2024 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake
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FLATHEAD LAKE — The 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake will begin two weeks early on Sept. 5 and will end on Nov. 3. The event dates were moved up to try and alleviate the cold mid-November temperatures anglers have endured the past couple of years. Mack Days fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a fisheries management tool to increase the populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat in Flathead Lake. The events are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. The native fish are important to the Flathead waters. Their numbers have been reduced by introduced non-native lake trout competition. Montana is a stronghold for the bull trout in this country. They are an important part of the history of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the state of Montana.
Up to $200,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of the event. Come out and get involved in the effort to increase the populations of the native fish. Flathead Lake is one of the most beautiful areas of the country - enjoy it while helping in this fish conservation effort. There are several ways to win including tagged fish. One lake trout will be tagged with a $10,000 numbered tag, three will have $5,000 numbers, and five will have $1,000 numbers. Plus, there are over 9,000 lake trout with values from $100 to $500. The high dollar lake trout are tagged a week or two before the event begins. Last spring high dollar tags are revalued to the $100-$500 range. Tagged fish are to be turned in the same day as caught.
Other categories include: Ladies, Youth 12 & Under, Youth 13-17, Top Twenty Anglers, 70 & Over, Captains, Siberian Cooler Drawings, Smallest Lake Trout, Largest Lake Trout ($500 sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine) —lottery prizes from $2,000 to $200. All it takes is one entry to win in the lottery category. Weekend drawings are held with five winners each weekend.
Anglers also earn bonus amounts for their fish totals. As the total goes up, they earn amounts associated with the total. Examples are: 0-10 - $0; 11-30 lake trout - $45; 76-100 - $210; 151-175 - $420; & on up. Fish are to be turned in the same day as caught and there is no pooling of fish allowed. Rules and the bonus chart are sent out by email as anglers register. Entries are taken until the last day of the event.
Fish Monday through Sunday. Monday-Thursday all fish are to be turned in at Blue Bay from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday to Sunday there will be fish pickups at Big Arm State Park Boat Ramp from 5-5:30 p.m., Salish Point in Polson from 6-6:15 p.m., Somers State Boat Ramp from 3:30-4 p.m., and Wayfarers State Park Boat Ramp from 4:30-5 p.m. or at Blue Bay until dark or 9 p.m., whichever comes first.
Fall is a great time to fish from shore. Lake trout move in closer to spawn on the steep rocky areas of the lake so you can catch them from shore easier. Boat anglers have good luck trolling and jigging. Check out the tips from some of the anglers on the Montana Outdoor Radio podcasts by Downrigger Dale. The podcast is called – “Four different Mack Days competitors tell all about how they find and catch the Macks.” Thank you to the anglers for giving their time to do the show. Fishing tips from the past for jigging: wash your hands - don’t have a gas or oily smell on your hands; look for steep drop off areas or fish in the deeper water at 80’ and deeper; use cut bait with some added scent put on it; change your bait out often; drop jigs down to the bottom and jig up off the bottom; come up off the bottom and try that; watch the end of the pole for movement; try different colors and weights; talk to the local tackle shops; write your own story.
We encourage anglers to know how to ID bull trout and westslope trout. It is illegal to bring in those native fish and we are required to turn in those to the proper authorities. We also want everyone to be safe out on the water, have the proper life jackets and wear them, keep cell phones dry, let someone know when you expect to be off the water. Follow all fishing regulations and Coast Guard boating regulations.
The website is still being developed. To enter, ask questions, or make comments email: cindy.benson@cskt.org and include your name, mailing address, telephone number, and age.
Tight lines everyone!
