Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

Lake trout anglers hit Flathead Lake last week for the first days of the 2020 Fall Mack Days competition. The event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, runs through November 15. Anglers turned in 3,366 lake trout entries during the first week. Anglers are jigging and trolling to catch the lake trout using different techniques and lures that attract the fish. They adapt with weather, light, and time of day. Some stay in one spot all day and others will move around the lake, in search of the “hot spot.”

Competition on the first weekend heated up with the anglers vying for spots on the leader board.

Tagged lake trout with $100 values were turned in by Tom Borr and Jeffrey Freeman (2 entries) of Polson, Felix Gauci of Stevensville, Mike Cosby of Thompson Falls and Kenny Garrett and Valerie Seman of Missoula. Kolton Turner of Kalispell turned in the only 100-fish day on Saturday.

Top 10 Anglers

1. Mike Benson, Lonepine, 215; 2. Kolton Turner, Kalispell, 208; 3. Steve Benson, Spokane Valley, Washington, 171; 4. Bob Turner, Kalispell, 168; 5. Scott Bombard, Missoula, 152; 6. Sam Cusker, Bigfork, 142; 7. Larry Ashwell, Missoula, 139; 8. Shannon Brownlee, Missoula, 109; 9. John Gauci, Florence, 99; 10. Terry Krogstad, Kalispell, 91.

Ladies

1. Julie Perkins, Kalispell, 83; 2. Laurie Kreis, Huson, 36; 3. Kim McMillie, Polson, 26; 4. Lorinda Freeman, Polson, 26; 5. Valerie Seman, Missoula, 14.

70 & Over

1. Larry Ashwell, Missoula, 139; 2. John Gauci, Florence, 99; 3. Larry Karper, Florence, 51; 4. Marty Herak, Polson, 31; 5. Mike Cosby, Thompson Falls, 15.

Youth 13-17

1. Jeffrey Devlin, Polson, 2; 2. Wyatt Thompson, Bigfork, 2.

Youth 12 & Under

1. Gage Spring, Kalispell, 4.

CSKT has opened the Blue Bay Boat Ramp and Salish Point to all anglers. For more information, go to http://www.mackdays.com and click on the events tab, or call(406) 270-3386.