Mack Days: Two tied for top angler with nearly 500 lake trout each

Three weeks have gone by already in the 2025 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake, which continues through Nov. 2.

These bi-annual fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. The native bull trout and westslope cutthroat are an important part of the fishing history of Flathead Lake and of the tribal people.

There is a tie in the Top Angler category for first place between David Myer of Riverton, Wyo., and Terry Krogstad of Kalispell. These two hard-working anglers have changed places again, only this time they each have a total of 497 entries.

Lady angler Julie Perkins of Kalispell is in third with 407, followed by Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 393, Devon Bukowski of Kalispell with 353.

Perkins also leads the Ladies with 407, trailed by Janet Myers with 187, Laurie Kreis with 136, Angie Morrow with 132, and and Lorinda Freeman with 35. Carter Lindsay of Pablo has 5 in the 12 & Under and Olivia Cottet of Polson has 5 in the 13-17 category.

Terry Krogstad is first in the 70 & Over with 497, followed by Larry Ashwell with 393, Jack Kirkland with 255, Mike Benson with 199, and Larry Karper with 163.

Dan Deutschman turned in an entry in the Largest Lake Trout category on Saturday with a 40.2-inch, 28.65-pound whopper.

Double D (Downrigger Dale), with a value of $10,000, continues to elude anglers. There are also three worth $5,000, valued at $1,000 and more than 9,000 tagged lake trout with $100-$500 values. Turning in $100 tagged lake trout were last week were Ken Rickert of Thompson Falls, Mike Benson of Lonepine and Ryker Bair of Helena.

Weekend drawing winners are Bob Stewart, $200; and Dave Myers, Julie Perkins, Larry Ashwell and Kody Sloane, $100 apiece.

A bucket of four lake trout weighing 32.8 pounds turned in by Jens Gran of Polson took top honors during the first of three Bucket Days. Rick Skates of Big Arm came in second at 32 pounds; Ken Rickert and Britton Salois/Shaunda Albert of Ronan tied for third with buckets weighing 23.75 pounds; and Mike Benson was fifth with a 22.55-pound bucket.

Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event and participants can enter at the end of a day of fishing. Fish pickups are done around the lake on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; check out the times and locations at www.mackdays.com.

Tight lines everyone!!