Mack Days still on record pace

Even with the lowest weekend total so far, the Spring Mack Days fishing tournament on Flathead Lake is still on pace to set an all-time record for the number of lake trout caught.

Anglers entered 2,536 lake trout Friday through Sunday, putting the six-week total at 28,726 entries.

The competition’s anglers are scored based on their best 18 days of competitive fishing, which only includes Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Jason Mahlen continues to hold the overall lead with 1,524 lake trout caught. Danner Shima has 1,215 and Ryan Shima has 1,182, placing them second and third, respectively.

In the over-70 age group, Larry Karper remains in first place after entering 613, followed by Bob Christensen’s 257 trout. Jim Hoover is in third place with 143.

Brandy Hilde is leading the women’s division with 223 lake trout entries. In second is Julie Vacca with 185, followed by Nicole Peters with 133.

Atop the 12-and-under age group is Matt Guckenberg Jr., after turning in 174 lake trout. Leah Banyai holds second place with 109, and Abby Hodgson is in third with 42.

Danner Shima still commands the 13-17 age group with 1,215 entries. Tyler Varga remains in second place with 175 and Garett Vaughan has caught 110 for third place.

Mack Days is a biannual contest held by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as part of their effort to conserve threatened bull trout by reducing the lake’s non-native lake trout population.

The tournament’s last day is May 15.