2025 Spring Mack Days – Week 7 Update

The lake trout are still hitting the jigs and lures making for great fishing on Flathead Lake during 2025 Spring Mack Days. Angler totals are going up and the total for the 2025 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event has hit a new high. At the end of the 7^th week of fishing 46,586 lake trout entries have been entered. This total exceeds any other total of previous events. Highest total till now was 2019-40,362 entries. Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. We are on the downhill side of the event with two weeks left ending on Saturday May 10^th. Entries are taken until the last day of the event. Go to www.mackdays.com for information, entry form, fishing tips, etc. The Monday to Thursday entries were at 8,526. Fridays total came to 1,782, Saturday-1,709, and Sunday 1,520. The weekend total came to 5,011. Friday to Sunday total for all days is al 38,060. 

Mack Days Fishing Events are used as a tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. The invasive lake trout over whelmed the fishery of Flathead Lake in the mid 80’s when their population exploded. A new food source-Mysis shrimp that were initially introduced for the benefit of kokanee salmon were now abundant and the lake trout keyed in on them. The Mysis striped the water of food nutrients the kokanee fed on and also provided a banquet for juvenile lake trout at the bottom of the lake. Kokanee disappeared from lack of food and lake trout predation. The native bull trout and westslope cutthroat were the next in line and their populations declined dramatically. It is important to protect these native fish for future generations. The history of the native fish goes back thousands of years. 

Kolton Turner of Kalispell is 1^st in the event by total and 18-day average which is used to place the Top Ten Anglers at the conclusion of the event. Kolton has 1,929 entries and a 97.5 average. Jason Mahlen-Kalispell is 2^nd with 1,882 and 95.8, 3^rd David Myers-Riverton WY with 1,782 and 90, 4^th Bob Turner-Kalispell-1,758 and 89.4, 5^th Clint Speer-Kalispell 1,339 and 68.6, 6^th Jerry Benson-Plains 1,281 and 66, 7^th Patrick Casey of Townsend with 1,177 and 61, 8^th Gene Corne-Kalispell 1,102 and 56.7, 9^th Terry Krogstad-Kalispell 1,084 and 56.5, 10^th Steve Andrachick-Kalispell 1,067 and 57.5. Mike Benson of Lonepine is 11^th with 1,047, 12^th Bob Stewart-Kalispell 1,039, 13^th Larry Ashwell-Missoula 916, 14^th Larry Ludahl-Kalispell 916, 15^th Devon Bukowski-Kalispell 882, 16^th Julie Perkins-Kalispell 852, 17^th Jack Kirkland-Lolo with 796, 18^th Michael Stevenson-Kalispell 780, 19^th Larry Karper-Florence 744, and 20^th Bryan Long of Columbia Falls with 728. 

Carter Lindsay of Pablo is leading the 12 & Under with 45, 2^nd Allyvia Yang of Missoula-32, 3^rd Benjamin Deterich of Kalispell-22, 4^th Mason Persico-Missoula-16, and 5^th Mason Cusker of Bigfork with 6. Brodie Smith of Kalispell is 1^st in the 13-17 Category with 644, 2^nd Fjord Borgen-Columbia Falls 14, 3^rd David Gerspach-Kila 3, Sawyer Clark of Columbia Falls is 4^th with 3.

Julie Perkins of Kalispell has 852 lake trout entries for 1^st in the Ladies, 2^nd Janet Myers of Riverton Wy with 453, 3^rd Shaunda Albert of Ronan-192, 4^th Connie Jones of Kalispell 179, and 5^th Laurie Bouley of Columbia Falls with 51.

70 & Over Category leader is Jerry Benson with 1,281, 2^nd Terry Krogstad-1,084, 3^rd Mike Benson-1,047, 4^th Larry Ashwell-1,017, and 5^th Jack Kirkland 796. 

Tagged lake trout were revalued with the following announcement on Thursday: Spring 2025 Mack Days has greatly exceeded expectations.  We surpassed the advertised value of the contest by the fifth weekend.  To help ensure we are able to complete the nine weeks of the contest, as of 4/23/25 we are suspending the awarding of high value tags for the remainder of Spring 2025 Mack Days.  All tags received after 4/23/25 will be worth $100.  Willy is still out there but his value has fallen dramatically.  All other prizes will remain as planned. This situation has arisen because of the unexpected volume of fish generated to date in the contest.  We estimate the total value of fish turned in will be well over 50% greater than we anticipated, or has occurred in any previous contest.  The biological explanation is that the successful reduction in abundance of adult lake trout is stimulating the survival and recruitment of juveniles that dominate this spring’s catch.  We knew this was coming but it arrived sooner than expected.  In addition, values for numbers of fish caught that exceed the top end of the bonus table will be paid out at the current top value.  We applaud the success of the anglers as we move into this next phase of management in which we need to address the large influx of juvenile lake trout.  Thank you for your efforts and understanding.  Please call Cindy Benson (406 270-3386) if you need further clarification.  

Turning in tags the past week were: Kyle Shank, Jim Schrieber, Bob Turner, Terry Krogstad, Devon Burkowski, & Clint Speer-Kalispell, Justin Bair-Dillon, Bob Church-Polson, and Britton Salois of Pablo. 

The last of the Bucket Days is Sunday May 4^th. Anglers put their four largest lake trout under 30” in a bucket for a weight. Heaviest bucket wins $200. 

Weekend winners: $200-Larry Ashwell and $100-Mason Persico-Missoula, Scott Hale-Lolo, Devon Bukowski and Clint Speer.

Come out and enjoy fishing this beautiful lake for the last two weeks of the event. Every lake trout entry gives a chance you in the lottery drawings.

Be safe-carry safety gear, follow all boating and fishing regulations, and be aware of changing weather conditions. 

Good luck & Tight lines everyone!

—CSKT—

Feature photo via MackDays.com

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