Harsh conditions don't stop Mack Days anglers

Wind, rain and rough waters characterized last weekend’s conditions for anglers hitting Flathead Lake for this year’s Fall Mack Days fishing tournament.

A biennial contest hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Mack Days offers up to $150,000 in prizes to encourage participants to help the tribes reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

The harsh conditions on the lake didn’t stop Mike Benson from hitting a career total of over 20,000 lake trout entries since he began fishing in the tournament. He currently sits atop the contest’s main division with 621 entries in the first four weekends.

Terry Krogstad is in second place with 590 entries, followed by Felix Gauci’s 489 fish.

In first place within the ladies’ division is Laurie Kries with 101 lake trout. Brandy Hilde remains in second place with 74 entries and Julie Vacca is in third with 40.

In the 70-and-over age group, Larry Karper leads with 238 entries, followed by Glenn Hoffman and Leonard Lewis, who have reeled in 108 and 81 lake trout, respectively.

Tyler Varga, who has caught 50 lake trout, leads the 13-17 age category. In second place is Danner Shima with 12, followed by Dalton Kluesner’s single entry.

A total of 7,367 lake trout entries were turned in during the first four weeks of fishing. Fall Mack Days ends Nov. 13.

For more information on Mack Days, call 406-270-3386 or visit www.mackdays.com.