TF kids have fun, learn technique in Mack Days
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September 28, 2023
Courtesy photo
Blaine Helvey reacts to his sister Paisley's big catch on Friday. The siblings from Thompson Falls were fishing on Flathead Lake with their grandpa, Ken Rickert.
Some Thompson Falls kids are getting in on the Mack Days action on Flathead Lake. Paisley Helvey of Thompson Falls and her brother Blaine are leading the 12 and under category of the event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as a tool to reduce the number of non-native lake trout in the lake. Paisley has 13 lake trout entries and Blaine turned in 12. Paisley, age 8, also turned in a $100 tagged fish.
Kendra Helvey said her kids fished all three days last weekend with their grandpa, Ken Rickert. "They did great reeling them all in," Kendra said. "They lost a couple but had great learning moments of what not to do for the next fish."
The total number of lake trout turned in last weekend was 3,357. Dave Myers of Riverton, Wyoming, leads the competition with 367, in second place is Felix Gauci of Stevensville with 365 and third is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 295.
In the ladies category, Laurie Kreis of Huson leads with 105, second is Kim Mack of Helena with 58 and third Debby Sacchi of Thompson Falls with 46.
Total for the second weekend was 1,847 and total weekend count overall for the event is 3,357. Final count for all days is at 4,079.
Paul Grove of Wyoming, Illinois, turned in a 141 mm (5.5-inch) small lake trout entry to take the lead in that category. He reported the small laker was in 182' of water.
Laurie Kreis is in second with a 184 mm (7.25-inch) entry. Small juvenile lake like the depths of the lake to evade the larger voracious eating lake trout. This is a popular category for the anglers Friday to Sunday fishing only. There is still no large lake trout entry in the event. The largest lake trout has to be more than 36 inches long and weigh in at over 20 pounds.
The first of the Bucket of Fish Days is Friday, September 29. Anglers put their four largest lake trout in a bucket and a weight is taken. Heaviest bucket wins $200. The other two days for bucket fish are October 14 and November 5. For more information, go to http://www.mackdays.com.
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