Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

2020 Spring Mack Days ends June 28

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

News from CSKT 

FLATHEAD LAKE – The Mack Days fishing competition continues until June 28. The spring event was extended after COVID-19 concerns caused a delay. 

Safety is the most important issue for everyone. Please practice all social distancing guidelines. 

Protocol for turning in fish at designated locations: 1) Only one person at a time to turn in fish. 2) Anglers bring their cooler to the designated vehicle and count their catch out loud into the container. 3) Staff confirms the count and records the catch. 4) When done, the angler steps back and the next angler moves into place. 5) There will be no contact between anglers and staff and no tickets exchanged. The drawing will be done electronically at the end of the contest

Ice: if fish are not iced, they cannot be accepted for donation. Ice should be layered over the fish in coolers. Please keep coolers clean. Rinse them out daily. Fish temperature should be no higher than 40 degrees when donated. 

Anglers have the option of donating their fish to be processed or keeping their fish for their own use. Warm fish will not be accepted for donation. Well water pumped in from the surface of the lake is not cool enough to keep the fish at temperature (40 degrees) after the lake starts warming.

There is currently no camping at Blue Bay. Anglers are responsible for reading and following all Montana and tribal fishing regulations and the event rules. Boats need to be certified as mussel-free to participate in Mack Days. The recent discovery of quagga mussels in central Montana has elevated the need to reduce the risk of infestation in Flathead Lake.  This is a very serious concern. 

All watercraft entering the state of Montana, crossing west over the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin, must provide proof of inspection from an authorized inspector before participation in the contest. Vessels and equipment traveling into the Flathead Basin that have been used on waters outside of the Flathead Basin must be inspected at a department inspection station prior to launching within the Flathead Basin. Fish entries will not be accepted from anglers fishing from un-certified boats. 

All anglers must have state or tribal fishing licenses based on which part of the lake they choose to fish. Mack Days fishing events include all of Flathead Lake. A special $20 tribal license is available to any resident or non-resident for fishing the south half of Flathead Lake only. Anglers must observe U.S. Coast Guard, CSKT, and Montana FWP regulations. 

Spirit of the Rule: It is the intention of this event to promote good sportsmanship and fair play. Unsportsmanlike conduct, stealing, and cheating may result in disqualification. Anglers are asked to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, the sport of fishing and help sustain a successful Mack Days contest well into the future.

 

Sponsored by: