Fall Mack Days ends with many awards
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FLATHEAD LAKE – Fall Mack Days 2018 ended on Nov. 11 with a total of 15,408 lake trout entries. There were up to $150,000 in cash and prizes awarded, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The event is a tool that used to help reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.
There were 540 lake trout entries on Friday and another 523 on Saturday. With the deadline on Sunday at 3 p.m., the lake trout total was 224. Tuesday through Thursday entries were at 3,793, and the Friday to Sunday entries totaled 11,615. That compares with a total of 17,527 in 2016 and 14,775 for the 2017 entries.
Anglers entered in the event totaled 467 with 159 turning in lake trout entries. Anglers ended the event fishing in cold snowy weather. Each and every angler contributes to the success of the Mack Days fishing events. Many put their boats in at the break of day and do not come in until dark. They fish in all kinds of weather, putting up with whatever weather and water conditions get thrown at them. They are contributing to the future of the fishery in Flathead Lake generations to come.
The top ten anglers were placed by their best 15-day averages. First place went to Mike Benson of Lonepine with a total of 1,005 and an average of 52.87. Felix Gauci of Stevensville took second place with 780 and an average of 47.47. Scott Bombard of Missoula was in third place with 853 and an average of 46.27. Fourth place went to David McDaniel of Polson with 689 and an average of 45.07. Sam Cusker of Whitefish was in fifth place with 503 and an average of 33.0. Larry Karper of Florence was sixth with 557 and an average of 31.53. Seventh and eighth places tied between Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 523 and Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 520. Richard Kreis of Huson came in ninth with 463 and an average of 25.8. Julie Perkins of Kalispell was 10th with 373 and an average of 21.13. She chose to take the top place in the ladies' category, so tenth place went to Bob Christensen of Missoula with 294 and an average of 19.6.
The top ladies' category winner was Julie Perkins with 373. Laurie Kreis from Huson was second with 153. Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls was third with 99. Gina Schiff of Whitefish came in fourth with 90, and fifth place went to Jeanee Mooney of Missoula with 75.
The 70 and over category leader was Larry Karper who choose to stay in the top ten, and the second place finisher, Larry Ashwell, also choose top ten. Winning first was John Gauci of Florence with 317, and second place went to Bernard Olson of Lakeside with 63.
Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell won first in the 13 to 17 category with 86. Matthew Kreis of Huson was second with 34. Madisyn Lugibihl of Missoula was third with five, and Justin Line of Missoula was fourth. The 12 and under category was won by Tripp Bick of Arlee with eight. Alison Putzler of Huson was second with five, and Kieran Incashola of St. Ignatius was third with three.
No large fish entry was received during the event. Winning both smallest lake trout categories was Felix Gauci with a 4.5-inch and a 5.5-inch lake trout.
Spirit of the event awards went to Dave Hoback of Arlee and Bob Christensen. The spirit of the event award is given to an angler who shows good sportsmanship and supports the events by encouraging or helping others and is someone who exemplifies an angler.
Overall bucket winners were Richard and Laurie Kreis with a total of 26 points and three-bucket weights over three days with 85.8 lbs. Second place went to Mike Benson with 14 points and 71.65 lbs. Third place was a tie between Ted Peterson and Paul Gyles of Stevensville and Bob Christensen each with 10 points.
Arnold Davis of Polson who entered one fish during the competition won the early bird drawing. Carey Hauser of Somers won the heaviest fish less than 30 inches on the last day with an 8.5-pound lake trout. Paul Soukup of Polson was second with a 7.57 lake trout.
Spring Mack Days 2019 will begin March 15 and end May 12. Check the website www.mackdays.com for more information, stats and prizewinners.
