Fall Mack Days ends with cold weather
courtesy photo
10 anglers for Fall Mack Days are David McDaniel, left, Terry Krogstad, Richard Kreis, Felix Gauci, Craig Morigeau, Scott Bombard, Phil Meredith, Tim Mooney, Larry Karper and Mike Benson.
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News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
Anglers harvested 12,888 lake trout during Fall Mack Days 2014. The event ended Nov. 16 after 24 days of fishing on Flathead Lake, in the wind, rain, snow, cold temperatures, sleet and sun.
Mack Days was successful because of the hard work, time, and dedication of the 180 successful anglers who participated, according to Cindy Bras, of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The wind made it more difficult for fishermen to stay over and fish once they found them. Anglers reported frozen lines and once they caught a fish, hauling it in with a frozen reel.
Friday, Nov. 14, was the worst day many participants had ever seen on the lake. The wind was not too strong, but the swells in the lake were like ocean swells with boaters losing sight of everything when down in the swell. Ice covered windshields, anglers and equipment, but 117 fish were caught. Saturday was a better day with calmer water though it was still bitter cold. Anglers brought in 370 macks. Frigid temperatures continued on Sunday, Nov. 16, but fisherman persevered and caught 315 lake trout.
Mike Benson, from Lonepine, was number one in the top 10-angler category with 1,037 and a 15- day average of 58.27 pounds.
Second place went to Felix Gauci, from Stevensville, with 910 pounds and 53.47 average; third place: Terry Krogstad, of Kalispell, 702, 44; forth: David McDaniel, of Polson, 702-40.87; fifth: Richard Kreis, Huson, 583-33.6; sixth: Craig Morigeau, Polson, 510-33; seventh: Scott Bombard, Missoula, 605-32.8; eigtth: Phil Meredith, Kalispell, 562-30.33; ninth: Tim Mooney, Missoula, 562-27.4; and 10th,Larry Karper, Missoula, 436-27.
Laurie Kreis, of Huson, won the ladies division with 320 lake trout entries; second: Jeanee Mooney, of Missoula, 204; third: Bobbi Hereford, of Missoula, 165; fourth: Kim McMillie, of Ronan 80; and fifth, Julie Vacca, of Missoula, 76.
For the 70 and over category, Larry Karper, of Florence, won with 436; second: Glenn Hoffman, of Missoula, 177; third: Jim Hoover, of Whitefish,136; fourth: Leonard Lewis, of Missoula, 86; and fifth: Ralph Johnson, of Columbia Falls, 77.
Aaron Haynes, of Arlee, won the youth anglers, 12 and under, with 46 entries. Second was Tripp Bick,of Arlee, 24; third, Dusty Haynes, of Arlee, 12; fourth, Ayden Tripp, of Missoula, 6; and fifth, Carson Erickson, of Missoula, 5.
In the 13-17 group Myles Tripp, of Missoula, won first with his 24 fish; second: Griffin Line, of Missoula, 10; third: Addison Mueller, of Hot Springs,14; fourth: Garett Vaughan, of Charlo, 8; and fifth, Kobe Cox, of Charlo, 7.
Mack Days fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a management tool to reduce numbers of lake trout in Flathead Lake. Lake trout are not native to the lake and have contributed to the decline of native bull trout and weststlope cutthroat trout in the lake. For information go to www.mackdays.com.
