Fall Mack Days enters third week

Fall Mack Days, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on Flathead Lake, is already heading into week three. The nine-week long event began Sept. 10 and ends Nov. 8.

The first week’s lake trout total was 1,827; combined with week-two totals of 2,156, this adds up to an overall catch of 3,983 lake trout turned in by the beginning of the third week.

Mack Days events are used as a tool to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Preserving and protecting the native fish populations of bull trout and westslope cutthroat in the lake is important to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Montana anglers.

Efforts made now will make a difference for the future of these fish. While it may be difficult for some to understand the importance of stepping up and helping to preserve the native fish that have been here for thousands of years, declining native fish populations happen very easily and quickly when non-native fish like lake trout are introduced into a system where they outcompete the resident fish for food and territory.

This fish conservation effort is part of the fisheries management plan for Flathead Lake and is a tool that will continue to be used.

Most anglers dream of landing the $10,000 tagged lake trout from the depths of the lake. There are also three trout tagged at $5,000, five tagged at $1,000 and more than 9,000 with values from $100-$500.

Top anglers from week two are Terry Krogstad with 491, Jack Kirkland with 323, Devon Bukowski with 302, Larry Karper with 254, Larry Ashwell with 242, Richard Kreis with 217, Mike Benson with 217, David Kelch with 192, Clint Speer with 154, and John Gauci with 144. 

Corey Speer and Angie Marrow turned in $100 tags during the second week. Larry Karper caught the smallest fish at 144mm and Devon Bukowski turning in one measuring 160mm. No trout in the Large Fish category have been turned in yet. 

Weekend drawing winners were Felix Gauci, $200; and Shawnda Albert and Cory Schmautz at $100 apiece.

Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Fish one day or several days; every entry puts participants in the lottery drawing and gives them the chance to win. Visit the entry page at www.mackdays.com for information on fish identification and fishing tips. 

CSKT Fisheries advises all anglers to be safe, wear PFDs, keep a cell phone dry, be alert to weather predictions, have dry clothing on board, and let someone know your plan. Contact Joe Santos at [email protected] for more information.