Whitefish angler reels in $5,000 trout

The most lucrative fish ever caught in the 11-year history of the tribally sponsored Mack Days fishing tournament came ashore last month, netting a Whitefish angler $5,000.

On Saturday, Roger Schiff reeled in a 21-inch lake trout while trolling near Flathead Lake’s Bird Island. Schiff noticed that the trout’s adipose fin was clipped, suggesting that it was one of thousands of fish that had been “tagged” by tribal fisheries personnel, denoting a cash payout to be redeemed from contest officials.

Anglers do not know the value of the tags until the fish are turned in at the contest’s Blue Bay headquarters. But with only two fish bearing tags worth $5,000, Schiff — who turned 43 that day — had no idea that he was in for such a lavish early birthday present.

“It was great for it to be a tagged fish and to be a $5,000 one is even better,” said Schiff, who caught two $100 fish in the past. The Flathead County Sheriff’s deputy said he has no immediate plans for his winnings.

Although Bird Island is not typically one of Schiff’s preferred fishing spots, he and his fishing companions elected to give it a try on their way back to Blue Bay at the end of the day — a decision that quite literally paid off.

“It turned out to be a good time to stop,” Schiff said with a laugh.

Tribal fisheries biologist Barry Hansen indicated that Schiff’s fish had been tagged the day before the tournament started and is one of 68 tagged lake trout that have been returned over the derby’s first seven weeks. Hansen reminded hopeful fishermen that there is still one fish in the lake with a $5,000 bounty and another that is worth $10,000.

“Lest there be a stampede to Bird Island, tags are all around the lake,” Hansen added.

Schiff has been a regular Mack Days participant for the past three years, but said he does not devote the same long hours to the contest as some of the anglers atop the leaderboard.

“I just fish it on my days off — I’m not in it to win it,” Schiff said.

Hansen said more than 5,000 tagged trout remain in the lake. Regardless of the financial incentive, Schiff said that his love of fishing gives him plenty of motivation to return to the water at the next available opportunity.

“I’m waiting to get back this weekend and get my line in the water.”