Spring Mack Days shaping up as a record-breaker

Fish on! Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake is on course for a new record of lake trout entries.

There are three weekends left in this event which is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The event ends May 10, when all fish entries must be turned in by 3 p.m.

The 2019 Spring event holds the record of 40,362 lake trout entries turned in by 219 anglers during the 51 days of competition. The current total for this year’s contest is 40,343, just 19 fish short of breaking the 2019 record. 

The $10,000 tagged lake trout has continued to elude anglers. Three $5,000 trout, four $1,000 lake trout and more than 9,000 with $100-$500 values are still out there in the depths of Flathead Lake.

Turning in $100 tagged lake trout were: Shaunda Albert of Ronan, Patrick Casey of Townsend, Nate Salmonsen of Kalispell, Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls Minn., and Julie Perkins of Kalispell. Clint Speer of Kalispell caught a $200 tagged lake trout.

Information from the tagged fish caught includes growth, movement and age from time of tagging until capture. Tagging information when tags are inserted includes date of tagging, length, location and depth.

It’s a close competition for the title of Top Angler. Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is in first place with a total of 1,712 entries. He turned in three limits of 100 per day over the weekend and his 18-day average at this time is 95.11. Jason is a seasoned seven-time winner of the event. His last win was in 2020 with a total of 1,381 entries and a 99.92 18-day average.

He and second place angler Kolton Turner hold the record for 100 18-day averages. Jason reached that average in the 2019 event with 2,134 entries and Kolton won the 2024 event with 2,289 entries and an 18-day average of 100. Kolton has claimed the first place Spring Event Top Angler award four times, and is in second place after last week, with 1,698 and a 94.33 average.

This race for the 2025 Top Angler first place standing will likely continue till the last day of competition, which is Friday, May 9.

Bob Turner of Kalispell and David Myers of Riverton, Wyo., are also still in the mix, with both having several 100 fish days. Currently, Bob Turner is in third with 1,571 and an 87.28 average; and Myers is in fourth with 1,550 and an 86.11 average, followed by Jerry Benson of Plains with 1,179, Clint Speer of Kalispell with 1,163, Patrick Casey of Townsend with 1,039, Gene Corne of Kalispell with 966, Mike Benson of Lonepine with 959 and Steve Anderchick of Kalispell in 10th with 950.

Julie Perkins is leading the Ladies category with 634, followed by Janet Myers of Riverton with 419, Shaunda Albert of Ronan with 166, Connie Jones of Kalispell with 150, and Laurie Bouley of Columbia Falls with 44.  

Jerry Benson leads in the 70 & Over with 1,179, followed by Michael Benson with 959, Larry Ashwell with 856, Terry Krogstad with 815, and Jack Kirkland with 796. 

Younger anglers are the future of the events and will be decision makers on native species management issues. Carter Lindsay of Pablo is first in the 12 & Under with 24, second is Benjamin Dieterich of Kalispell with 22, and third is Allvia Yang of Missoula with 19.

In the 13-17 Category, Brodie Smith of Kalispell has a total of 612, followed by Fjord Borgen of Kalispell with 14; David Gerspach of Kila and Sawyer Clark of Columbia Falls are tied for third with three each.

Smallest lake trout entries are Gene Corne of Kalispell with a 155mm (6”) lake trout and Korey Heindahl of Kalispell with a 162mm catch. 

Matt Brazda of Missoula still holds the lead in the largest fish category with a 36.25-inch, 20.5-pound lake trout. To qualify in the largest lake trout category, the fish must measure longer than 36 inches and weigh at least 20 pounds.

Justin Bair almost made it, with a lake trout measuring 37 inches and 19.1 pounds.

Heaviest Bucket of Fish on the second day was a 25.1-pound bucket of four lake trout turned in by Britton Salois of Ronan, Shaunda Albert of Ronan, and up-and-coming angler Carter Lindsay of Pablo. They won $200. Rick Skates of Big Arm had a 24.17-pound bucket, and Dave and Janet Myers turned in a 20.75-pound bucket. Third day of the Bucket of Fish competition is Sunday, May 4.

Weekend drawing winners were: Clint Speer, $200; Mike Benson, Jack Kirkland, Bryan Long of Kalispell, and Ken Varga of Kalispell, $100.

It is not too late to enter and become a part of this fish conservation effort. Go to www.mackdays.com for entry, fish ID, fishing tips, etc. There are many ways to win-every entry counts and gets you entered in the lottery drawings that begin at $2,000.