Fall Mack Days: Good weather, new faces

Anglers have almost hit the half way mark of the 2023 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Up to $200,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event.

Beautiful fall weather lasted all weekend for the hard-working anglers. Some breezy conditions in the afternoons but nothing too dramatic. We are seeing people who have never fished the event trying their luck and some are doing well. Great to see and good luck to all.

Entries will be taken until Nov. 12 – the last day of Mack Days. So far, 98 anglers have turned in one lake trout or more to get entered into the lottery drawings that begin at $100 and go to $2,000. Total from Friday is 688; Saturday, 659; and Sunday, 528. Friday-to-Sunday total for four weeks is 6,853 and Monday-to-Thursday total is 2,162.

Final tally for all days is 9,015. The 2022 fall event at four weeks was at 8,489 and the 2021 event was at 7,804.

Ghost, the $10,000 tagged lake trout, is still deep cruising around the lake. There are also three $5,000, and six $1,000 tagged trout, plus over 9,000 with values from $100-$500.

Tagged lake trout have been released in all areas of Flathead Lake and have been caught in all areas of the lake. Sam Sacchi of Thompson Falls caught a lake trout with a $200 tag. Jack Kirkland of Lolo and Terry Krogstad of Kalispell each came in with $100 tagged lakers.

Anglers earn bonus dollars as their fish totals go up once they reach 11 lake trout entries. The bonus chart is on the website in the rules page www.mackdays.com. Bonus dollars help pay for the cost of gas, boats, equipment, etc. We could not do this without the anglers help. They make the events successful.

Dave Myers of Riverton, Wyo., continues to lead in the Top 10 Angler category with 712 lake trout. His total on Friday was 65, Saturday 62, and Sunday 30. Felix Gauci of Stevensville is in second with 707; third is Michael Benson of Lonepine with 570; fourth is Bob Stewart of Kalispell with 541; and fifth is Jerry Benson of Plains with 425.

Paisley and Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls are tied with 14 each and lead the 12 and Under Category. Bear Yarrow, Holden Griffin and Ace Whimper of Clinton, along with Wesley Balavage of Fishtail and Mason Cusker of Bigfork, all have entered one lake trout. Special thank you to the youth anglers and to parents and grandparents for encouraging them. You are making a difference!

Leading the 70 and Over Category is Felix Gauci with 707; second is Michael Benson with 570; third is Jack Kirkland with 373; fourth is Larry Ashwell with 365; and fifth is Larry Karper with 299. Our oldest expert angler entered in the event is 93-year-old Leonard Lewis of Missoula who entered lake trout over the weekend. He and friend Glenn Hoffman (90), also of Missoula, have fished the event for many years.

Laurie Kreis is first in the Ladies with 148, followed by Debby Sacchi with 93, Kim Mack with 67, Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 20, and Pamela Simonich of Missoula with 14.

The second day of the Bucket of Fish Days is Saturday, Oct. 14.

Weekend winners were: $200, Felix Gauci; $100, Joe Minnehan of Kalispell, Scott Bombard, Zander Oliver of Missoula, and Dave Myers. First-time youth angler Zander entered and he was a winner with his three entries.

Mack Days Fishing Events are used as a management tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Come out and try your luck. For information check out the website www.mackdays.com.