Fall Mack Days posts highest catch since 2015
Cold and wet, intrepid angler Jerry Benson of Plains turned in his catch at the end of a long rainy day in 2022. Benson was named Top Angler in this year's Fall Mack Days, despite stiff competition from his brother, Mike. (Photo courtesy of CSKT)
The 2024 Fall Mack Days concluded on Sunday, Nov. 3, with a total of 18,414 lake trout entries, submitted by 151 anglers out of the 436 who registered for this year’s event.
This event has been the most successful in numbers since 2015 when 19,540 lake trout were entered. There were 17,502 turned in during the 2023 fall event.
Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a management tool to decrease numbers of invasive lake trout numbers in Flathead Lake, and restore numbers of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat, which were an important food source for hundreds of years for people who were living in this area.
Up to $200,000 in cash and prizes were awarded Nov. 3 to many of the anglers who participated in the event.
Jerry Benson of Plains was named Top Angler after turning in a total of 1,301 lake trout and posting an 18-day average of 60.28. His brother, Mike Benson of Lonepine, came in a close second with 1,295 fish and a 58.22 average. The top ten anglers are placed by their 18-day average.
Following the brothers were David McDaniel of Polson with 859 (44.83 average); Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 745 (36.44 daily average); Jack Kirkland of Lolo, 649 (34.17 average); and Larry Ashwell of Missoula, 761 (33.83 average).
Tied for seventh and eighth with a 31.22 18-day average were Richard Kreis of Huson, 652, and Patrick Casey of Townsend, 583. Larry Karper of Florence came in ninth with 508 and Julie Perkins of Kalispell was tenth with 515 and a 25.83 average.
Ladies Top Angler was Laurie Kreis of Huson with 490, followed by Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls, 149; Kim Mack of Helena, 68; Jolene Tatum of Missoula, 26; and Lorinda Freeman of Polson, 25.
Youth 13-17 winner is James Kurchera of Missoula with 16, followed by Alison Putzler of Kalispell with 6. The 12 & Under winner is Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls with 20, followed by Paisley Helvey of Thompson Falls with 18 and Bear Yarrow of Missoula with 6.
The 70 & Over winner was Felix Gauci with 274; second place goes to Mike Cosby of Thompson Falls, 128; and third to Paul Grove of Wyoming, Ill., with 121.
The $10,000 famous “Jonny Cash” avoided anglers during this event and is still lurking in the depths of Flathead Lake. Turning in $100 tagged lake trout over the week were Steve Mack of Helena, Richard Kreis, and Kim Mack. The winner of the final contest for heaviest fish under 30 inches was Dale Peters of Thompson Falls with a 7.65 pounder.
Spirit of the Event awards went to Carey Hauser of Lakeside, an angler who has put in many years fishing the events and perfecting his skills, and fisheries scientist Barry Hansen who has spent many years of his career caring for and working on the lake and the lake trout program for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
For a complete list of awards and prizes go to www.mackdays.com.
Thank you to each and every angler who participated in the event. You make the events successful!
Mark your calendars for the 2025 Spring Mack Days, March 13-May 10.