Spring Mack Days begins with ice, ends with record catch
40,357 lake trout caught
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News from CSKT Natural Resources
To all Mack Days anglers, a special “thank you” to everyone who helped make the 2019 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake such a great success.
The event total of 40,357 lake trout caught was the largest since we began the events in 2002. Every fish counts and every angler counts.
Jason Mahlen set new records with a 15 day average of 100 and a total fish count of 2,134. Kolton Turner gave him some competition with a 91.8 average and total of 1,822 for second. Lady angler Julie Perkins set a new record with 589. Larry Karper was first in the 70 & Over with 628. Matt Guckenberg Jr. came in first in the 13-17 category with 545 and Brodie Smith had 167 for first in the 12 & Under group. Spirit of the Event Awards went to Bob Turner, Kolton Turner, and Tom Kempainnen.
Another first: we had ice anglers entering the event for the first time this year. The event was delayed a week because of ice in all of the bays.
The events are one tool used to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase the numbers of native bull trout and weststlope cutthroat. The success of that management strategy is highly dependent on the success of the anglers in the Mack Days Events.
We continue to strive to grow the events larger and to make them more successful so that we can make a difference and native fish will increase and be here for future generations. These native fish are important to the history of Montana and to the history and culture of tribal people.
New for 2019 Fall Mack Days event, which begins Sept. 20 and ends Nov. 10, the large lake trout category will change to a lake trout that weighs 20 pounds and is over 36 inches.
We will also be adding more cash awards and fewer merchandise awards to the lottery drawing.
Up to $150,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the fall event.
Please thank the vendors who continue to support us when we purchase awards-Bob Wards and Sons of Missoula, Powell Rods, G Loomis Rods, and Siberian Coolers.
Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
To see a complete list of results go to www.mackdays.com and look at the stats page.
