Record amount of fish caught as Spring Mack Days opens
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News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe
Record amount of fish caught as Spring Mack Days opens News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes The 2017 Spring Mack Days fishing event on Flathead Lake began with a record number of 3,030 lake trout turned in the first day, beating the 2016 record by 644 lake trout.
Danner Shima reported six double catches (two fish on the line at a time). He caught his 100-fishper- day limit by 10:45 a.m.
Ten other anglers caught their 100 limit. Saturdays catch totaled 1,622 with five fishermen catching 100 fish apiece.
After fishing again on Sunday, Scott Bombard and Michael Benson ended the weekend with a perfect 300. The weekend broke another record with a total of 6,127 lake trout entries caught and entered by 103 anglers. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event.
Mack Days on Flathead Lake, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, runs from March 17-May 14. The event is a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase the number of bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, which are native to the waters and are part of the cultural history of the tribes and the state of Montana.
Anglers of all ages can compete for up to $225,000 in cash and prizes through a variety of contests and tagged fish, to be awarded the last day of the event.
Anglers are required to have an AIS boat inspection done before entering any fish. The inspections can be done in Pablo seven days a week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. or by calling 406-270-3386 to arrange an inspection at Blue Bay.
Go to www.mackdays. com for information on the rules, bonus amounts, prizes, safety, fish ID, etc.
Results, week one
100-fish limit, Friday
Danner Shima, Ryan Shima, Mike Shima, Felix Gauci, Scott Bombard, Michael Benson, Steven Benson, Jerry Benson, Jason Mahlen, Terry Krogstad and Travis Banyai. 100-fish limit, Saturday Bombard, Steven Benson, Michael Benson, Sam Cusk er and Gauci
100-fish limit, Sunday
Bombard, Michael Benson
Total fish, men
300- Bombard, Michael Benson 294- Gauci, Steven Benson 282- Sam Cusk er 235- Jason Mahlen 208- Ryan Shima 190- Danner Shima 175- Terry Krogstad 174- Larry Karper, Travis Banyai
Total fish, women
54- Julie Woolley 52- Julie Vacca 31- Brandy Hilde Fourth place tie (number not reported)- Connie Jones, Janine Kowalski
$100 tagged fish
Brian Hodgson (2), Ralph Johnson, Bernd Albrecht, Tony Incashola. Alex Betz, Tim Iverson, Michael Benson, Morgan Amdahl, Steve Biere, Scott Mahlen, Brandon Gilleard, Scott Bombard, Shannon Brownlee, Kevin Guillory, Gary Perleberg, Larry Karper, and Felix Gauci.
$200 tagged fish
Ken Morse, Mike Shima
Youths age 13-17
110- Tyler Vauga 42- Matt Guckenberg Jr. 17- Leah Benyai 11- Shelbie Guckenberg 3- Dylan Hodgson Youths age 12 and under 33-Rylan Koch 6- Abby Hodgson 3- Logan Long
Age 70-plus
174- Larry Karper 52- Bill Violette 46- Gary Perelberg 40- Bernd Albrecht
