Week 5 Mack Days fishing results announced
courtesy photo
Ryker Bair of Helena and his father Justin Bair of Dillon tried the Mack Days Fishing Event the fifth weekend and landed this 36.25” 20.05lb. lake trout. It is the first entry in the large fish category.
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FLATHEAD LAKE -- Anglers have completed week 5 of the 2024 Fall Mack Days fishing event on Flathead Lake. They are on the downhill side of the nine-week long competition with just four weekends left. The event ends on Sunday, Nov. 3. The Mack Days fishing events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with up to $200,000 in cash and prizes awarded to anglers who enter at least one or more lake trout entries.
A total of 10,779 lake trout entries have been turned in. Monday to Thursday entries came to 2,153. High entries were on Monday - Marty Herek of Polson 7; on Tuesday - Bob Stewart of Kalispell 27; on Wednesday - Patrick Casey of Townsend 16; and on Thursday - Jerry Benson of Plains 46. The Friday to Sunday entries came to 8,626. High daily totals were: Jerry Benson on Friday - 75 and Saturday - 65; Mike Benson of Lonepine on Sunday - 48. Totals from every day combine to give a total for the bonus dollars anglers receive at the end of the event. Raging winds hit the lake Friday afternoon like they did everywhere else. These seasoned anglers know when to get off the water and all had their feet on the ground except one eventually was also off the water. Waves were some of the worst we have seen from the shore. Parts of the lake saw nothing but huge frothy white caps all the way across. Total entries for Friday were 468, Saturday 545, and Sunday 558.
There is now a Largest Lake Trout entry and it was a beauty. Ryker Bair of Helena turned in a 36.25” and 20.05 pounds lake trout. Winner of the heaviest lake trout at the end of the event receives a $500 award sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine of Missoula.
The Smallest Lake Trout entries got smaller. Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, turned in a 153mm (6”) lake trout. Jerry Benson turned in the other small lake trout with a 149mm (5.75”) entry. “Jonny Cash,” the $10,000 tagged lake trout, is waiting for someone to reel him in. There are also 3-$5,000 trout and 5-$1,000 trout plus over 9,000 trout with values from $100-$500 who are lurking in the depths of Flathead Lake. Turning in $100 tagged lake trout were: Jeremy Williams of Missoula, Jim Flinchbaugh of Kalispell, and Mike Colyer of Missoula.
Jerry Benson is leading the Top Twenty with 936 trout - 75 Friday, 65 Saturday, and 30 Saturday. Mike Benson is in second place with 878 trout - 41, 35, 48. In third place is David McDaniel of Polson with 576 trout - 28, 51, 37. In fourth place is Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 459 trout - 11, 44, 33. In fifth place is Richard Kreis of Huson with 458 trout - 41, 23, 10. In sixth place is Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 398 trout - 19, 39, 24. In seventh place is Jack Kirkland of Lolo with 377 trout - 18, 22, 2. In eighth place is Larry Karper of Florence with 363, 0, 0, 19. In ninth place is Laurie Kries of Huson with 334 trout - 0,10, 20. In tenth place is Patrick Casey of Townsend with 318 trout - 38, 51, 28. Eleventh place is held by Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 290; in 12th place is Dan Deutschman with 267; in 13th place is Felix Gauci of Stevensville with 257; in 14th place is Carey Hauser of Lakeside with 211; in 15th place is Bryan Long of Columbia Falls with 172; in 16th place is Joe Minnehan of Kalispell with 152. Steve Mack of Helena is in 17th place with 145; in 18th place is Mark McMillin of Missoula with 143; in 19th place is Lyndon Lee of British Columbia with 129; and in 20th place is Gaul Grove of Wyoming, Illinois, with 121.
Huson’s Lady Angler Laurie Kreis is still in 1st with 334, 2nd in that category is Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 290, 3rd Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 74, 4th Kim Mack of Helena with 29, and 5th Lorinda Freeman of Polson 25.
James Kurchera of Kalispell still leads the 13-17 category and Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls is leading the 12 & Under with 13, Paisley Helvey has 12, Bear Yarrow of Frenchtown is at 6, Eli Yang-, Bucky Yarrow, Tayzee Whimper of Frenchtown have 2, Zander Oliver of Missoula has 2, and Payton Kuchera has turned in 1.
The Golden Oldies are lead by Mike Benson with 878, Terry Krogstad is at 459, Larry Ashwell has 398, Jack Kirkland 377, and Larry Karper 363.
Winning weekend prizes were: Larry Karper-$200, Richard Kreis, Justin Bair of Dillon, Patrick Casey, and Jerry Benson all with $100.
Jens Gran of Polson won the Bucket of Fish on Saturday with a huge bucket of 31.75 lbs of lake trout-4 under 30”, 2nd Rick Skates of Big Arm with 26.75, Kreis boat with 26.15 came in 3rd, 4th Bair boat with 25.05, and 5th Sacchi boat of Thompson Falls with 19.55 lbs of lake trout.
It is not too late to come out and try your luck catching lake trout and getting in your chances for winning in the lottery drawings. Enter up until the last day.
Go to www.mackdays.com for information.
Good luck and tight lines everyone!
