The biggest fish in the history of Mack Days was caught on Saturday by Captain Bob Orsua of Lakeside’s Mo Fisch Charters. Orsua’s fish, which is shown in the photo, measured 43 inches and weighed 31.1 pounds.
A total of 1,669 lake trout were turned in over the weekend. Stephen Naethe, a 16-year-old from Pablo, is currently in first place with 123 fish. Click here to check out a story about Naethe, who has become somewhat of a legend at Mack Days. Anglers hauled in 727 fish on Friday and then 637 on Saturday. But the wind picked up on Sunday and only 305 entries were recorded.
Spring Mack Days began on March 13 and will run every weekend – Friday through Sunday – until April 26. More than $45,000 in cash prizes will be given out. If Orsua’s fish holds up as the largest, he will win $500.
Mack Days are designed to help restore balance to the Flathead Lake ecosystem by reducing the population of non-native lake trout, also known as mackinaws or “macks.”