2024 Spring Mack Days_Week 7 Results(1)
Anglers fishing the 2024 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event have increased the
total number of lake trout entries to 29,228. It was cooler weather throughout the
weekend with Fridays total at 1,405, Saturday 1,227, and Sundays total at 687.
Monday to Thursday total is 3,334. The 2023 event total at this point after the
seventh weekend was 28,176. The record 2019 Event ended with a total of
40,362. Total at seven weeks was at 31,163 lake trout entries. One hundred
seventy-two anglers have turned in one or more lake trout entries. Every good
angler knows, fishing is not just about the catch: it’s about the thrill of trying-being
out on the lake surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Flathead Lake area. It
can be difficult to learn how and where to fish and be successful. It takes
patience and perseverance but you don’t have to be a top angler to enjoy fishing
in the Mack Days Events. Every lake trout entry counts in this fish conservation
effort to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.
Years ago, people fished the native fish for food to survive, these fish were part
of their existence, they are a large part of the history of our native people. The
native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout have decreased in population over
time due to the non-native lake trout introduction into Flathead Lake and the
effects they had on the native fish population. Increasing the native bull trout and
westslope populations for future generations of anglers is important for everyone.
There is Up To $225,000 in Cash and Prizes that will be awarded at the
conclusion of the 2024 Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated
Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Mack Days are sponsored by the tribes and
sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. These avid fishermen (ladies
included) have two weekends left to increase their total numbers. As their
numbers increase their bonus amounts increase, they get more entries in the
lottery drawing, and the chances of catching a tagged fish increase. Entries will
be taken until the last day of the event. You can be a winner with just one fish
entry! Anglers have won $1,000 with one fish entry caught from a boat and also
one from a shore angler. Anglers can enter at any time-one entry in the event
gives you a chance in the lottery drawings that begin at $100 and go up to
$2,000.
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
Natural Resources Department
Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation & Conservation
P.O. Box 278
Pablo, MT 59855
(406) 675-2700 extension 7241
The $10,000 tagged lake trout is still dwelling in the depths of Flathead Lake. He
is the “hidden one” called Leto. There are also 3-$5,000, and 6-$1,000 including
one sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine of Missoula plus over 9,000 with values
from $100-$500. Turning in tagged fish this past week were: $100-Collin Weymer
of Bonners Ferry ID, Kolton Turner of Kalispell, Deno Thomas of Polson, Shirley
Batz of Kalispell, and Michael Benson of Lonepine turned in a $200 tagged lake
trout.
Top Twenty anglers are led by Kolton Turner with 1,975 lake trout entries, he has
turned in 100 fish nineteen days out of the twenty days he has fished, and has
one 75 fish day. Top Ten Anglers are placed by their best 18-day average at the
conclusion of the event. Kolton now has a 100 18-day average. Only one other
angler has ever hit the 100 18-day average, that was Jason Mahlen in 2019.
Kolton’s father Robert is in second place with 1,832, with twelve 100 fish days-
95.28 avg., 3 rd place is Jason Mahlen of Kalispell with 1,705, twelve 100 fish
days-92.89 avg., 4 th Clint Speer of Kalispell 1,152-60.22 avg, 5 th Gene Corne of
Kalispell 1,021-53.17 avg, 6 th Jerry Benson of Plains 911-50.61 avg, 7 th Ken
Varga 891-48.83 avg, 8 th Michael Benson of Lonepine 847-47.09 avg, 9 th Tyler
Varga of Kalispell with 835, 10 th Travis Banyai of Lakeside with 816, 11 th David
McDaniel of Polson with 698, 12 th Bryan Long of Kalispell with 686, 13 th Larry
Ashwell of Missoula with 681, 14 th David Kelch of Kalispell with 653, 15 th Larry
Ludahl of Kalispell with 636, 16 th Jack Kirkland of Missoula with 556, 17 th Felix
Gauci of Stevensville with 540, 18 th Nate Dieterich of Kalispell with 534, 19 th Terry
Krogstad of Kalispell with 504, 20 th Jake North of Denton with 455. Several
anglers have not reached18 days yet.
Julie Perkins of Kalispell is in first place in the Ladies Category with 263 lake
trout entries, 2 nd Shirley Batz of Kalispell with 91, 3 rd Corrine McCubbins of
Kalispell with 79, 4 th Melissa Triano of Bigfork with 24, Janine Kowalski of
Florence and Connie Jones of Kalispell are tied for 5 th with 17 fish entries.
The youth anglers in the event are a great group of fishermen, they are the future
of this event! Youth angler Brodie Smith of Kalispell has 398 entries and is first
in the 13-17 Category. 2 nd place is Kennedy Yang of Missoula with 31, 3 rd place is
Matthew Mitts of Kalispell with 19, 4 th place is Lane Brazda of Missoula with 14,
and Lucia Savoia of Missoula has 1. Eli Yang of Missoula is leading the 12 &
Under with 31 lake trout entries, 2 nd place is Mason Cusker of Bigfork with 4, 3 rd
place is Gage Spring of Alberton with 3, and 4 th place is James Kuchera of
Kalispell 2.
Jack Kirkland’s large fish entry is still the largest lake trout so far in the event. It
measured 42 inches and weighed in at 24.4 lbs. Bretz RV and Marine sponsors
the $500 award for the largest lake trout entry. Smallest lake trout entered is
Gene Corne’s 164mm (6.5”) trout. There is a three-way tie for 2 nd with Jason
Mahlen, Gene Corne, and Kolton Turner. Each of them has turned in 166mm
small Lakers.
The third Bucket Day is Sunday May 5 th . Over all bucket is chosen on points. Rick
Skates of Polson has a total of 14 points with a third place (6 pts) and a second
place (8pts) bucket winners from the 1 st and 2 nd Bucket Days. With 10 points each
is Matthew/Colin Mitts of Kalispell and Cole Williams of Kalispell. They each had
first place buckets. Good luck everyone!
There are only two weeks remaining, in this nine-week long event, which
concludes on Saturday May 11 th . Come out and enjoy lake trout fishing on
Flathead Lake. Our website is currently under construction, please call (406)
270-3386 to enter or enter at the end of the day when you turn in your catch. You
can keep your catch or they can be donated to be processed.
All it takes is one entry to be eligible for lottery drawings. Fish from a boat or
from shore! Get your poles out and come out for some lake trout fishing on
Flathead Lake! Stay safe out on the water and have proper safety equipment.
Please stay alert to changing weather, and keep cell phones dry!
Tight lines everyone and Thank you anglers-you make this
happen!
—CSKT—