2009 Spring Mack Days first weekend results are in

POLSON — The race is on. Spring Mack Days began March 13 and continues on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, until April 26.. Over $45,000 in cash and prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be given away at the conclusion of the event. Mack Days are used as a management tool as part of the Flathead Lake Co-management Plan to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout and restore a balance of native trout in Flathead Lake. A total of 1,669 lake trout were turned in over the weekend. Friday was a cold fishing day the afternoon sun helped anglers warm up and a total of 727 entries were turned in. Saturday’s total came in at 637. The wind on Sunday made for difficult fishing and took its toll with 305 well-earned entries.

Youth angler Stephen Naethe of Pablo leads with 123 lake trout entered. Mike Benson of Hot Springs comes in second with 116 and Paul Haines of Pablo has a total of 113. Fourth place is held by Bernd Albrecht of Polson with 74, Dean Vaughan of Charlo in 5th with 58, Greg Karlson of Missoula in 6th with 48, lady youth angler Terry Biere of Butte in 7th with 48, Sid Bitney of Kalispell in 8th with 46, Marty Noyd of Missoula in 9th with 44, Dewey Kruse of Polson in 10th with 44, Dan Smith of Hot Springs in 11th with 42, Steve Biere of Butte in 12th with 39, Don Peters of Florence/Polson in 13th with 38, Mike Howe of Kalispell in 14th with 37, Dan Long of Columbia Falls in 15th with 37, Matt Slyder of Roundup in 16th with 34, Barr Petlodo of Hot Springs in 17th with 33, Doug Bolender of Kalispell in 18th with 33, Larry Schmill of Missoula in 19th with 30, Mike Shima of Polson, Nicole Peters of Florence/Polson & Joe O’Hara of St. Ignatius in 20th with 29.

Seven tagged lake trout were turned in over the weekend. Friday the “Motley Crew” of Greg Karlson of Missoula, Dan Smith, and Barr Petlodo of Hot Springs turned in two tagged fish with values of $500 and $100. Mike Howe of Kalispell also turned in a tagged laker with a tag worth $100. Saturday Mike Howe again was lucky and came up with a $100 tag along with Steve Foley with a $100 tag. After fishing for 12 hours on a rough choppy lake on Sunday, Stephen Naethe of Pablo was surprised with $200 and $100 tags.

The largest lake trout ever turned in during the history of the events was entered on Saturday. This fish measured 43” and weighed in at 31.1 lbs and was entered by Captain Bob Orsua of Mo Fish Charters out of Lakeside. The winning large lake trout entry at the end of the event wins $500 with second place $100.

Smallest lake trout entries are held by Stephen Naethe of Pablo with a 217mm and Dennis Cornelius of Kalispell with a 255mm entry.

Youth anglers are lead by Stephen’s 123, Terry Biere-Butte is second with 48, Keegan Noyd of Missoula in 3rd with 20, Ausin and Danner Shima of Polson in 4th have 10 entries each, Garett Vaughan of Charlo with six, Gregory Ganz with four, Tanner Murry of Columbia Falls and Kobo Cox of Charlo with three, Daniel Hunt of St. Ignatius & AJ Wiggins of Charlo with two, Grace Noyd of Missoula, Benton Spears of Ravalli, Madisen Wheeler of Proctor, Juliet Savage of Somers, and Brad Weible of Charlo with one entry.

Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Go to www.mackdays.com for the e mail address on the entry page, telephone (406) 883-2888, ext. 7282 or 7294, or fax your name, address, telephone number to (406) 883-2897. (All rules of the event are to be read and followed and apply to all persons entered.)