Week 7: Fall Mack Days total outstrips previous years

A total of 14,621 lake trout entries have been entered in the 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event at the conclusion of the seventh week on Oct. 20. Entries in the nine-week event continue to be taken until the final day, Nov. 3.

The 2023 event total this far into the event was at 14,255; numbers by week seven were 12,654 in 2022; 11,615 in 2021; and 10,912 in 2020.

Up to $200,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the end of the current 2024 Mack Days sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Mack Days are used as a fish conservation management tool to reduce the invasive non-native lake trout in the Flathead Lake – once a stronghold for native bull trout and westslope cutthroat.

These dominant lake trout impact most of the Flathead Basin, reaching all the way into Glacier Park lakes, and causing widespread decline of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat numbers across the region.

The non-native lake trout have a huge appetite for other fish and they spawn thousands of eggs. The fish grow slowly and live a long time – sometimes up to 40 years. Reducing their numbers is part of a long-range plan to increase the native fish numbers and hopefully see them recover some of their native ranges.

So far, 420 anglers are signed up for the event and 141 anglers have entered one or more lake trout. One entry earns an a chance in the lottery drawing for cash prizes from $100-$2,000. Head to www.mackdays.com for all of the information and the entry form page.

Staff would love to tell an angler to “Say hello, it’s Jonny Cash” when they look up the number of a tagged lake trout that’s been brought in; that particular tag has a value of $10,000.

There are also three worth $5,000, five worth $1,000 and more than 9,000 with values from $100-$500. Carey Hauser of Lakeside turned in a $500 tagged lake trout and one for $100; Richard Kreis of Huson turned in a $100 tagged lake trout and his wife, Laurie, turned in two at $100 each; Ryker Bair of Helena turned in two for $100 each; and Mike Benson of Lonepine caught one worth $200.  

The success of these events is totally dependent on the hard-working lake trout anglers who compete. Many leave before daylight and do not come in until they have to, which is 30 minutes before dark. Some fish Friday to Sunday while others many choose to fish a day or two; there is also Monday-through-Thursday fishing, with those entries due by 6 p.m. daily at Blue Bay.  

This time of the year, lake trout can be caught trolling, jigging, or casting. 

Last Monday’s high-catch angler was Monte McPherson of Silverdale, Wash., with 11; Tuesday’s high was 16, turned in by Lyndon Lee of British Columbia, who also posted Wednesday’s high with 13. Thursday’s high came from Larry Ashwell of Missoula, who reeled in 42; Jerry Benson posted 50 on Friday; Ashwell was back on top Saturday with 69; and Bryan Long of Columbia Falls took the lead Sunday with 51. Total for the Monday-Thursday fishing was 2,724 and Friday-to-Sunday competition yielded 11,897.

Two brothers are battling it out for top spot in the Top Ten Angler category, which is based on the best 18-day average at the conclusion of the event. Jerry Benson of Plains and Mike Benson of Lone Pine have been flipping the top spot and top scores back and forth. The duo each fish from their own boat in different areas of the lake.

Mike is currently in first in the Top Ten with 1,148 and an 18-day average of 58.2; Jerry is in second with 1,145 and an average of 59.5. The brothers are followed by David McDaniel of Polson with 655; Larry Ashwell with 625 and Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 600.

Julie Perkins leads the Ladies category with 413, followed by Laurie Kreis with 405, Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 131, Kim Mack of Helena with 49, and Lorinda Freeman of Polson with 25.

James Kuchera of Kalispell has eight in the 13-17 age category, and Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls is first in the 12 & Under with 20, followed closely by Paisley Helvey with 18.

The last day of the Bucket Competition was Sunday. Jens Gran of Polson took top honors with four lake trout under 30 inches, weighing a total of 27.6 pounds; second place went to Rick Skates of Big Arm 26.85 pounds, followed by Steve Mack of Helena at 25.8, Sam and Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 24.9, and Marty Herak of Polson with 23.9. Overall winner for the three contests was Gran, with Skates in second and Richard and Laurie Kreis of Huson in third.

Weekend winners were Bryon Long of Columbia Falls, $200; and Robert Church of Polson, Laurie Kreis, Jerry Benson and Jack Kirkland with $100 apiece.

All entries are must be turned in at Blue Bay by 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. For more information go to the website www.mackdays.com.