Mack Days tournament reels in over 2,300 fish
The sixth week of the Fall Mack Days Fishing Event ended with 2,292 lake trout entered and a six-week total of 9,266 lake trout. Friday was the best day for the anglers with 886 entries. Turning in the first 100 lake trout limit per day was Mike Benson of Lonepine. Terry Krogstad of Kalispell also had a great day with 76 fish entries followed by Max Martz of Corvallis with 75.
The fish total on Friday was 886, Saturday had 787 with Benson’s high again with 65, Martz with 61, and Krogstad with 63. Sunday had 619 lake trout turned in with Martz high at 61, Scott Bombard of Missoula in second with 55, and Jeff Montgomery of Hamilton with 46.
Martz leads the anglers with a total of 771 and a 15-day average of 49. Mike Benson is second with 732 and an average of 47. Third is Bombard with 668 and a 42 average, fourth is Craig Morigeau of Polson with 473 and a 31 average, fifth is Phil Meredith of Kalispell with 438 and 27, sixth is Steve Benson with 473 and no 15-day average, seventh is Krogstad with 361, eighth is Don Beville of Lakeside with 358, ninth is Nick Fister of Kalispell with 321 and a 21 average, 10th is Chad Cottet with 306. Top 10 anglers will all be ranked by their 15 best day averages at the conclusion of the event.
Jeanee Mooney of Missoula made a big step in the ladies category and totals 96 lake trout entries. Second place is held by Julie Vacca of Florence with 56, third is Sharon Beville of Lakeside with 44, fourth is Deana Knipe of Polson with 35, and fifth is Kim McMillie of Ronan with 34.
Garett Vaughan of Charlo leads the 12-and-under category with 21 and Mark Herzog of Missoula is second with 20. Eric Sams continues to hold onto first in the 13-17 category with 36.
The smallest lake trout entered so far in the event was turned in by Mike Benson at 158mm, 6 inches, last Friday. Using a one-ounce rattle disaster jig in 180 feet of water Benson couldn’t believe it when he pulled it up. He also holds the other smallest lake trout entry at 164mm.
There is still no large lake trout entry.
The $10,000 tagged fish is still out there along with five $5,000, 10 worth $1,000 each and over 4,000 with values from $100-500. There have been 72-tagged lake trout turned in during the event that total to $9,400.
Tagged fish with $100 values were caught during the sixth weekend by Krogstad, Tim Mooney of Missoula, Ethan Rogers of Bemidji, Minn., Paul Soukup of Ronan, Morigeau, Bombard, Gerald Roat of Polson, Jeff Mountgomery of Hamilton, Don Young of Polson, Felix Gauci of Stevensville, Martz, and Mike Benson. Phil Meredith caught two fish worth $100 each. Morigeau also caught a $200 tagged lake trout.
Anglers may choose to keep their catch or donate them to be processed and distributed to area food banks by CSKT staff.
On Nov. 2-11 anglers can fish 10 straight days or choose to fish any number they like. The event will end Nov. 11 with a fish fry that begins at 4 p.m. and awards at 5 p.m.
Up to $125,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to anglers on the last day of the event on Nov. 11. Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used to slowly reduce the number of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sanction the event with 515 anglers currently entered in the event. Entries continue to be taken up until the last day and can be found at area sporting goods stores or on the website, www.mackdays.com.
For information about the event go to www.mackdays.com or call 883-2888 ex. 7294.