Mack Days: Angler turns in 42-inch lunker

Lake trout entries for the 2024 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event keep climbing, thanks to the endurance and tenacity of the lake trout anglers on Flathead Lake. Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes are offered during the derby, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

Many would say it was a rough time on the water over the sixth weekend especially Saturday and Sunday. Blustery winds and cold temps took a toll on the anglers.

But in the midst of it all, on Saturday, tough veteran angler Jack Kirkland called in and said he was bringing in a large lake trout to be weighed – and it was a good one. He entered a 24.4-pound, 42-inch fish in the largest lake trout category. To top that off, the big fish had a clipped adipose fin. When it was scanned for a tag number it matched up to a $100 value.

Bretz RV and Marine of Missoula sponsors the $500 award for the largest fish. That, plus the $100 tag, makes Jack’s catch worth $600. Nice payout for a very rough day on the water and Jack has bruises to prove it.

Trying to bring up a big one and then get it in a cooler of water is a struggle on the rough water. Jack released the lake trout back into the lake after getting it entered.

“Leto,” the $10,000 tagged lake trout whose name means “hidden one” is still lurking out there. There are also three worth $5,000, six worth $1,000 and more than 9,000 with values from $100-$500.

Along with Kirkland’s $100 tagged fish another one was turned in by shore angler Richard Kreis of Huson, who had two entries – one of them tagged.

Total fish count is at 25,397. This weekend’s contribution was 983 on Friday, 1,630 on Saturday, and 337 on Sunday.

Saturday was the second day of the Bucket of Fish Competition. Anglers put their four largest lake trout into a bucket and a weight is taken, with the heaviest bucket winning $200. Cole Williams of Kalispell was the winner with a 29.75-pound bucket of four heavy lake trout. Rick Skates of Big Arm was second with a bucket weighing 21.95 and Connor Thompson of Bozeman was third with 21.7 pounds. The third bucket event is Sunday, May 5.

Lady angler Julie Perkins of Kalispell is in first in the Ladies Category with 238, followed by Shirley Batz of Kalispell with 80, Corrine McCubbins of Kalispell with 69, Melissa Triano of Bigfork with 24, and Janine Kowalski of Florence with 17.

Brodie Smith of Kalispell learned his fishing techniques from growing up fishing on the lake and they are paying off. He still leads the 13-17 Category with 362, followed by Kennedy Yang of Missoula with 31, and Lane Brazda of Missoula with 14. The 12 and Under leader is Eli Yang of Missoula with 31, trailed by Mason Cusker of Bigfork with 4 and Gage Spring of Alberton with 3.

Kolton Turner of Kalispell continues leading the Top Twenty Anglers with 1,675 total, including 16 days when he caught 100. Bob Turner of Kalispell is in second with 1,532 (10 100-fish days), followed by Jason Mahlen of Kalispell with 1,411 (10 100-fish days), Clint Speer of Kalispell with 1,003 and Gene Corne of Kalispell with 867.

These anglers put in hours and days of fishing Flathead Lake during the event. They work hard and are relentless but many are good friends and they always have each other’s backs out on the water.

There are only three weeks remaining in this nine-week long event, which concludes on Saturday, May 11. Entries are taken until the last day of the event.

Annual spring and fall Mack Days fishing events are a tool used to reduce the numbers of introduced non-native lake trout to increase the native fish numbers. Being a successful angler takes research, on the target fish species and body of water. Practice, patience, hard work, and a little bit of trial and error also plays a part.

Our website is currently under construction; please call 406-270-3386 to enter or enter at the end of the day when you turn in your catch. All it takes is one entry to be eligible for lottery drawings. Fish from a boat or from shore.

Weather is looking promising for the next week. We ask you to stay safe out on the water and have proper safety equipment. Please stay alert to changing weather, and keep cell phones dry!