2009 Spring Mack Days 6th weekend sees highs and lows

POLSON — Warm, balmy spring weather finally!! Lots of anglers hit the water during the 6th weekend of 2009 Spring Mack Days. Total lake trout entries in the 21 day event are now at 10,960. Anglers entered a total of 1597 entries over the weekend. Friday’s numbers were at 512, Saturday totaled 656, and Sunday 429. Sunday a record number of anglers were out on the water but the bite was off and most came in with single digit totals. There were a few high numbers like Chris Zempels of Polson with 19, Dean Vaughan of Charlo with 18, Rusty Hunt of St. Ignatius with 15, Stephen Naethe of Pablo with 19, and David McDaniel of Polson with 17 on Sunday but numbers were lower for most anglers.

Over $45,000 in cash and prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana FWP will be awarded the last day of the event April 26. The last day events will be held at Salish Point in Polson beginning at 4 p.m. with a fish fry for participants and the awards at 5 p.m.

Leading the event is Pablo’s Stephen Naethe with 597, 2nd-Paul Haines of Ronan with 519, 3rd Dean Vaughan of Charlo with 370, 4th Dan Smith of Hot Springs with 359, 5th Mike Benson of Hot Springs with 348, 6th Greg Karlson of Missoula with 290, 7th Roger Smart of Ronan with 282, 8th Don Peters of Florence/Polson with 256, 9th Bernd Albrecht with 240 of Polson, 10thNicole Peters with 230 of Florence/Polson. 12 day averages may change the top ten some so the anglers are still going out keeping their numbers up until the last day. They can increase their average by having higher number days that replace a lower number day.

Eight year old Garett Vaughan who has been fishing the event for several years now moved into second place in the youth division with his 66 lake trout entries. Garett’s experience comes from fishing every day that he can with his father Dean. Some days sister Courtney and mom Sara join them. Terry Biere of Butte-is 3rd with 61, Tanner Murry of Columbia Falls in 4th with 45, Alexander Brown of Lakeside in 5th with 33, Daniel Hunt of St. Ignatius in 6th with 32, Keegan Noyd of Missoula in 7th with 24, Tamarah Ivanoff of Arlee with 24, Austin Ross of Missoula with 23, and in 10th Danner Shima of Polson with 13.

Lady anglers are lead by Nicole Peters with 230, followed by Susanne Albrecht of Polson with 120, 3rd Cindy Howe of Kalispell with 94, 4th Debbie O’Hara of St. Ignatius with 83, and 5th Deana Knipe with 55 of Polson.

$100 tagged fish were turned in by Daniel Hunt of St. Ignatius, Brendan Fickenscher of Spokane, and Jerry Benson of Plains.

The large fish category is still lead by Captain Bob Orsua of Mo Fisch Charters-Lakeside and his 43” 31.1 lb lake trout. This category ends on Saturday and has awards for 1st and 2nd places. Smallest fish category is held by Stephen Naethes 110mm lake trout entry and Joe O’Hara’s 173 mm laker.

Entries are taken up until the last day. Information can be found at www.mackdays.com or telephone 406-883-2888, ext. 7294.