2009 Fall Mack Days hits the fourth week
A total of 2,147 lake trout were entered in the fourth weekend of 2009 Fall Mack Days bringing the final number of the four weekends to 7,332. Friday the weather was just right for the anglers with 1,017 entries coming in. Saturday brought more of the relentless windy weather the anglers have endured this fall and hardy anglers scurried to find bays or areas of the lake that were sheltered. It is not unusual for these anglers to put in 10-12 hour days. Rough water makes for really long days for the fishermen and ladies-they are amazing!! Saturday’s total entries were 327. Sunday was much calmer and total entries were 803. Numbers will change quickly the next few weeks with the lake trout spawning and coming in closer. Fishing tactics will change and areas where the fish are will change. Anglers will use their 12 best days out of 20 available for their average. The last day is a separate day with special prizes- heaviest entry under 30”-and drawings from $300-$50. .
Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and are used as a tool to slowly reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase the numbers of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout-bringing a balance to the fishery of the lake.
Over $47,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded November 15th the last day of Fall Mack Days. All it takes is one fish to win one of the twenty five lottery prizes which begin at $1,000 and go down to $200. Entries are taken until the last day of the event. Information is available online at www.mackdays.com or you can call 406-883-2888 ex. 7294.
Fifty fish days-which is a limit for one day on Flathead Lake-over the fourth weekend were turned in by Jim Auger-Missoula, Sid Bitney-Kalispell, Phil Meredith-Kalispell, Paul Lebert-Kalispell, and Stephen Naethe-Pablo with two 50 fish days.
Tagged fish were turned in by Scott Lemert-Livingston-$100, Shawn Madsen-Polson-$100, Pat Regan-Polson-$100, Tim Mooney-Missoula-$100, Don Young-Polson-$200, Todd Morigeau-Polson-$200. There are two $5,000 tagged fish and over 1,500 more with values from $100-$5,000.
Smallest lake trout entry is still held by Bill Violette of Missoula with a 170mm entry - second place is Brandt Hammernick of Missoula with his 211mm laker. There have been no large lake trout entries.
Lake trout harvested during the event can be donated to be processed and distributed to food pantries or anglers may keep their fish.
Daily pick up sites during the event are Blue Bay-headquarters-all day until dark, Polson at the new boat dock behind Kwataqnuk at 5:30 in the evening, and Somers boat ramp from 2:00 until 6:00.
Entry forms are available in Missoula at Bob Wards and Sons, Brady’s Sportsman’s Warehouse, Wholesale Sports, and Montana FWP, Kalispell at Snappy’s and Montana FWP, Pablo at Zimmer’s Tackle, Ronan at Ronan Sports and Western, and Polson at CSKT Natural Resources.
We remind anglers to think safety first and always be aware of changing weather conditions on Flathead Lake.