Spring Mack Days begins with tight leaderboard

2022 Spring Mack Days began March 17 with a total of 669 lake trout turned in.

Friday's fish total was 1,077, Saturday’s was 888, and 528 fish were turned in on a cold and blustery Sunday. The first weekend's total came to 3,162 lake trout entries. Ninety-two anglers out of 430 entered turned in one or more lake trout.

The 40th Mack Days Event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Mack Days began in 2002 and are used as a tool to reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake to increase numbers of the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat.

There is up to $225,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of 2022 Spring Mack Days. There are many ways to win, including weekend drawings.

This first weekend $200 was won by angler Sam Cusker of Bigfork. $100 winners were: Bob Turner, Kolton Turner, Hank McLeod and Jason Mahlen, all of Kalispell. There will be lottery drawings at the end of the event with prizes from $50 up to $2,000 being drawn from the entries all anglers have.

Winning $200 with tagged lake trout so far are: Missoula anglers Scott Bombard and Chris Demmons, Kalispell anglers Jimmy Jones and Jason Mahlen, Kobe Cox from Charlo, and Justin Spring of Alberton.

Jim Bilodeau of Kalispell turned in a $100 tagged lake trout.

Seven-time Spring Mack Days winner Jason Mahlen of Kalispell turned in two perfect 100 fish days Friday and Saturday, and another 40-fish entry on Sunday to lead in the event with a total of 240.

Kolton Turner of Kalispell, who won the 2021 spring event, is in second with 210 entries. Turner turned in 70 on Friday, 65 Saturday and 75 Sunday. He had a 100-fish day on Thursday.

The Monday to Thursday count does not get included in the weekend tallies for the Top Angler’s.

Bob Turner is in third with 178 fish, 4th is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 160 fish, 5th is Sam Cusker with 125 fish, 6th is Larry Karper of Florence with 107 fish, in 7th is Larry Ludahl of Kalispell with 83 fish, in 8th is Travis Banyai of Kalispell with 74 fish, 9th is Tom Kemppainen of Columbia Falls with 66 fish, and 10th Steven Benson of Spokane Valley, WA with 64 lake trout entries.

Julie Perkins of Kalispell leads the Ladies with 12 lake trout entries. Second is Connie Jones of Kalispell with nine fish, and 3rd and 4th Rebecca Spring of Alberton and Liev Smith of Charlo with two fish.

12 and Under leaders are Wyatt Best of Florence with five entries and Gage Spring of Alberton has one lake trout entry.

13-17 leader is Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell with 12 fish. Karson Cox of Charlo has three lake trout entries.

Over 70 category leader is Mike Benson with 160 lake trout entries.

A large lake trout entry was brought in by Tristin Persico of Missoula. His lake trout measured 38.25 inches and weighed in at 23 pounds.

Smallest lake trout entries so far are from Kolton Turner with a 169mm (6.5”) entry and Mike Benson with a 208mm (8”) entry.

Entries will be taken until the last day.

For More information, visit www.mackdays.com or call Cindy Benson @ (406) 270-3386.