Many fish stories made during final week of the 2011 Fall Mack Days

POLSON — Winter weather on Sunday, November 13 created one of the worst fishing days many can remember during Mack Days Fishing Events. Howling wind and huge waves began on Saturday and continued through Sunday. Anglers were still going out on the water finding sheltered areas to fish in throughout the day. Many agreed that it was one of the hardest days of fishing they remembered.

Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and are used as a tool to slowly reduce the number of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

Winning the Fall Event was Wes Shockley of Plains with a total of 1,353 and 67.0 for his best 15 day average. Shockley had two 100 fish days on Sunday and Monday and followed that up with a 72 fish day on Tuesday. From then on he was the runaway leader of the event. Sunday which is a separate day for prizes but still goes on the anglers bonuses he added another 26 making his final tally 1,361 which surpasses the highest total of any event and breaks the 2010 record of 1,356 held by Stephen Naethe of Pablo. Mike Benson of Hot Springs came in second with 1,209 and 57.7 average. He added 20 on Sunday bringing his final to 1,229. Scott Bombard of Missoula came in a close third with 1195 and 57.3 average ending with a final of 1,203 on Sunday. Max Martx-4th with 803 and 44.6, fifth was Craig Morigeau-Polson-677 and 36.8.Roger Dilts-Polson is sixth with 611 and 36.7 average and final after Sunday of 634. Steven Benson-Four Lakes, WA. was seventh with 598 and 35.8 average-634 final, Terry Krogstad-Kalispell-eighth-553-34.9 and 605 final. David McDaniel of Polson came in ninth with 551-23 average and 553 total and Phil Meredith came in tenth with 419 and 27.0 average. Top ten anglers are placed by the best 15 day average over the twenty-eight day event.

Nicole Peters of Missoula was 1st in the ladies division with 252 lake trout entries. She is followed by Jeanee Mooney of Missoula with 104, Kristina Gregerson of Kalispell with 102, Deana Knipe of Polson with 89, Susanne Albrecht-Polson-71, and Cindy Upwell-Kalispell-67.

Youth 13-17 was won by Garett Vaughan of Charlo with 102. Eric Sams-Polson followed with 73 and Wyatt Jensen of Polson had 27. Brady Weible of Charlo with 14 and Keegan Noyd of Missoula with 13. The 12 & under group was won by Carson McDaniel of Polson with 41, Connor Polkwaski-Billings with 36, and Hannah Madsen of Polson with 20.

Spirit of the Event Award went to the family of Sid Bitney of Kalispell a past Mack Days angler who was out on the water during the Spring Event with many of his friends fishing.

There was no large lake trout award, but many stories of the one that got away. Smallest lake trout awards went to Jeff Mountgomery-Hamilton 147mm-6" and Jeff and Mike Benson tied for the second award with 169mm lake trout.

Craig Morigeau-Polson, Tony Incashola-St. Ignatius, Bill Swaney-Pablo, Scott Bombard-Missoula, and Bernie Olson-Lakeside were some of the anglers winning larger drawings along with many others wining the smaller amounts. A list of winners will be on the website at www.mackdays.com. Congratulations to everyone-you all worked hard and put in many hours on the water.

Tagged fish with $100 values over the last weekend were turned in by Scott Bombard, Tim Mooney-Missoula, Wes Shockley, and Bernd Albrecht-Polson. Bombard also turned in a $200 tagged lake trout. A total of ninety four lake trout were turned in during the event.

This event could not be put in without the help of a lot of people including the tribal fillet staff. They were a great team and processed the fish to be distributed to area food banks. Anglers-your hard work in bringing in the lake trout for this event goes a long way helping people who need a helping hand. The food banks really appreciated the frozen fish.

Thank you to all who helped make this event a success.