event.
A total of 8,773 lake trout entries have been turned in so far. The Monday-Thursday total is 1,463 and the Friday-Sunday total is at 7,310. The 2019 Spring Event holds the record of most lake trout entries with 40,362 at the conclusion of the event. The second weekend and the weekday total for 2019 was at 8,032.
The 2023 Spring Event could be a record year, say organizers. “New anglers are helping to contribute to the higher totals and we hope and need to see more people becoming involved in this conservation effort,” says Stephanie Gillin, Information and Education Program manager for CSKT’s Natural Resources Division.
The $10,000 tagged lake trout is still in the murky depths of the lake. There are also three $5,000-tagged trout, six with $1,000 tags, and over 9,000 with values from $100-$500. Bryan Long of Kalispell came in with a $100 tagged fish over the second weekend.
Anglers begin to accumulate bonus dollars as their total goes up after their 11th lake trout entry. Bonus amounts are used to help repay anglers for the dollars it takes to go out fishing to help restore the native fish populations of Flathead Lake.
Bull trout and westslope cutthroat were once the dominate fish in the lake and were an important food source for generations of native and non-native people. “It is important to make a difference now and see these fish populations endure in the lake,” says Gillin.
Kolton Turner of Kalispell is leading the Top Ten anglers with a total of 545; Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is second with 400; Robert Turner of Kalispell is third with 379; Jerry Benson of Plains is fourth with 345; and Mike Benson Lonepine is fifth with 307.
Leah Banyai of Lakeside has reeled in 93 to lead the Ladies; Connie Jones of Kalispell has 30; Julie Perkins of Kalispell has 23; Amanda Hoback of Arlee and 5; and Desiree McIlhargey of Kalispell has 3.
Wyatt Best of Florence is leading the 12 and Under with 3; and Brodie Smith of Kalispell is first in the 13-17 with 52.
Weekend winners were: Tom Kemppainen of Columbia Falls ($200); and Bob Turner, Tyler Varga of Kalispell, and David McDaniel of Polson ($100).
Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes sponsored by CSKT will be awarded when the event ends. There are several ways to win. Angler categories are listed on the website www.mackdays.com under the events tab on the rules page. Even those who enter only one lake trout are qualified to win one of the cash lottery prizes that begin at $50 and go up to $2,000.