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Fall Mack Days final results announced

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News from CSKT 

FLATHEAD LAKE – The 2019 Fall Mack Days fishing event concluded on Sunday, Nov. 10 with a total of 18,014 lake trout entries turned in by 157 anglers. It was the 18th fall event and the third highest in total since the event began in the fall of 2002. 

The 2002 event had a total of 888 lake trout entries. In the fall of 2015, there were a total of 19,540 entries turned in by 195 anglers. In the fall of 2011, there were 18,357 entries by 240 anglers. 

Mack Days fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used to reduce the non-native lake trout and increase native bull trout and Westslope cutthroat trout in Flathead Lake. There were up to $150,000 in cash and prizes available to anglers fishing this event. 

The efforts to reduce the lake trout will continue for several years to have the effect needed to make a difference in the native fish populations. It is a commitment made by CSKT for the future of the fish and the history of the lake. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sanction Mack Days. 

The $10,000 lake trout, called Marie Laveau, evaded all anglers. The lovely fish that could have made someone rich will be given a different value from $500 to $100 during the next event, along with eight counterparts that were worth $5,000 to $1,000. 

New fish will be tagged with those dollar amounts before the next event begins in the spring. David McDaniel of Polson turned in a $200 tagged lake trout on Sunday. Marty Herak, Scott Bombard, Larry Ashwell, Kenny Garrett, Tom Moua, Bob Christensen and Shannon Brownlee, Larry Karper, Sam Sacchi and Debbie Sacchi and Richard Kreis all turned in $100 tagged lake trout. There were a total of 95 tagged lake trout turned in during the event. 

Mike Benson of Lonepine with 1,203 lake trout entries finished first in the top-ten angler category. He finished with a 15-day average of 68.47. Second-place was Felix Gauci of Stevensville with 1,029 and 63.13. Third place went to Scott Bombard of Missoula with 1,009 and 58.6. Fourth place was Larry Karper of Florence with 807 and 51.93. Fifth place went to Sam Cusker of Bigfork with 739 and 49.27.

Sixth place went to Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 716 and 38.93. In seventh place was Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 642 and 34.93. Julie Perkins of Kalispell finished in 8th with 605 and 33.87. Ninth went to Jack Kirkland of Missoula with 451 and 28.47, and 10th was David McDaniel of Polson with 415 and 27.67. 

Laurie Kreis of Huson moved into first in the ladies category with 123. Second was Bobbi Hereford of Missoula with 90. Third was Gina Schiff of Whitefish with 67. In fourth was Jeanee Mooney of Missoula with 49, and Kim Mack of Helena was fifth with 48. 

The Golden Angler (70 and over) winner was John Gauci of Florence with 395 and the second place winner was Bob Christensen of Missoula with 207.

Youth angler, 17 and under winners, were Matthew Kreis of Huson,17; Matt Guckenberg Jr., of Kalispell, 8; and a 4-way tie of Tayven Moua, of Missoula; John Ross Jr., of Stevensville; Mike Ross and Justin Line of Missoula. In the 12 and under category, HD of Arlee won with 28. Second place went to Alison Putzler of Huson with 13, and Darien Moua of Missoula was third with seven.

Felix Gauci of Florence won both of the smallest fish awards with two 141mm lake trout. There was no large lake trout over 36 inches or 20 pounds turned in. 

Spirit of the Event Awards went to Marty Herak of Polson and Bob Hereford of Missoula. 

The heaviest lake trout under 30 inches on the last day was turned in by Debbie Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 5.14 pounds and Bobbi Hereford with 5.7 pounds. 

The lottery drawing began at $1,000 and went to $400. There were thirty-four cash drawings given out to the anglers. 

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the event a success from the anglers who put in the time and effort to catch the fish to the staff working the fish and especially to CSKT for their commitment to the management of the lake for future generations. 

2020 Spring Mack Days will begin on March 20 and end on May 17. The spring event will be nine weeks long. Check the website for updates as time moves closer to the event: www.mackdays.com.

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