$5k trout elude anglers

POLSON — Fall Mack Days will end November 15 with over $47,000 going to anglers who have entered the Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana FWP. One fish is all it will take to win one of 25 cash prizes in the lottery style drawing. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event.

Total lake trout entries at the end of the sixth weekend are 10,937. There are 510 anglers entered in the fall event.

There are over 1,600 lake trout that have been pit tagged with tag values from $100 to $5,000. James Lozeau turned in a $100 tagged lake trout on Friday, dedicated shore angler Jim Gollehon of Polson turned in a $500 tagged lake trout on Saturday, and a $100 entry from Stephanie Lebert of Kalispell on Sunday brings the number of tagged lake trout turned in to twenty seven. Two tagged lake trout have $5,000 values and were released in Flathead Lake the week before the event began and continue to elude the anglers.

Leading the event is Stephen Naethe of Pablo with 746; Roger Dilts-Polson-525; Mike Benson-Hot Springs-490; Brandt Hammernick-Missoula-466; Don Peters-Missoula-382; Phil Meredith-Kalispell-370; Paul Lebert-Kalispell-366; Nicole Peters-Missoula-310; and David McDaniels-Polson-259. Top angler prizes are given on a best 12-day average so placing will change at the end of the event.

Winds continue to hamper the event and make the anglers feel like they have played four quarters of a Griz game by the end of the long days. Most boats go out before dawn and come in at dusk or after dark. They have been being tossed around almost every day of the fall event. Calm water would be a welcome relief.

Youth angler Stephen Naethe leads with 746; Dalton Meredith-Kalispell-2nd-93; Garett Vaughan-Charlo-3rd-84; Mikayla Lebert-Kalispell-4th-46; Hannah Madsen-Polson-37-5th. The youth angler awards are split into two age groups and will be given to the top five in the 17-13 division and the top three in the 12 & under division.

The ladies continue to be lead by Nicole Peters of Missoula with 310; Susanne Albrecht-Polson-93; Deana Knipe-Polson-84; Cindy Upwell-Kalispell-70; Jeanne Cochran; and Kim McMillie of Polson are tied with 65.

Smallest lake trout is still held by Bill Violette of Missoula and Brandt Hammernick of Missoula. No large lake trout have been entered in the event.

The last day of the event is a separate day with four lottery drawings for the lake trout entries and prizes for the top two heaviest lake trout under 30". All fish are to be turned in by 4 p.m. with the fish fry beginning at that time and the awards at 5 p.m. The last day events will be at the Blue Bay Campground.

For more information go to www.mackdays.com or telephone 883-2888, ext. 7294.
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