Spring Mack Days officials report week one results
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FLATHEAD LAKE – Five hundred fifty-eight anglers have registered, so far, in the 2021 Spring Mack Days fishing event with a total of 105 anglers hitting the water and turning in at least one or more lake trout entries.
Many anglers fished all three days of the first weekend by hitting the water at daylight and coming in right before dark.
Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of 2021 Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake. The last day of the event will be May 16. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event, and there is no entry fee.
There are 59 fishing days in the spring event. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes sponsor the events and they are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Mack Days events are used as a management tool to reduce the number of non-native lake trout and increase the number of bull trout and Westslope cutthroat trout.
Anglers can fish one day or every day; it is their choice. The competitive categories are Friday to Sunday. Monday through Thursday fishing counts for tagged fish and adds to totals at the conclusion of the event for bonus amounts, plus there are cash prizes for Monday to Thursday. Check out the prize list, fish pickup sites, rules, fish identification and more at: www.mackdays.com.
There is one $10,000 tagged lake trout in the lake, along with three $5,000 fish; five $1,000 fish and over 9,000 fish with values from $100 to $500.
Anglers who turned in tagged fish the first weekend were: Christopher Shae, of Kalispell, and Toby Thompson, of Bigfork, for $100. Tyler Varga, of Kalispell, and Tristen Persico, of Missoula, each had $200 tagged fish. Tagged fish are caught all over the lake from boats and from shore.
The first weekend total came to 3,586 lake trout entries. Temperatures were a little cool for the first weekend. There were some rough times on the water with cold, wind, rain and hail. Friday’s total was 1,486, Saturday’s total was 1,129, and Sunday’s total was at 971 lake trout entries. Anglers can donate their catch to be processed or they may keep their fish. All fish are to be kept on ice if they are donated.
Riley Anderson, of Kalispell, turned in a 40-inch 21.25-pound lake trout entry. To turn in an entry for the largest lake trout competition, the fish has to be over 36 inches and weigh at least 20 pounds.
The Top Ten Angler category ended with week one leader, Mike Benson, of Lonepine, with 175 entries: 89 on Friday, 31 on Saturday, and 55 on Sunday. Jason Mahlen, of Kalispell, is currently in second place with a total of 170 entries: 84 on Friday, 52 on Saturday and 34 on Sunday. Scott Bombard, of Missoula, is in third place with 158 total entries, 67 on Friday, 55 on Saturday and 36 on Sunday.
In the women’s category, Julie Perkins, of Kalispell, has a total of 45 entries for first place. Laurie Kreis, of Huson, is second with 16, and Connie Jones, of Kalispell, is third.
CSKT is still following COVID-19 guidelines to keep everyone safe, so please follow procedures when turning in fish. Please keep a six-foot distance and wear a mask when turning in your catch. There will be no awards ceremony or fish fry on the last day of the event.
People are invited to come out and join in the fun, help to restore a balance to Flathead Lake for future generations, and get qualified to win in the lottery drawings that begin at $50 and go up to $1,000.
Safety on the water is very important. Anglers should know the daily weather report, watch for changes, have safety equipment, keep a cellphone in a sealed bag and have a safety plan. For more information visit: www.mackdays.com.
