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Plains fisherman Jerry Benson wins Fall Mack Days

by Stephanie Gillin
| November 6, 2024 12:00 AM

The 2024 Fall Mack Days concluded on Sunday, Nov. 3 with a total of 18,414 lake trout entries, 151 anglers out of 436 registered entered one or more lake trout.

This event has been the most successful in numbers since 2015 when 19,540 lake trout were entered. There were 17,502 turned in during the 2023 Fall Event.

Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a management tool to decrease numbers of invasive lake trout numbers in Flathead Lake. 

Jerry Benson of Plains was the Top Angler of the Event. He turned in a total of 1,301 with an 18-day average of 60.28.

In second was Mike Benson of Lonepine with 1,295 entries and a 58.22 average. David McDaniel of Polson was third at 859 with a 44.83 average. 

The ladies top angler was Laurie Kreis of Huson at 490. Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls was second at 149, and Kim Mack-Helena was third at 68.

The youth 13-17 winner was James Kurchera of Missoula with 16,and in second was Alison Putzler of Kalispell with 6. The 12 and Under winner was Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls with 20; 2nd Paisley Helvey of Thompson Falls with 18; and Bear Yarrow of Missoula with 6.

The 70 & Over winner was Felix Gauci with 274; second Mike Cosby of Thompson Falls with 128 and third Paul Grove of Wyoming with 121.=

The $10,000 famous “Jonny Cash” avoided anglers during this event and is still in the depths of Flathead Lake. Turning in $100 tagged lake trout over the week were Steve Mack of Helena, Richard Kreis and Kim Mack. The last day winner of heaviest fish under 30” was Dale Peters of Thompson Falls with a 7.65-pound lake trout.

Spirit of the Event Awards went to Carey Hauser of Lakeside, an angler who has put in many years fishing the events and perfecting his skills and Barry Hansen who has spent many years of his career caring for and working on the lake and the lake trout program for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. 

For a complete list of awards and prizes go to www.mackdays.com.

Spring Mack Days begins March 13.