Anglers setting Mack Days records

Anglers have hauled in a record 17,292 lake trout six weeks into the Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake.

“This is shattering past records,” said Barry Hansen, fisheries biologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. “The rate of catch has just greatly accelerated. The number of participants is up substantially and the number of anglers catching fish is up.”

The previous record for a Mack Days event was 14,415 fish caught over a seven-week fall tournament in 2007.

This spring’s event will carry on for a total of 11 weeks and with total prize money boosted from $50,000 to $100,000 from last fall, it has attracted 1,075 anglers, several hundred more than previous events.

“With more money, there’s more opportunity to win bigger prizes so I think the overall motivation is up,” Hansen said. “As always, the competitive part is really big. There are some outstanding anglers working very hard to win this, and that part is as much pride as anything else.”

Hansen said there are several anglers who could end up with 15 days of reaching the lake’s 50-fish limit.

The outcome of the contest is determined by each angler’s top 15 days out of 33 days of total competition on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“There are several guys doing so well that could actually happen,” Hansen said, noting that contest organizers are having to consider ways to address a tie between two or more anglers.

Stephen Naethe continues to lead the contest in several categories. The 17-year-old from Pablo has caught the most lake trout, with a total of 765. He has caught the largest fish, one that measured just over 41 inches and 30.4 pounds. He has caught the two smallest lake trout, measuring 240 and 206 millimeters. And he has caught several tagged fish for prize money.

Hansen said that when Naethe started out in Mack Days several years ago, he was somewhat dismissed by other anglers.

“But now he is the one to beat,” Hansen said.

Other recent standouts in the contest are Steven Benson of Columbia Falls, who had three perfect 50-fish days during the sixth weekend; Charles Forgey with two 50-fish days and Jerry Benson of Plains and Michael Benson of Hot Springs, each with one 50-fish day.

Lake trout with tags worth $100 were turned in by Jason Furman, Charlo; Jim Hoover, Whitefish; Glee Bratt, Somers; Mark Hagen, Arlee; Jim Gollehon, Ronan; Daniel Hunt, St. Ignatius; Alvin Hasse, Stevensville; and Stephen Naethe.

Leaders following Naethe in overall catches are Steven Benson, Columbia Falls, 653; Michael Benson, Hot Springs, 545; Charles Forgey, Arlee, 526; and David McDaniels, Polson, 507.

Leading women anglers are Nicole Peters, 209; Debbie O’Hara, St. Ignatius, 90; Charlotte Benson, Plains, 72; Deana Knipe, Polson, 54; and Terry Biere, Butte, 52.

Following Naethe in the youth division, ages 13-17, are Brady Weible, Charlo, 96; Terry Biere, Butte, 52; Connor Kowalski, Florence, 12; and Keegan Noyd, Missoula, 9.

More information on Mack Days is available online at www.mackdays.com