Mack Days anglers reel in 34,637 fish
The Spring Mack Days Fishing Event ended Sunday with a total of 34,637 lake trout entered over an 11-week period.
Stephen Naethe, 17, of Pablo finished as the top angler.
The fishing event was sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as part of a Flathead Lake Co-Management Plan to reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout.
The catch exceeded the goal of 25,000 that managers were trying to reach and is being regarded a “great success,” according to a news release from the tribes.
Some 1,160 anglers put hundreds of thousands of hours into fishing, many of them on the water before dawn and not coming off until after dark.
Top angler awards were determined by an angler’s best 15 out of 32 days of fishing. Two anglers were in the race for the top spot, with the last day determining the winning average.
Naethe finished with a total of 1,356 entries and a perfect 50-fish average, the daily catch limit on Flathead Lake.
He was followed by Steven Benson of Columbia Falls with 1,202 fish and a 49.8 average; David McDaniels of Polson, 990 fish and a 47.4 average; Michael Benson of Lonepine, 1,026 fish and a 46.1 average; Charles Forgey of Arlee with a 45.4 average; Daniel Long of Columbia Falls, 747 and a 41.8 average; Craig Morigeau of Polson, 753 fish and a 37.8 average; Jerry Benson of Plains, 774 fish and a 37.3 average; Bob Turner of Columbia Falls, 683 fish and a 34.7 average; and a 10th-place tie with Tyson Atkinson, 608 fish, and Dean Vaughan, 547 fish, having 34.5 averages.
Women anglers were led by Nicole Peters of Missoula with 356 entries; Laurie Randall of St. Ignatius, 264 fish; Debbie O’Hara of St. Ignatius, 211 fish; Deana Knipe of Polson, 173 fish; and Teena Zempel of Ravalli, 129 fish.
The 12-and-under age group was led by Garett Vaughan of Charlo, 252 fish; Tanner Murry of Columbia Falls, 140 fish; Daniel Hunt of St. Ignatius, 115 fish; Kobe Cox of Charlo, 84 fish; and Roger Guillory of Kalispell, 65 fish.
Top lottery winners were David Lautnor of Ryegate, $1,000; Sharon McDaniels of Polson, $950; Brandon Gilleard of St. Ignatius, $900; Joel Harris of Hot Springs, $850; Dean Vaughan of Charlo, $800; Ralph Johnson of Columbia Falls, $750; Mike Benson of Hot Springs, $750; Scott Bombard of Missoula, $700; Terry Krogstad of Kalispell, $700; Danny Smith of Hot Springs, $650; Wes Shockley of Plains, $650; Kobe Cox of Charlo, $600; Craig Morigeau, Polson, $600; Laurie Randall of St. Ignatius, $550; Frank Parot of Polson, $550; and Dewey Kruse of Polson, $500.