Anglers busy in second weekend of Mack Days

Flathead Lake anglers have completed the second week of the 2023 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event. The event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will conclude on Saturday May 13. There are seven weekends left and it is not too late to enter. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event.

A total of 8,773 lake trout entries have been turned in so far. The Monday-Thursday total is 1,463 and the Friday-Sunday total is at 7,310. The 2019 Spring Event holds the record of most lake trout entries with 40,362 at the conclusion of the event. The second weekend and the weekday total for 2019 was at 8,032. The 2023 Spring Event could be a record year. New anglers are helping to contribute to the higher totals and we hope and need to see more people becoming involved in this conservation effort.

The $10,000 tagged lake trout is still in the murky depths of the lake. There are also 3-$5,000, 6-$1,000 including one sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine, and over 9,000 with values from $100-$500. Bryan Long of Kalispell came in with a $100 tagged fish over the second weekend. There were a few other maybe’s but no tag—better luck next time for those anglers.

Anglers begin to accumulate bonus dollars as their total goes up after their eleventh lake trout entry. Bonus amounts are used to help repay anglers for the dollars it takes to go out fishing to help restore the native fish populations of Flathead Lake. Bull trout and westslope cutthroat were once the dominate fish of the lake and were an important part of generations of native and non-native people who depended on the fish for part of their food stores. It is important to make a difference now and see these fish populations endure in the lake.

Kolton Turner of Kalispell is leading the Top Ten anglers with a total of 545, second is Jason Mahlen of Kalispell with 400, third Robert Turner of Kalispell with 379, in fourth is Jerry Benson of Plains (345), fifth is Mike Benson of Lonepine (307), sixth Steven Benson of Spokane Valley (300), seventh Terry Krogstad of Kalispell (272), eighth Scott Bombard of Missoula (246), ninth Travis Banyai of Lakeside (233), and 10th Sam Cusker of Bigfork (227).

Leah Banyai of Lakeside has 93 to lead the ladies, second is Connie Jones of Kalispell (30), in third is Julie Perkins, Kalispell (23), fourth Amanda Hoback of Arlee (5), and fifth Desiree McIlhargey of Kalispell with 3.

Wyatt Best of Florence is leading the 12 and under with 3, Hunter McIlhargey of Kalispell has 2, and Chloe McIlhargey has 1. Brodie Smith of Kalispell is first in the 13-17 with 52 and Josey McIlhargey of Kalispell is second with 19.

For more informaiton, go to http://www.mackdays.com.