Mac Attack coming this weekend

The 11th Annual Great Montana Mac Attack hits the Flathead this weekend giving anglers the opportunity to compete for some of Flathead Lake's largest lake trout and $35,000 in cash and prizes.

The contest runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2 and costs $25 to enter. A fish fry will follow, which is free to those who registered and $8 for those who didn't participate in the fishing competition.

There will be a few adjustments made to this year's contest to aid in the catching of more small fish and less of the larger ones, which according to event organizer Gene Fincher is one of the goals.

"What we're gearing to is killing as many smaller fish as we can so we get a bigger trophy fishery here," Fincher said. "We kill too many big fish. Those fish are 25 to 45 years old and we are trying to save them."

This year any one who brings in a fish worthy of entering in the biggest fish 36" or over contest will be required to call Fincher from their boat upon catching it and let him know the size of their fish. If it is the biggest they will be told to keep it, but if Fincher has already been called about another fish that is larger, they will be asked to release the fish since the prize is only given to one angler.

Also helping to alter the big fish to small fish ratio in the Lake will be the addition of a 24" and under category. Other divisions from previous years will remain; 29" and under, 22" and under, biggest lake trout by weight, and for the kids there will be a bike given to the angler who catches the largest northern pike minnow, also known as a squawfish. Anglers are allowed to catch up to 50 fish a day and each one they bring in gives them a chance to win a cash prize in the respective category. Anyone who bests a state record during the tournament will receive a bonus prize of $500.

There will be 10 fish that have been tagged by the Fish Wildlife and Parks, which can not be detected until they are weighed and scanned. The first person to catch a tagged fish will receive $1,000, and those who catch the other nine will get $500.

In addition to the cash prizes given for the fish caught, all registered participants will be entered into a drawing for a 2009 12' Smoker Craft boat with a 9.9 horse power Johnson motor and an Easy Load trailer worth more than $8,000, as well as other prizes.

The tournament is one of five that Fincher runs each year, most of which are held in Northwest Montana.

"The people are awesome," Fincher said of his experience with Mac Attack. "We have so many out of town people that come for the tournament. I really enjoy putting people together to have fun."

The Mac Attack usually draws between 600 and 700 participants who come from as far away as Canada and the northwest region of the United States. It is televised and broadcasted on the radio on Outdoor Network throughout Montana and locally on 880 A.M. (KJJR).

"It's a popular tournament because they're easy to catch and it's a great time of year to go fishing," Fincher said. "We have a lot of families travel here for it and camp out. They have a lot of fun."

Camping spaces for tents and RVs are available free of charge across from Del's Bar in Somers, which is the official Mac Attack headquarters. Anglers can register for the tournament at the bar at 5 a.m. and they will need to turn in their fish to be weighed there as well. Registration is also available at Snappy's Sports Center in Kalispell and by calling Fincher at 261-6445 or his son Gene at 871-0326.