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Opening of 2020 Spring Mack Days – March 20th

2020 Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake

Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake will begin March 20th and will run through May 17th. Up to $225,000 in Cash and Prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be available to anglers at the conclusion of the event. Mack Days Fishing Events are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Get those fishing poles ready and come out and enjoy some fantastic lake trout fishing on Flathead Lake. There is one-$10,000, three-$5,000, and five-$1,000 plus over 6,000 tagged lake trout with values from $500-$100. The high dollar tagged fish will be tagged a week or two before the event begins. Lines will be going in the water all over Flathead Lake from boats and from shore anglers. It is not impossible to catch a tagged lake trout with the $10,000 tag. It has been turned in before.  Try your luck. Catching just one lake trout has brought good fortune in the past for anglers in the lottery drawing with prizes from $1,000 to $450. Tagged lake trout have a clipped adipose fin and are scanned for a tag when they come in at Blue Bay. 

Lake trout entries are taken Tuesday through Sunday. You can choose to fish one day or every day. Your choice-and maybe your partner’s choice.  Competition for the top angler prizes (twenty prizes)-new-1st through 20th, bonus dollars, top ladies, youth-12 & under and 13-17, golden oldies-70 and over, captains, smallest lake trout, largest lake trout, five $100 drawings per weekend, and lottery prizes from $1,000 to $450 will be during the Friday-Sunday fishing days. Tuesday to Thursday lake trout fishing is for increasing your total for higher bonus dollars, tagged fish, Siberian cooler tickets, and five $50 drawings. Tickets are awarded for every lake trout entry under 30 inches in the different categories-all it takes is one fish to win. Bonus amounts are based on the total number of entries at the end of the event. Once an angler turns in eleven lake trout they begin to accumulate bonus amounts. Go to the website www.mackdays.com to read the rules and information about the event. Fish maybe donated for processing or anglers may choose to keep their catch. 

Mack Days Fishing Events are used as a tool by fisheries managers to reduce the number of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. It is important to preserve and increase the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout populations which were once the dominate fish of the lake. Native fish are an important part of tribal culture and history. They are also important to the history of Montana. Come out and be a part of this important conservation effort.

Pickup sites will be at Big Arm State Park boat ramp, Salish Point in Polson, Somers State Park boat ramp, and Wayfarers State Park boat ramp. Tentative times are Somers-4-4:30, Wayfarers-5-5:30, Big Arm-5-5:30, Salish Point-6-6:30, and Blue Bay 10:00-dark or 9:00 whichever comes first. Pickups are only done Friday-Sunday. Tuesday through Thursday all fish are to be turned in at Blue Bay before 6:00 in the evening. Go to the website to keep informed of any changes or additions. 

The website www.mackdays.com includes fishing information, fish identification, weather, maps, entry forms, etc. There are videos for anglers to watch to learn about fishing on Flathead Lake. 

Boat inspection for AIS is required and proof must be shown at entry time. Boat inspection stations are said to be up and running before and during the event. We will not accept entries from any boat who has not been inspected. Inspections can be e mailed before the event begins. 

Tight lines everyone!

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2020 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake

2020 Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake

Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake will begin March 20th and will run through May 17th. Up to $225,000 in Cash and Prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be available to anglers at the conclusion of the event. Get those fishing poles ready and come out and enjoy some fantastic lake trout fishing on Flathead Lake. There will be one-$10,000, three-$5,000, and five-$1,000 plus over 6,000 with values from $500-$100. The higher dollar tagged fish will be tagged the week before the event begins. Lines will be going in the water from boat anglers and from shore anglers. Try your luck. Catching just one lake trout has brought good fortune before for some anglers with prizes from $100 to $1,000. 

Anglers enter lake trout Tuesdays through Sundays. You can choose to fish one day or every day. Your choice-and maybe your partner’s choice.  Competition for the top angler prizes (twenty prizes)-new-1st through 20th, bonus dollars, top ladies, youth-12 & under and 13-17, golden oldies-70 and over, captains, smallest lake trout, largest lake trout, five $100 drawings per weekend, and lottery prizes from $1,000 to $450 will be during the Friday-Sunday fishing days. Tuesday to Thursday lake trout fishing is for increasing your total for higher bonus dollars, tagged fish, Siberian cooler tickets, and five $50 drawings. Tickets are awarded for every lake trout entry in the different categories-all it takes is one fish to win. Bonus amounts are based on the total number of entries at the end of the event. Once an angler turns in eleven lake trout they begin to accumulate bonus amounts. Go to the website www.mackdays.com to read the rules and information about the event. Fish maybe donated or anglers may choose to keep their catch. 

Mack Days Fishing Events are used as a tool by fisheries managers to reduce the number of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. It is important to preserve and increase the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout populations which were once the dominate fish of the lake. Native fish are an important part of tribal culture and history. They are also important to the history of Montana.  

Pickup sites will be at Big Arm State Park boat ramp, Salish Point in Polson, Somers State Park boat ramp, Wayfarers State Park boat ramp. Tentative times are Somers-4-4:30, Wayfarers-5-5:30, Big Arm-5-5:30, Salish Point-6-6:30, and Blue Bay 10:00-dark or 9:00 whichever comes first. Pickups are only done Friday-Sunday. Tuesday through Thursday all fish are to be turned in at Blue Bay before 6:00 in the evening. 

The website www.mackdays.com includes fishing information, fish identification, weather, maps, entry forms, etc. There are videos for anglers to watch to learn about fishing on Flathead Lake. 

Boat inspection for AIS is required and proof must be shown at entry time. Boat inspection stations are said to be up and running before and during the event. We will not accept entries from any boat who has not been inspected. 

Come out and join in the effort to make a difference on Flathead Lake for future generations. 

Tight lines everyone!

www.mackdays.com

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FWP seeks volunteer instructors for Hunter, Bowhunter Education

Bozeman, MT — Montana’s hunting legacy depends on active, skilled and ethical hunters who pass on their traditions to new generations.

This happens in hundreds of classrooms across Montana each year through the state’s Hunter and Bowhunter Education program. Instructors in the program volunteer their time and talents to give new hunters baseline instruction on safety, ethics, procedure and other components of successful hunting.

Hunter Education, which is administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, is also a statutory requirement for new hunters in the state. Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1985, must pass a Hunter Education course in order to purchase a hunting license.

Montana needs more volunteer instructors — especially women instructors — who are willing to perpetuate these opportunities for new hunters. Anyone with experience in hunting or bowhunting is encouraged to apply.

“Archery has given me so much in my life,” said Brian Koelzer, who has been teaching Bowhunter Education in Montana for 13 years. “That’s when I really decided I wanted to help share that.”

Volunteers in the program must meet certain requirements. They must have experience in the use of firearms or archery equipment, possess a valid Montana driver’s license or ID card, pass a background investigation and criminal records check, have experience in or be comfortable with public speaking or teaching, and be eligible under state and federal law to handle and possess firearms and ammunition.

Once an application is submitted and those requirements are met, applicants will receive training on teaching, course curriculum, and program policies and procedures. Experienced instructors help mentor volunteers who are new to the program.

Hunter Education is personally rewarding for many volunteer instructors. They often feel they are making a difference in the lives of new hunters by passing on their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for hunting. Many instructors also discover common interests and camaraderie with other program volunteers.

“If you’re a hunter, and you know where to go and what to do and how to do it safely, and you know what ethics are about, then we need you,” said Jim Johnson, a Hunter Education instructor of 21 years. “We need you to instruct the next generation of people to keep the sport alive.”

For more information or to apply, visit fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/instructors or call 406-444-9948.

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FWP has produced a Hunter Education instructor recruitment video to accompany this news release. The video can be viewed here:https://youtu.be/pAaUgLCTvjI.