Mack Days anglers see sun, showers during week six of spring fishing event
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Three weeks are left in the nine-week 2015 Spring Mack Days fishing event. Anglers have turned in a total of 22,888 lake trout entries, 18,616 of those fish are from Friday through Sunday fishing days and 4,272 are Tuesday through Thursday fishing days.
Jason Mahlen, Kalispell, took over the lead on Sunday with an overall total of 983 trout. Mahlen turned in 74, 89 and 63 for a total of 226 for the weekend. In 2nd place is Ryan Shima, Kalispell, with entries for the weekend of 66, 79, and 43, bringing his total to 970. Danner Shima is 3rd with 847; 4th, Steve Benson, Four Lakes, Washington 660; 5th, Scott Bombard, Missoula, 587; 6th, Felix Gauci, Stevensville, 585; 7th, Mike Shima, Polson, 573; 8th, Terry Krogstad, Kalispell, 535; 9th, Mike Benson, Lonepine, 514; and 10th, Larry Karper, Florence, 491.
Julie Vacca, Florence, leads the ladies anglers with 174; 2nd, Debbie Pike, Polson, 142; 3rd, Nicole Peters, Missoula, 116; 4th, LeAnne Guillory, Kalispell, 94; and 5th, Jane Ramey, Stevensville, 83.
Larry Karper heads up the 70 and over group with 491; 2nd, Jim Hoover, Whitefish, 171; 3rd, Ralph Johnson, Columbia Falls, 95; 4th, Thomas Shonholtzer, Helena, 54; and 5th, Jim Miller, Missoula, 47.
Danner Shima has a large lead in the 13-17 age group with 847 fish; 2nd, Kobe Cox, Charlo, 166; 3rd, Garett Vaughan, Charlo, 101; 4th, Jade Smith, Charlo, 83; and 5th, Christopher Shae, Kalispell, 80.
Matthew Guckenberg, Jr., Kalispell, holds first place in the 12 and under angles with 108; 2nd, Abby Hodgson, Kalispell, 81; 3rd, Tripp Bick, Arlee, 23; 4th, Aaron Lang, Kalispell, 18; and tied for 5th are Karson Cox, Charlo, and Shelbie Guckenberg, Kalispell, 11 each.
Many anglers are fishing 10-13 hours a day on the lake. Sometimes it is quiet and not much exciting is happening, but then again sometimes it’s not. Mike Shima lost a rod overboard on April 25. His son Ryan cast out where the rod disappeared and caught Mike’s line bringing the pole back in for his dad.
It was a bad luck day for the Shimas because later Ryan’s best pole went overboard, and he watched in horror as it hit the water. Ryan dove overboard after the pole, leaving Mike and brother Danner Shima thunderstruck. They were amazed when he came up with the pole in hand. When Mike reported in to his wife about what had just happened, she said, “No more swimming in the lake. Keep the kids out of the water.”
The Cottet boat had a similar incident on the same day. Brothers Tyson and Chad were fishing when all of a sudden one of Chad’s poles went over. Chad had one pole in his hand, looked at it and realized it was his old pole and that his good pole was the one that had just gone overboard. Chad dove in, thinking as he went through the air that maybe he should rethink the situation but it was way too late for that. He still had his old pole in one hand. Tyson could not believe what he had just seen and just stood there trying to figure out what was going on. Chad came up with both poles, loudly complaining about the cold water. Both Ryan and Chad reported with water temp at 41 degrees, they would not recommend a swim. Clothes were hanging up everywhere on both boats, and the anglers wore rain gear until their clothing dried.
Saturday saw the second of three days for the Bucket Competition. Anglers put their four heaviest fish in a bucket, and the bucket was weighed. Heaviest bucket went to Randy Hovet and Rick Castor, Charlo, who fished from shore. Their four lake trout weighed 22.5 pounds, and they won $200. Shimas were second with a 16.1 pound bucket weight. Third place was Bryan Long and Darren Borgen, Kalispell, 15.6; 4th, Cottets, 15.45; and 5th, Guillorys, Kalispell, 15.1. The next bucket day will be May 10. Points are given to the anglers on their buckets. Highest number of overall points will win $300, 2nd place will win $200, and 3rd wins $100.
Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Up to $225,000 will be awarded at the end of the event in cash and prizes by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The events are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. All it takes is one fish entry to be entered in the lottery style drawing.
There is still one $10,000-three $5,000-and five $1,000 tagged lake trout plus over 5,000 with values from $500 to $100. Ninety tagged lake trout have been turned in during this event so far. Values won by anglers are $500, $200 and $100.
For information on the fishing event, safety tips, entry forms, fish ID, etc. go to www.mackdays.com and check out the website or telephone 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.
Tight lines everyone.
