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Learn the techniques and gear that work from some of Flathead Lake's top anglers.
2013 SPRING MACK DAYS
LAKE TROUT FISHING EVENT/DERBY ON FLATHEAD LAKE
Up to $150,000 in Cash & Prizes
March 15 through May 19
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
except the last ten days — from May 10 to May 19 — will be 10 straight fishing days
Mack Days is sponsored by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and
sanctioned by Montana Fish , Wildlife, and Parks
Click Here for More Details
We held the first Mack Days in the fall of 2002 to help correct an imbalance in the Flathead Lake trout fishery caused by the continually increasing population of lake trout. Mack Days represents a new approach to fisheries management, one that that strives to directly involve the angling public in shaping the fish community. The success of the events continues to grow, and we commend the angler's for their part in this success. So far, the levels of lake trout being harvested are not sufficient to significantly reduce the lake trout population in the lake. So it is important to continue to build these events and maintain them in the future. Thank you for your help and participation in Mack Days and have fun exploring our website to learn more about the contest and the lake.
— Barry Hansen, CSKT Fisheries Biologist
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOUR CATCH CAREFULLY!
It is very important to correctly identify each fish you catch-especially the smaller fish. It can be difficult to tell small bull trout from small lake trout. If you are in doubt about the identity of the fish, put it back. We had an unacceptable level of bull trout catch and harvest during the 2011 contests. This undermined our objective to benefit native fish and threatens the future of the contests.
- Bull trout have no black spots on the dorsal fin, and orange spotting on the sides of the fish can be very light and difficult to see.
- Examine the top of the back. Spots on a bull trout will be distinctly rounded and uniform.
- Flatten the tail out wide. Bull trout will have a tail that is squarer than lake trout. Although some smaller bull trout will have a slight V shape and be confused with lake trout.
- Please carefully study the fish ID page on this website.
Starting this year we are required to report all bull trout entries to the authorities. Let’s strive for zero mistaken identities this year!
ALERT: STAY CLEAR OF SCIENTIFIC BUOYS!
Please stay at least 300 feet from the Biological Station's two new instrumented buoys in Flathead Lake to prevent entanglement of your fishing lines with the cable that goes from the surface of the buoy to the lake bottom and to avoid damaging this expensive equipment. For more information click here.
Webcams show boats frequent the area around the midlake buoy, which is troublesome because they could easily destroy the instrument accidently by entangling a fishing line on the electrical cable that goes from the buoy to the lake bottom. The second buoy is west of Woods Bay, which is a very popular fishing site. So please take care to stay at least 300 feet away from these very important and very expensive instrumented buoys.