Mack Days: Helena angler lugs in three-foot-plus lake trout
Ryker Bair of Helena and his father, Justin Bair of Dillon, landed this 36.25-inch 20.05-pound lake trout last weekend during Mack Days. It's the first entry in the large fish category. (CSKT Fisheries photo)
Anglers are on the downhill side of the nine-week long Mack Days competition with just four weekends left in the event that ends on Sunday, Nov. 3.
Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and offer 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 so far.
Last Monday through Thursday, the count was 2,153. High entries were: Monday – Marty Herak of Polson, 7; Tuesday – Bob Stewart of Kalispell, 27; Wednesday, Patrick Casey of Townsend, 16; and Thursday, Jerry Benson of Plains, 46.
Friday-to-Sunday entries came to 8,626 with high daily totals of 75 on Friday and 65 on Saturday, posted by Jerry Benson; and 48 on Sunday by Mike Benson of Lonepine.
Total entries for Friday were 468, Saturday 545, and Sunday 558. Totals from every day are combined 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 who shortly was also off the water.
Waves were some of the worst we have seen from the shore. Parts of the lake were nothing but huge frothy white caps all the way across.
There is now a Largest Lake Trout entry and it was a beauty. Ryker Bair of Helena turned in a 36.25-inch lake trout, weighing 20.05 lbs. Winner of heaviest lake trout at the end of the event receives a $500 award.
The Smallest Lake Trout entries got smaller with Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls, Minn., turning in a 153mm (6 inch) lake trout. Jerry Benson has the other small lake trout place 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 three $5,000 and five $1,000 tagged fish, plus 9,000 with values from $100-$500 who are still 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 a total of 936; Mike Benson is in second with 878; David McDaniel of Polson is third with 576; Terry Krogstad of Kalispell is fourth with 459 and Richard Kreis of Huson is fifth with 458.
Huson’s Lady Angler Laurie Kreis is still in first with 334, followed by Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 290, Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 74, Kim Mack of Helena with 29, and Lorinda Freeman of Polson with 25.
James Kurchera of Kalispell still leads the 13-17 category and Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls is leading the 12 & Under with 13, followed by Paisley Helvey with 12.
The Golden Oldies are led by Mike Benson with 878; Terry Krogstad is at 459, Larry Ashwell at 398, Jack Kirkland at 377, and Larry Karper at 363.
Winning weekend prizes were: Larry Karper, $200; and 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 lake troup weighing 31.75 pounds (four were under 30 inches). Rick Skates of Big Arm tallied 26.75 pounds, followed by the Kreis boat with 26.15, the Bair boat with 25.05, and the Sacchi boat of Thompson Falls with 19.55 pounds.
It is not too late to try your luck catching lake trout and getting in your chances for winning in the lottery drawings. Enter up until the last day at www.mackdays.com.