Spring Mack Days begin; to run a total of 51 days

Spring 2018 Mack Days began Friday, March 16, and will end Sunday, May 13. Anglers can fish for lake trout on Flathead Lake Tuesday through Sunday for a total of 51 days. Mack Days is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and is used as a fisheries management tool to reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake to increase the numbers of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout in the lake. There are two events each year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Cash and merchandise totaling up to $225,000 will be awarded at the end of the event. Categories include Top Ten Angler (angler with highest 18-day average), Ladies, Over 70 (age 70 and up), Youth 13-17, Youth 12 & Under, Captains Prize, Weekend Drawing, Largest Lake Trout, Smallest Lake Trout and Tagged Lake Trout. Thousands of lake trout are tagged, including one for $10,000, three for $5,000 each, five for $1,000 and more than 6,000 with values of $100-$500. Anglers also are awarded bonus amounts depending on their total at the end of the event. The higher the total number of lake trout they enter, the higher the bonus. For information, rules, fish ID, bonus chart, etc. go to the http://www.mackdays.com and click on the events tab.

The native fish are important to the history of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and to the state of Montana.

Making history in 2018 Spring Mack Days, the 32nd event, was Brandy Hilde of Bigfork, who on Friday was the first female angler to catch a limit of 100 lake trout in one day. Brandy and partner Sam Cusker each turned in 100, along with Steven Benson of Spokane Valley, Wash., Mike Benson of Lonepine, and Kalispell angler Jason Mahlen. Total fish turned in on Friday was 1,998. Saturday the total was 1,370 with Jason North of Stevensville and Mahlen turning in the limit of 100. Sunday’s fish total was 1,114 with Steve Benson the only angler with the limit of 100. Total entries for the first weekend were 4,482.

North grabbed a $500 tagged fish on Saturday, Steve Benson turned in a $200 tagged lake trout on Sunday. $100 tagged fish were turned in over the weekend by Steve Benson, Dan Smith of Kalispell, Sam Cusker, Jack Kirkland of Missoula, Wes Wilkinson of Columbia Falls, and Jerry Benson of Plains.

Leading the anglers who are competing for a Top Ten Angler spot which is one of the categories you can compete in is Steve Benson-1st with 275 fish, tied for 2nd are Larry Karper of Florence and Mike Benson with 264; 4, Jason Mahlen, 252; 5, Sam Cusker of Bigfork, 232; 6, Scott Bombard of Missoula, 193; 7, Tyler Varga of Kalispell, 183; 8, Brandy Hilde, 181; 9, Ken Varga of Kalispell, 169; 10, Felix Gauci of Stevensville, 150.

Tyler Varga leads the 13-17 category with 183 fish. Second is Rylan Koch of Butte with 20, Abby Hodgson of Kalispell is 3rd with 13, Leah Banyai of Kalispell is in 4th with 10, and Jack Colyer of Missoula is 5th with 8.

The 12 & Under Category has Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell leading with 47 fish, Emmett Ludahl of Kalispell has 3, and Tripp Bick of Arlee and Brodie Smith of Kalispell each have one fish.

Second place behind Brandy Hilde with her 100 in the ladies category is Julie Vacca of Florence with 28, Abby Hodgson of Kalispell is third with 13, Connie Jones of Kalispell fourth with 11, and Leah Banyai of Kalispell is fifth with 10.

Smallest lake trout turned in were by Jerry Benson with a 184mm lake trout and Roger Olsen Jr. of Butte with a 182mm lake trout. Anglers compete in this popular category throughout the event.

No fish have been entered yet in the large lake trout contest. Largest lake trout entries must be more than 36 inches and 24 pounds to qualify.

Tuesday through Thursday fishing begins this week with all entries turned in at Blue Bay before six o’clock in the evening. Anglers do not compete for the lottery drawing or merchandise Tues-Thurs but add to their bonus totals and compete for tagged fish, the Yeti Cooler, and six-$50 drawings.

Fish pickups are only done at Big Arm and Polson if anglers telephone to let staff know they are out. Big Arm would be 5-5:30 and Polson behind the KwaTaqnuk Resort from 6-6:30. Somers pickup times are 3-4:30 and Wayfarers 5-5:30.

Anglers must have AIS boat inspections from FWP, AIS Inspection Stations, or we do them at Blue Bay if needed to compete in the Mack Days Fishing Events.

Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Telephone 406-270-3386 for information.