2018 Spring Mack Days underway
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News from CSKT Natural Resources
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 per year – one in the spring and one in the fall. All it takes is one fish to win one of the 35 cash prizes which begin at $1,000 and go down to $450 or one of several merchandise prizes in the lottery drawing the last day of the event. The native fish are important to the history of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and to the state of Montana.
Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes 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. There is one-$10,000, three-$5,000, and five-$1,000 tagged lake trout and over 6,000 with values from $500-$100. 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 website at www.mackdays.com and click on the events tab.
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 p.m. and Polson behind the KwaTaqNuk Resort from 6-6:30 p.m. Somers pickup times are 3-4:30 p.m. and Wayfarers is 5-5:30 p.m.
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. This event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
Telephone 406-270-3386 for information.
