Anglers Turn In 21,077 Lake Trout at Mack Days
The 2026 fall Mack Days event on Flathead Lake, Montana, ends Sunday, November 8.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fishing
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Anglers have turned in 21,077 lake trout during the 2026 fall Mack Days event, along with $4,400 in tagged fish. The event, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, runs through Sunday, November 8.
Why it matters
Mack Days were established in 2002 as a tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake, a goal that continues to shape the event. For Montana anglers, each lake trout turned in also places the angler in the lottery drawing.
Anglers have turned in 21,077 lake trout and $4,400 in tagged fish so far, with tagged fish valued between $100 and $5,000. The top tagged fish remains available at $10,000, and no large fish have been turned in for the largest fish competition.
The players
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
The tribal government that sponsors Mack Days and works to manage non-native fish in the Flathead Lake ecosystem.
The details
Anglers fish one day or several days and turn in lake trout as entries, with every entry placing them in the lottery drawing. Terry Krogstad won $200 as a weekend tagged fish winner, while Richard Kreis and Julie Perkins each won $100.
Timeline
2002: Mack Days first began in the fall as a lake trout reduction tool.
November 8, 2026: The fall Mack Days event ends on Sunday.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 fall event extends a program that began in fall 2002 to control non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Its continued running reflects the long-term effort to manage the lake's fishery through angler participation.
Each lake trout turned in enters an angler in the lottery drawing, so participation directly affects prize chances. Anglers who want to compete for the largest fish or tagged-fish prizes should note that the event closes Sunday.
The takeaway
Anglers who participate in Mack Days help reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake while entering prize drawings. The event's continued operation shows how angler effort supports long-term fishery management.
What happens next
The fall Mack Days event ends on Sunday, November 8, 2026, after which final entry totals and winners will be determined.
Further reading
Explore more on Fishing to see how anglers across Montana approach these seasonal events.
More information
Visit the Mack Days entry page for fish identification and fishing tips.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Montana Outdoor.
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