Mack Days week two results reported, $10,000 fish still out there
Bigstock photo
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
News from CSKT
FLATHEAD LAKE — Week two of the Spring Mack Days fishing event ended with high winds on March 28. A National Weather Service Advisory was heeded by many anglers, who wisely decided to stay safe off the capping waters and didn’t venture out.
At the end of the day on Friday, March 26, the total fish count came to 1,177, and by the end of the next day, the total was 1,083. With 242 lake trout entries turned in March 28, the weekend total was 2,502 lake trout entries. The two-week total came to 6,088.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes sponsor the Mack Days fishing events to allow anglers to play a role in reducing non-native lake trout to preserve and increase the native fish populations in the lake. Native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout populations are important to the history of the Flathead Lake fishery, the history of tribal people and the state of Montana.
The event features up to $225,000 in cash and prizes available to anglers participating the event. All they need to do is turn in one lake trout entry to be entered in the lottery drawings that begins at $1,000.
There are several categories for anglers, including: ladies, youth, over 70, smallest and largest lake trout and more. Check out the categories on the website at www.mackdays.com.
The $10,000 tagged lake trout (JAWS) is still out there, along with three at $5,000 and five fish at $1,000. There are also more than 9,000 fish with values from $500-$100.
Turning in $100 tagged lake trout the second week were: Kalispell anglers Brodi Smith, Travis Banyai, Hank McLeod, Clint Speer, Carey Hauser and Richard Kreis. Sam Cusker turned in a $200 tagged laker.
There were three perfect fishing limit days turned in the second week of the event. Jason Mahlen, of Kalispell, turned in perfect scores on March 26 and March 27. He chose not to go out the following day because of the high wind warning. Kolton Turner, of Kalispell, had a perfect 100 on March 27. He came close on March 26 with 95 and turned in 77 on March 28.
Turner is also leading the top angler category with 392 fish. Jason Mahlen is in second with 370. Scott Bombard is third with 262.
The ladies are led by Julie Perkins, of Kalispell, with 80. Laurie Kries, of Huson, is second with 20. Terry Biere, of Butte, is third with seven. In the over 70 age category, Jack Kirkland is the leader with 165. Larry Ashwell, of Missoula, is second with 155. Larry Karper, of Florence, is third with 106.
Tom Kemppainen turned in a seven-inch small lake trout and is in second behind Jack Kirkland’s 175mm six-inch small lake trout. Riley Anderson, of Kalispell, has the largest fish entry with a 40-inch lake trout at 21.25 pounds.
Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event, and there is no entry fee. Currently, 721 anglers are registered. One hundred thirty-four people have caught one or more lake trout. For more information, please visit www.mackdays.com.
