Anglers endure wind to bring in 2,200 lakers at Mack Days
MARK McMILLIN landed a big lake trout that weighed 18.25 pounds and measured 36.5 inches. (CSKT photo)
While the young bobcat that was netted and released by a family from Missoula took center stage at last weekend’s Mack Days tournament on Flathead Lake, there were plenty of anglers that braved the wind last weekend and caught more than 2,200 lake trout.
The winds of Flathead Lake were moving across the water most of the weekend making fishing difficult. Anglers struggled to keep on their fishing spots, with many having to move to calmer sheltered waters or retreat from the rocking lake.
Friday was the calmest day of the weekend with a total of 966 entries. Saturday was breezy with 545 lake trout entered and Sunday’s total was 695. The total of 6,289 compares with 5,344 for the three weeks in 2018.
There were several $100 tagged fish caught during the third week. Paul Gyles of Stevensvile; Bill Violette, Jeanee Mooney, Egil Estvold, Marty Noyd, Jackie Wood, and Bob Christensen, all of Missoula; Sam Sacchi of Thompson Falls; Paul Soukup of Polson; Julie Perkins of Kalispell; and Doug McGill of Big Arm each had $100 tags.
Felix Gauci of Stevensville and Larry Karper of Florence both turned in perfect 100 limits on Friday. Gauci had two previous 100s during the weekday fishing.
Mike Benson of Lonepine is leading the anglers with a total of 549, turning in 85 Friday, 45 Saturday, and 58 Sunday. Gauci was second with 405, incuding 100 Friday, 48 Saturday, and 36 Sunday.
Sam Cusker of Bigfork is fourth with 316-73, 36, and 47.
In seventh is Terry Karper of Kalispell with totals of 281-18, 40, and 40, Julie Perkins of Kalispell is eighth with 250-18, 25, and 36.
Lady angler Julie Perkins has 250, Laurie Kreis of Huson is second with 45, Gina Schiff of Whitefish is third with 29, Kim McMillie of Polson is fourth with 26, and Lisa Cloo of Clinton has 9 and is fifth.
Darien Moua of Missoula is leading in the 12-and-under group with 5 and HD of Arlee has 3. Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell has 8 in the 13-17 category.
Larry Karper leads the 70-and-over with 302.
To date, 103 anglers out of 416 entered have turned in a total of 6,289 lakers.
The $10,000 tagged lady lake trout Marie Laveau has not been caught.
For more information, go to mackdays.com or call 406-270-3386.