Spring Mack Days begins next week

POLSON — The Tribal Fisheries Program announces the beginning of the 2013 Spring Mack Days fishing event on Flathead Lake. Spring Mack Days begins March 15 and runs through May 19. Entrants can fish every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. May 10 begins ten days straight fishing that runs through May 19.

There are up to $150,000 in lottery and bonus prizes. There are over four thousand tagged fish; one $10,000, five $5,000 and ten $1,000 tagged lake trout. Plus there are four thousand $500 to $100 tagged fish. All it takes is one fish to win and there is no entry fee to participate in Mach Days.

Mack Days is a fishing event designed to restore a balance in Flathead Lake by gradually reducing non-native lake trout and providing habitat for native bull trout and west slope cutthroat trout.

The total annual harvest of lake trout from Flathead Lake is approximately 70,000. It has been determined that the annual harvest of 70,000 lake trout is not achieving the goal of restoring a balance in Flathead Lake.

The Tribal Fisheries Program has produced an integrated set of educational components designed to increase the success of lake trout anglers on Flathead Lake. Components include; a Flathead Lake map, two fishing-guide videos - one fishing guide video on trolling and one on jigging. A brochure and fact sheet which focuses on essential principles and fundamental concepts behind fisheries management.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is scheduled for release in April.

The EIS analyses all possible methods to increase the harvest of lake trout to levels that will restore a balance between native and non-native fisheries in Flathead Lake.

To register for the 2013 Spring Mack Days fishing event, to learn more about the fishing contest, or to receive the educational materials contact Cindy Benson at 883-2888 ext. 7294 or register online at www.mackdays.com.