Anglers emerge for Mack Days

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the state are waging war against the mackinaw, and so far, this year’s Spring Mack Days is shaping up to be one of the best ever.

More than 700 eager anglers have signed up over the past two weeks, and that turnout is unprecedented in the event’s five year history, said Cynthia Bras-Benson of the Tribal Fisheries Department.

It’s the $57,000 in cash prizes that has lured fishermen from all over Montana, Idaho, Utah, and some as far away as Colorado to Flathead Lake.

“We’re here for the big fish,” said Peggy Brown of Colorado Springs, Colo. She was accompanied by her son Russell. They read about the event on the Internet.

Also making this year’s event unique is the fact that there is no entry fee due to gambling restrictions on the reservation.

The prize money has more than doubled the number of entries from last year. Not only are there twice the number of participants, but they’re allowed to reel in up to 50 macks per day — as opposed to last year’s limit of 20.

This should put a dent in the mackinaw population.

“When you think 700 fishermen, and if each catches about 30, that’s 21,000 macks,” said fisheries technician Rich Folsom.

During the first weekend alone anglers reeled in 2,481 macks.

This year, 48 macks have been tagged that are worth $100. There are another 19 worth $500 and one mack carries with it a $35,000 cash prize.

“That $35,000 has developed a lot of interest,” said Bras-Benson.

That is the most money Spring Mack Days has ever offered for a fish. There is a catch, however. The first to pluck a $500 fish out of the lake nullifies the $35,000 cash reward.

“The insurance company set it up that way so the odds are higher,” she said.

Even with the odds against them, dozens of fishermen trolled the lake last Friday morning hoping to catch the big one.

“We heard this was the spot, but somebody lied,” said Steve Oddan of Choteau. He obviously wasn’t having much luck out by Rocky Point, which was said to be a hot spot.

But he and wife Wendy, with their friend Bonnie from Utah, didn’t make a 500-mile round trip for nothing. They’ll stay the weekend and hope for better luck the next day.

Rocky Point had 11 other boats, each occupied by several fishermen — some of whom brandished a rod in each hand.

Doug White, of Pablo, with friend Roger Davis, of Missoula, had been at it just over an hour and they already had a cooler full.

Missoula’s John Dickinson, on the other hand, only had two — which took 60 years to catch.

“I’m nearly 60 years old and I’ve never been on the lake. I just caught my first two fish today,” he said.

His wife, Virginia, also reeled in her first.

Folsom and co-worker Rich Santos are CSKT Fisheries Department employees and are exempt from participating in the event, and that’s fine with them. The two spent nearly a week tagging macks prior to the event. Their exemption gives them a bit of a reprieve from the rod and reel.

“These people have to take a day off work to go fishing,” said Santos. “We have to take a day off not to go fishing.”

Introduced to the Flathead in 1905, the mackinaw — also known as lake trout — has greedily fed upon the lake’s native species. While the macks’ origin is somewhat of a mystery, one thing is known for sure — the fish has overstayed its welcome.

“There are so many macks,” said Bras-Benson with the Tribal Fisheries Department. “They’ve taken over the community of fish.

“The problem,” she added, “Is that the native fish — bull trout and Westslope cutthroat cut throat — their numbers have dramatically declined over the years.”

Spring Mack Days runs for three more weekends. On April 14, on Main Street in Polson there will be a fish fry at noon with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m.

First weekend results

Largest lake trout was caught by Dave Hobeck, 20 lbs., 1 oz., measuring just over 37 inches.

Smallest lake trout were turned in on the second day of the event. Marty Noyd of Missoula and Tim Shelton had catches of 9.5 and 10.5 inches, respectively.

Youth anglers entered 102 lake trout with Steven Naethe of Pablo in the lead with 30, and Keegan Noyd of Missoula right behind him with 29. Kyleigh Tripp of Missoula and Linnea Madeson of Polson are tied with 10 each.

Here are the top numbers of fish for the first weekend:

Stan Ross of Kalispell, 150; Paul Haines of Ronan, 98; Marty Noyd of Missoula, 97; Tim Shatuck of Kalispell, 93; Paul Soukup of Ronan, 82; Jeff Merritt, 80; Roger Smart of Ronan, 75; Richard Zimmer of Pablo, 74; Roger Davis of Missoula, 73; Berd Albrecht of Polson, 68; Dutch Turner of Columbia Falls, 59; Doug White of Missoula, 56; Lorin Turner of Columbia Falls, 54; Michael Noland of Kalispell, 51; Bill Sullivan of Missoula, 50; Tim Shelton of Missoula, 45; Dave Cook of Lewiston, 44; Chad Benson of Missoula; Wade O’Lexey of Kalispell, 42, and William Foy of Lolo, 41.

Second weekend results

Total catch was 1,986, down from 2,481 lake trout the first weekend. Total caught at the end of two weeks: 4,467.

Dick Zimmer took the day off on Saturday to take Boy Scouts out on the water to teach them to fish. That took him out of the top 10 but he likes to see people learn how to catch these lake trout. That is part of what this is all about — anglers learning how to be successful on the lake and passing their experience on to others.

Here are the leaders to date:

Adults

Marty Noyd, 195, Missoula; Paul Haines, 181, Ronan; Stan Ross, 162, Kalispell; Tim Shattuck, 147, Somers; Doug White, 146, Missoula; Roger Davis, 146, Missoula; Jeff Merritt, 141, Missoula; Dutch Turner, 125, Kalispell; Dean Vaughn, 125, Charlo; Paul Soukup, 119, Ronan; Bill Sullivan, 119, Missoula; Bernd Albrecht, 95, Polson; Dick Zimmer, 93, Pablo; Tim Shelton, 89, MIssoula; Chad Benson, 87, MIssoula; Roger Smart, 87, Ronan; Dave Cook, 83, Lewiston, Idaho; Brian Zempel, 80, St. Ignatius; Wade O’Lexey, 69, Kalispell; Chet Rollins, 62, Polson.

Youth

Stephen Naethe, 63, Pablo; Keegan Noyd, 36, Missoula; Linnea Madsen, 16, Missoula; Austin Moran, 12, Arlee; Kyleigh Tripp, 10, Missoula; Haley Zetterberg, Lolo, and Garett Vaughn, Charlo, 5 each;

Eylissa Tripp and Myles Tripp, both Missoula, 4 each; Benton Spears, Ravalli, 3.

Largest lake trout still held by Dave Hobeck of Arlee with his 37-1/2” 20 lb.1 oz. fish.

Expert angler Dick Zimmer turned in a 7-1/2-inch lake trout to take the lead in the smallest fish category. Paul Soukup of Ronan is in second place with an 8-inch lake trout.

For more information on Spring Mack Days contact Cindy Bras-Benson or Germaine White at 883-2888.