Mack Days counts come in for week 6
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FLATHEAD LAKE – The $10,000 tagged lake trout named Jaws is still hanging about somewhere in Flathead Lake, and he or she is an elusive and highly sought-after lake trout.
Three weeks are left in the spring Mack Days fishing event, which is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event.
Anglers are also trying their best to lure the three $5,000 fish and five $1,000 lake trout to the end of their lines. Over 9,000 lake trout have values from $500 to $100.
Kalispell angler Travis Banyai hooked a $500 tagged fish, and Tristin Persico, of Missoula, came in with a $200 tagged lake trout over the past week. Catching $100 tagged fish were Jason Mahlen and Ken Varga, Mark McMillin and Jack Kirkland.
Anglers have been given the opportunity to participate in the events to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase the populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. The events are one of the tools used to reduce the invasive lake trout. Mack Days includes a fall and a spring event. This is the 38th Mack Days event and the 19th spring event. The events have always been weather dependent, and this event has had an overabundance of wind and cold, making for long days on the water and lower numbers of entries.
Kolton Turner, of Kalispell, hangs on to a narrow lead for first with 1,258 lake trout entries. Jason Mahlen has 1,252. Top-ten anglers will be placed on their best 18-day average at the end of the last day on May 16. Bob Turner, of Kalispell, is third with 1,034. Fourth place goes to Steve Benson, of Spokane Valley, with 646. Larry Karper, of Florence, is in first place in the 70 and over category with 486. Jack Kirkland, of Missoula, is second with 401. Larry Ashwell, of Missoula, is third with 305. Marty Herak, of Polson, is fourth with 134.
Julie Perkins, of Kalispell, is first in the lady angler category with 227. Connie Jones, of Kalispell, is second with 52. Nicole Peters, of Missoula, is third with 35.
Sunday, May 2, is the final day of the Bucket Competition. Anglers weigh in their heaviest four lake trout in a bucket.
Entries for the Mack Days contest continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Go to www.mackdays.com for information or telephone 406-270-3386. Tight lines everyone.
