Fall Mack Days week 8 results announced
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FLATHEAD LAKE — The 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake will end Nov. 3 after nine weeks of lake trout fishing. Mack Days are a fish conservation tool used to decrease the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. The effort is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with up to $200,000 in cash and prizes awarded at the conclusion of the event. Native fish populations (bull trout and westslope cutthroat) have decreased over the years and they are no longer the dominant fish in the lake. The native fish are important for the future of the fisheries of the lake. Eight weeks of the event are completed with a total of 16,411 lake trout entered by 145 lake trout anglers out of the 431 who have registered. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Every lake trout entry gives anglers a chance in the lottery drawings that begin at $2,000 and go to $100. There are several ways to win with different categories for all. Check out the rules, entry page, fish ID, etc. at: www.mackdays.com. Friday’s total was 554, Saturday’s total was 473, and Sunday’s total was 284. The event is sanctioned by Montana FWP.
“Jonny Cash,” the most sought-after lake trout in the lake, has a tag worth $10,000 and he is still out there somewhere waiting for an angler to find him in the deep, dark, depths of the lake. There are also 3 - $5,000, 5 - $1,000 and over 9,000 lake trout with tags worth $100 - $500. There were several tagged lake trout turned in this past week. Mike Benson of Lonepine, Charles Horejsi-Missoula, Steve Mack-Helena, Laurie Kreis of Huson (x 2), Missoula anglers-Shawn Halstad, Charles Savoia, and Larry Ashwell, Stevensville angler John Gauci, Polson’s Howard Nebaker, all had $100 tagged lake trout and Michael Powell of Ewa Beach Hawaii turned in a $200 tag.
The Top Twenty Angler category is still a race to the finish between brothers Mike and Jerry Benson. Lonepine angler Mike leads in total entries at the end of eight weeks with 1,250 but his 18-day average is below brother Jerry of Plains who has 1,231 entries and a 60.22 average. Mike has a 58.22 average. Top ten anglers are placed by their best 18 day average. Third place angler is David McDaniel of Polson with a total of 859 and an average of 44.83; in fourth is Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 689 total and an average of 32.33; in fifth is Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 659 total and an average of 33.33; in sixth is Jack Kirkland of Lolo with 602 total and an average of 32.94; in seventh is Richard Kreis of Huson with 601 total and an average of 30.11; in eight is Patrick Casey of Townsend with 513 total and an average of 28.0; in 9th is Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 469 total and an average of 24.61; in 10th is Laurie Kreis of Huson with 463 total and an average of 24.11; Larry Karper Florence is in 11th and has an average of 24.28; in 12th is Carey Hauser of Lakeside with 405; in 13th is Bryan Long of Columbia Falls with 326; in 14th is Clint Speer of Kalispell with 309; in 15th is Felix Gauci of Stevensville with 274; in 16th is Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls, Minnesota with 267; in 17th is Steve Mack of Helena with 253; in 18th place is Joe Minnehan of Kalispell with 234; in 19th is Lyndon Lee of British Columbia with 209, and in 20th is Mark McMillin of Missoula with 205.
Julie Perkins leads the Ladies with 469; in second is Laurie Kreis with 463; in third is Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 131; Kim Mack of Helena is in fourth with 49; and Lorinda Freeman of Polson and Jolene Tatum of Missoula each have 25.
James Kuchera of Kalispell has 8 in the 13-17 age category. Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls is first in the 12 & under category with 20; in second is Paisley Helvey of Thompson Falls with 18; in third Linday Carter of Pablo has 3, in fourth is Bear Yarrow of Frenchtown with 6; and in fifth Eli Yang, Bucky Yarrow-Tayzee Whimper of Frenchtown, Zander Oliver of Missoula, all have 2, and in sixth is Payton Kuchera from Kalispell with one entry.
The leader in the 70 and over category is Mike Benson with 1,250; in second is Larry Ashwell with 689; Terry Krogstad is third with 659; in fourth is Jack Kirkland with 602; and in fifth is Larry Karper with 438.
All of the competitive categories will end on Saturday, Nov. 2. Sunday fishing is a separate day with separate prizes. Totals will be added together for the bonus amounts. All entries are to be turned in by 3 p.m. on Sunday with a small awards ceremony to follow. The lottery drawings will be posted at that time.
Tight lines everyone. Thank you, anglers!
