Mack Days angler lands, releases bull trout

Spring Mack Days, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, is moving into week number six in the nine-week long event. Entries continue to be taken until 3 p.m. Saturday, May 11.

Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded by CSKT to anglers who have been participating in this management program to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake and increase populations of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat.

Catching a bull trout is an experience, as angler Dan Deuschman of Missoula can attest. He was out with his fishing partner Larry Ashwell Saturday and caught a 10-pound bull trout. Dan had it back in the water quickly and the bull trout took off like a shot and disappeared into the depths of the lake.