Fishing for lake trout in Flathead Lake Mack Days tourney
With four weeks left in the 2026 spring Mack Days fishing tourney on Flathead Lake, anglers are turning in hundreds of fish each day to vie for cash prizes.
Anglers are hitting the lake in the early dawn hours of the day. Starting a little before six they start lining up and rolling out to the boat ramp. They use the moonlight to light their way-great way to start the day. Most days these lake trout anglers are staying on the water until dusk.
The Salish and Kootenai Tribes sponsor the annual Mack Days fishing tournament on Flathead Lake. The tournament's goal is to manage native fisheries and habitat resources on the Reservation.
The $10,000 tagged lake trout has not been turned in. He is waiting for just the right lure and it could be yours. There are also 3-$5,000 and 5-$1,000 tagged lake trout along with over 10,000 with values from $100-$500. Marty Herak of Polson turned in a $100 tagged lake trout and Britton Salois of Pablo hooked onto a $100 tagged lake trout.
Terry Krogstad of Kalispell turned in a $200 tagged fish and Ber Yang of Missoula, and Jason Mahlen of Kalispell $100.
Friday two anglers came in with their 100 limits — Larry Ashwell of Missoula and Ken Varga of Kalispell had 100 fish counts.
Total for last Friday's catch was 1,680 lake trout — the highest day of the event so far. Saturday the total came to 1,658, and Sunday, 1047. Monday-Thursday total is at 2,328, Friday-Sunday-13,417 and a total count of 15,745 for all days.
HERE ARE THE 2026 MACK DAYS STANDING TO DATE
Kolton Turner of Kalispell, 915 fish
Patrick Casey of Townsend-824 fish
Bob Turner of Kalispell-780
Terry Krogstad-Kalispell-660
Devon Burkowski-Kalispell-611
Julie Perkins-Kalispell-567
Jerry Benson-Plains-567
Jack Kirkland-Lolo-52
Mike Benson-Lonepine-457
Clint Speer of Kalispell 444
David Kelch of Great Falls-366
Marty Herak of Polson-347
Gene Corne of Kalispell-343
Larry Karper of Florence-300,
Brodie Smith-Kalispell-295
Ken Varga-Kalispell-280
Larry Ludahl-Kalispell-252
Steven Andrachick-Kalispell-251
Jim Flinchbaugh-Kalispell-239.
WOMEN'S DIVISION
The women's leader is Julie Perkins of Kalispell. Her total is 567. Angie Morrow of Kalispell is 2nd with 216, 3rd Shaunda Albert of Ronan with 157, Laurie Kreis of Huson is 4th with 54, and Sara Bair of Dillon is 5th with 8.
CHILDREN'S DIVISION
Carter Lindsay of Pablo is 1st in the 12 & Under with 30, 2nd Lincoln Gauci of Florence-28, 3rd Mason Persico of Missoula with 25, 4th Allyvia Yang of Missoula-11, and 5th Wyatt Best of Florence with 9. Brodie Smith of Kalispell is 1st in the 13-17 category with 295 and Charles Hogenson of Polson and Ellis Stammers of Charlo each have 2 lake trout entered.
Largest lake trout entries
Scott Hale of Lolo-39”, Will Larson of Missoula-38”, Bob Stewart of Kalispell-36.5” Matt Brazda-Missoula-36.25”, and Jack Kirkland of Lolo-36.25”.
Julie Perkins has the smallest entry at 171mm (6.75”) and Clint Speer of Kalispell came in with a 173mm lake trout.
TIPS ON FISHING FLATHEAD LAKE FOR LAKE TROUT
Finding the lake trout is just part of the story-they say you have to stay above the fish and vertical jig from the bottom. Use cut bait—add a little smelly fish bait lotion to it and keep it fresh. Don’t leave it on for hours. Some say they jig up a couple of reels and let the jig set a bit. Watch the tip of your pole. As soon as you feel something hit it or see the tip wiggle-you set the hook and reel up the fish.
Jigging action does not have to be high and hard jerks-try different jigging actions if they aren’t hitting. The lake trout sometimes are slow and lazy. They don’t want to move far to feed. Lighter small jigging movements may be more successful. Others go to the bottom and fish up off the bottom.
Flathead Lake is a large lake. It is a good idea to talk to other anglers-bait shops-in the area to get an idea of where to go and what to use. A bathymetric map of the lake is an important tool to have if you are unfamiliar with the lake depths and areas.
Here are Flathead Lake fishing videos