Deep in Montana, on Flathead Lake vast expanse it is. Unique event happens twice a year, more than just fishing competition really. Known as **Mack Days**, first dreamed up early 2000s, yes. A very specific and critical purpose was the idea. Involve anglers in combating significant environmental problem they thought. The issue goes back all the way to late 1800s for sure. That’s when non-native fish first got introduced right in. Core problem **Mack Days** tackle is detrimental impact non-native lake trout. These invasive fish are so prevalent you see, crowding out native fish bad. Native species like bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout live here. These native populations once dominate fish in Flathead Lake. But their numbers declined significantly due the presence lake trout here now. Cynthia Bras-Benson, fisheries specialist with Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes, speaks on it. She emphasizes primary goal event is you see. Says “The most important thing about our event is that we’re here trying to increase the population of the native fish”. The native fish that used dominate fish population Flathead Lake. Highlights prize money involved, but goal is ecological restoration effort. Making **Mack Days** is a conservation deal disguised like derby.
The scale problem with non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake is big too. You know, even the casual observer not always see it. Flathead Lake largest natural freshwater lake in Western United States here. It covers 197 square miles, depths over 370 feet you bet. This vast size give plenty of habitat for fish, lake trout too. These invasive fish thrived since their introduction ok. These non-native species had profound impact on lake’s native inhabitants, you see. Bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, they were dominant fish before. But they struggle due competition, predation pressure from lake trout here. This ecological imbalance threatens biodiversity, health the lake. Impacts delicate food web, future native fish populations also. Bras-Benson use compelling analogy illustrate issue’s severity. She says invasive species were like elephants not fish, people might better appreciate. Notes “Since they’re underwater, people don’t realize what’s happened.” **Mack Days** serves like crucial tool manage lake trout population numbers. Plus raise awareness bout this hidden environmental crisis you see.
While the $10,000 tagged lake trout certainly grabs headlines, the Mack Days event offers a much broader prize structure designed to encourage participation and maximize lake trout removal, with a total potential prize pool of $225,000, making it a financially attractive endeavor for many. Beyond the coveted $10,000 fish, there are two $5,000 prizes and five $1,000 prizes, with these high-value fish carefully selected from approximately 9,000 netted beforehand, and organizers are confident they remain in the vast lake. Unlike traditional contests that primarily reward the biggest catch, Mack Days introduces categories that incentivize quantity and even luck, offering prizes for the smallest lake trout caught, plus lottery drawings for participants who catch only one fish, and a bonus system that rewards anglers based on the number of fish they catch, with some competitors reeling in hundreds during the event, ensuring a diverse structure that offers chances to win for anglers of all skill levels.
Taking part in Mack Days involves navigating essential logistical steps, okay. Licenses and regulations for boats mean some hoops to jump through. Flathead Lake straddles different jurisdictions, which is important, you see. The southern half is part of the Flathead Indian Reservation for sure. Anglers must have a state or tribal fishing license depending on where they fish. For out-of-staters, licenses can be costly, potentially exceeding $100 fast.
Depends on the duration and type of license required here. Even for Montana residents, fishing is an expensive hobby sometimes. This is why CSKT sponsors events and offers lucrative prizes, you know. Cynthia Bras-Benson, she explains why this is. “The lottery prizes and other prizes are offered to encourage people to come out and fish,” she notes. Yes,“and fish for these fish.
This financial incentive helps offset the costs participants incur. From licenses, gear, boat maintenance, and travel expenses also. For anglers bringing their own watercraft, there’s an additional requirement too. It’s focused on preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species like mussels, you bet. Participants must certify their boats are mussel-free. All watercraft entering Flathead Basin needs proof of inspection from an authorized inspector.
This extensive prize system demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting the lake ecosystem by actively managing invasive species, and anglers must register for the event, agreeing to specific rules and adhering to all standard Montana and Tribal fishing regulations.
Participating in Mack Days requires not only skill in fishing and a keen eye for identifying catches but also a strong emphasis on safety on the water, as anglers are specifically targeting lake trout, but other species also inhabit the lake, and misidentification can lead to serious consequences.
It is absolutely critical for participants to know how to correctly identify lake trout to avoid mistakenly keeping native fish, as seen in instances where bull trout, a native species that Mack Days aims to protect, are mistakenly checked in, potentially leading to citations and fines, which highlights the crucial importance of understanding the visual differences between species.
The Mack Days website gives resources and tips to help participants identify. Reinforcing this conservation-focused event with rules that remove fish. Bras-Benson strongly urges anglers to prioritize safety while out on the water always. She advises checking the weather every day before heading out, okay? Conditions on large lakes like Flathead can change rapidly and be hazardous. Ensuring all proper safety equipment is aboard watercraft is a non-negotiable thing.
Essential safety precautions, including the mandatory presence of life jackets and communication devices, are vital for ensuring that the pursuit of prizes and conservation goals can be achieved without compromising personal safety.
An important aspect of Mack Days is what happens to the large numbers of fish caught. Anglers are encouraged to harvest these non-native fish to reduce their population size, ok? For participants who catch fish but don’t want to keep them, an option to donate exists. When fish are donated, the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes take possession of them. The CSKT then undertakes processing of these fish. This step is crucial for managing the volume of fish removed from the lake. Ensuring they are utilized effectively rather than simply discarded is key. The proceeds generated from processing the donated fish do go somewhere specific. Instead of being absorbed elsewhere, Bras-Benson notes they are put directly back into the program. This creates a sustainable loop where fish removed help fund continuation events. And other related activities aimed at restoring the lake’s native fish too. Demonstrates a responsible approach to resource management within it all.
The Mack Days event has become a significant fixture on the regional fishing calendar, attracting a diverse array of participants, with the spring iteration typically drawing more anglers than the fall due to competition from popular outdoor activities like football and hunting seasons in Montana. Interestingly, there’s a growing trend of out-of-state anglers traveling to the Flathead Valley to participate, showcasing Mack Days’ appeal beyond Montana’s borders by combining conservation with substantial prize money and the allure of fishing in a beautiful large lake, and for those without boats, charter options make participation accessible, with the event’s flexible structure even welcoming those who can only commit for a day or two, accepting entries right up until the final day to encourage broader involvement.
The challenge posed by invasive species like non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake is significant and not a quick fix, requiring sustained, long-term effort to address ecological imbalance over time, and while Mack Days has successfully removed large numbers of lake trout, it’s part of a much larger, ongoing process.
Over 6,600 fish were caught in just the first week of a recent event, which is remarkable, but it’s crucial to recognize this is merely a component of a much larger, ongoing effort, and despite the high catch numbers, definitively stating whether these events are reducing the overall population is difficult due to the lake’s vast scale and the fish’s reproductive capacity, meaning progress is often incremental.
Challenging measures precisely short-term, always, you see. Events like Mack Days represent consistent pressure on invasive populations. But they are part of a strategy that unfolds over many years. Cynthia Bras-Benson underscores this reality in a plain way too.
As stated plainly, ‘Doing something like this takes years’ and ‘It doesn’t happen quickly,’ a perspective that is essential for managing expectations and understanding the deep commitment required from organizations like the CSKT and participating anglers, with the hope that consistent effort through events like Mack Days will ultimately prevail.
Over time, this sustained effort is expected to tip the scales back in favor of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations, ultimately restoring the lake’s natural balance.
