The 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake began September 5th and will end November 3rd. The event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. This fish conservation effort is designed to reduce the numbers of the lake trout while increasing bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations.
There is UP TO $200,000 in CASH AND PRIZES sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes that will be awarded at the conclusion of the event to the lake trout anglers who are participating. One fish entered gives you a chance in the lottery drawings that begin at $100 and go up to $2,000, you could be a winner in some of the other categories. Get outdoors and enjoy some beautiful fall weather while fishing on Flathead Lake.
The lake trout anglers fishing 2024 Fall Mack Days are reeling in good numbers. Total number of lake trout after two weekends of fishing is at 4,201 compared to 4,079 in the 2023 Fall Event. Monday’s high hook angler was Kolton Turner of Kalispell with 32, Tuesday Ken Rickert of Thompson Falls and Mark Miller of Corvallis, OR each had 14 for the high, Wednesday Paul Grove of Wyoming, IL turned in high with 30, and Thursday Terry Krogstad of Kalispell and Mike Benson of Lonepine each had 49. The Monday-Thursday total is at 857. Friday high catch was Jack Kirkland of Lolo and Mike Benson each with 80, Saturday high was Jack with 53, and Sunday Mike turned in 72 with Terry right behind with 71. Friday to Sunday total catch is at 3,344.
Anglers receive bonus dollars as their fish total goes up. The higher the total the higher the bonus. You start receiving bonus amounts when your total reaches 11 entries. Fishing is fun and exciting but it also is expensive and costly if you are a serious angler and go out on the lake everyday. Bonus amounts help to defray some of the cost such as gas, poles, lines, hooks, and wear and tear of boats and motors. This program needs and depends on the help of the anglers and the bonus dollars help to keep them involved in the events. The anglers are very important to the success of Mack Days.
Johnny Cash the $10,000 tagged lake trout is still swimming around the bend, he ain’t seen the sunshine since he don’t know when, but he is stuck in Flathead Lake and he keeps on a swimming on. Come out and try your luck catching this famous singing fish. He could be on the end of your line.
There are 3-$5,000 and 5-$1,000 tagged lake trout along with over 9,000 with values from $100-$500. Turning in tagged lake trout the second week were: Mark Miller, Mike Cosby of Thompson Falls, Ken Rickert, and Jay Martinsen of Helena all with $100 tagged fish.
Top Twenty Anglers are: 1st Mike Benson-395, 2nd Jerry Benson-Plains 351, 3rd David McDaniel-Polson 207, 4th Jack Kirkland-203, 5th Larry Karper-Florence 201, 6th Richard Kreis-Huson 179, 7th Felix Gauci-Stevensville 176, 8th Larry Ashwell-Missoula 172, 9th Terry Krogstad 164, 10th Laurie Kreis-Huson 154, 11th Paul Grove-121, 12th Mark McMillin-Missoula 110, 13th Bryan Long-Columbia Falls 83, 14th Nate Dieterich-Kalispell 72, 15th Joe Minnehan-Kalispell 67, 16th Ken Rickert-53, 17th Julie Perkins-Kalispell 51, 18th Carey Hauser-Lakeside 47, 19th Steve Mack-Helena 46, and 20th Jeff Freeman-Polson 39.
Laurie Kreis is leading the Ladies with 154, 2nd Julie Perkins-51, 3rd Lorinda Freeman of Polson-25, 4th Debby Sacchi-Thompson Falls 11, and Jolene Tatum of Missoula has 8.
Zander Oliver of Missoula turned in 2 in the 12 & Under Category and Payton Kuchera of Kalispell has 1. James Kuchera-Kalispell has 8 in the 13-17 Category.
Friday-September 20th will be the first of the three Bucket Days. Anglers put their 4 heaviest lake trout under 30” in a bucket for a weight. Heaviest bucket wins $200. There are two Smallest Lake Trout entries: Terry Krogstad entered a 177mm small lake trout (7”) and Larry Ashwell has a 178mm entry. No large lake trout over 20lbs and 36” has been entered. Winning the weekend drawings: Nathan Dieterich-$200, and $100-Mike Benson, Bernie Olson of Lakeside, David McDaniel, and Jack Kirkland.
Fall fishing will be improving as the lake trout come in shallower to spawn. Jigging, casting, and trolling will be used by the anglers as they fish for the elusive lake trout. Fishing tip from anglers: change bait often and don’t have gas smell or lotion smells on your hands. Fish can smell. Shore angling should also improve. Past shore anglers reported maple flavored link sausage was rated #1 for bait.
Entries are taken until the last day of the event. Go to the website www.mackdays.com for entry, rules, fishing tips, fish ID, and lots more. You can also enter at the end of the day if you are out fishing. The event is for anglers of all skills, ages, and experience. Come out and try your luck-sometimes just one fish is all it takes to be a winner. Remember to be safe and have the proper equipment on board.
Good luck and tight lines everyone!
—CSKT—
Photo credit: Mack Days
