Anglers have completed week 5 of the 2024 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake. They are on the downhill side of the nine-week long competition with just four weekends left in the event that ends on Sunday November 3rd. The Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with 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. Monday to Thursday entries come to 2,153. High entries were: Monday Marty Herek 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 come to 8,626. High daily totals were: Jerry Benson Friday 75 and Saturday 65, Mike Benson Lonepine Sunday 48. Totals from every day combine 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. Total entries for Friday were 468, Saturday 545, and Sunday 558.
There is now a Largest Lake Trout entry and it was a beauty. Ryker Bair of Helena turned in a 36.25” 20.05 lbs. lake trout. Winner of heaviest lake trout at the end of the event receives a $500 award sponsored by Bretz RV and Marine of Missoula.
The Smallest Lake Trout entries got smaller-Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls MN turned in a 153mm (6”) 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 3-$5,000 and 5-$1,000 plus over 9,000 with values from $100-$500 who are lurking in the depths of Flathead Lake. Turning in $100 tagged lake trout were: Jeremy Williams-Missoula, Jim Flinchbaugh-Kalispell, and Mike Colyer of Missoula.
Jerry Benson is leading the Top Twenty with 936-75 Friday, 65 Saturday, and 30 Saturday. Mike Benson is in 2nd with 878-41,35,48, 3rd David McDaniel of Polson-576-28,51,37, 4th Terry Krogstad of Kalispell 459-11,44,33, 5th Richard Kreis of Huson 458-41,23,10, 6th Larry Ashwell-Missoula 398-19,39,24, 7th Jack Kirkland of Lolo 377-18,22,2, 8th Larry Karper of Florence 363, 0,0,19, 9th Laurie Kries of Huson 334-0,10,20, 10th Patrick Casey of Townsend 318-38,51,28. Eleventh place is held by Julie Perkins of Kalispell 290, 12th Dan Deutschman 267, 13th Felix Gauci of Stevensville 257, 14th Carey Hauser of Lakeside 211, 15th Bryan Long Columbia Falls 172, 16th Joe Minnehan of Kalispell 152, Steve Mack of Helena if 17th with 145, 18th Mark McMillin of Missoula 143, 19th Lyndon Lee of B.C. 129, and 20th Gaul Grove of Wyoming IL with 121.
Huson’s Lady Angler Laurie Kreis is still in 1st with 334, 2nd in that category is Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 290, 3rd Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 74, 4th Kim Mack of Helena with 29, and 5th Lorinda Freeman of Polson 25.
James Kurchera of Kalispell still leads the 13-17 category and Blaine Helvey of Thompson Falls is leading the 12 & Under with 13, Paisley Helvey has 12, Bear Yarrow of Frenchtown is at 6, Eli Yang-, Bucky Yarrow, Tayzee Whimper of Frenchtown have 2, Zander Oliver of Missoula has 2, and Payton Kuchera has turned in 1.
The Golden Oldies are lead by Mike Benson with 878, Terry Krogstad is at 459, Larry Ashwell has 398, Jack Kirkland 377, and Larry Karper 363.
Winning weekend prizes were: Larry Karper-$200, 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 31.75 lbs of lake trout-4 under 30”, 2nd Rick Skates of Big Arm with 26.75, Kreis boat with 26.15 came in 3rd, 4th Bair boat with 25.05, and 5th Sacchi boat of Thompson Falls with 19.55 lbs of lake trout.
It is not too late to come out and try your luck catching lake trout and getting in your chances for winning in the lottery drawings. Enter up until the last day.
Go to www.mackdays.com for information.
Good luck and tight lines everyone!
—CSKT—
Photo: Ryker Bair of Helena and his father Justin Bair of Dillon tried the Mack Days Event Fishing the fifth weekend and landed this 36.25” 20.05lb. lake trout. It is the first entry in the large fish category.
