Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

Kalispell angler Jason Mahlen is breaking old records in the 2018 Spring Mack Days fishing event on Flathead Lake. The old records were his own set in 2016 for the event’s best 18-day average (85.5) and for the most fish entered by an angler (1,818).

There is one weekend left in the 2018 event and Mahlen has an average of 90.56 for his 18-day average, which is the angler’s best 18 days out of all the days they fished. Mahlen has fished all 24 weekend days. He has a total of 1,857 lake trout entries. Total entries for the weekend were 70-Friday, 96-Saturday, and 74-Sunday. Two days are left in the top angler competition Friday and Saturday. He can add onto his total and up his average if the fishing is good. The last day, May 13, is a separate day in the event with its own prizes.

Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be awarded on May 13. Mack Days are used as a tool to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. The event includes all of the lake.

Anglers have turned in a total of 33,393 lake trout entries. Weekend totals were 1,127 Friday, 1,148 Saturday, and 923 on Sunday. The 2017 total was 449 more with 33,842 entries at this time last year.

The $10,000 tagged lake trout, 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 and over 6,000 with values from $500-$100 are still out there. Angler Travis Banyai of Kalispell turned in a $500 tagged lake trout on Sunday. One hundred dollar tags were turned in by Steve Benson, Spokane Valley, Washington, Kalispell anglersMatt Guckenberg, Sr., and Luke Smith, Lisa Cloo of Missoula, and Sam Cusker of Bigfork.

Larry Karper of Florence has a total of 835 in the 70 and over category. Second through fourth places will be competing hard the last two days to keep their placing: second John Gauci of Florence (339), third Gary Perleberg of Bigfork (320), fourth Larry Ashwell of Missoula (302), and Conn Hodgson of Kalispell with (102).

There is a new leader in the Ladies category. Julie Perkins of Kalispell has a total of 270, second is Brandy Hilde of Bigfork (239), Julie Woolley of California is third with 209, fourth is Nicole Peters of Missoula with 94, and fifth Debbie Paine of Polson with 56.

Top Angler category leader is Jason Mahlen with 1,857 and 90.56 18-day average, second Mike Benson of Lonepine (1,533 and 77.94 average), third Steve Benson (1,205 and 62.44 average), ourth David McDaniel of Polson (1,195 and 63.06 average), fifth Felix Gauci of Stevensville (1,130 and 58.17 average), sixth Sam Cusker (1,068 and 56.89 average), eventh Bob Turner of Kalispell (1,039 and 55.89 average), eighth Kolton Turner of Kalispell (996 and 53.11 average), ninth Matt Guckenberg of Kalispell (907 and 46.44 average), and Ken Varga of Kalispell is enth (858 and 45.89 average).

Tyler Varga of Kalispell is first in the 13-17 group with 797, second Leah Banyai of Kalispell with 63, Abby Hodgson of Kalispell has 25 for third, Rylan Koch of Butte is fourth with 20, and Logan Lang of Kalispell is fifth with 15. Matt Guckenberg, Jr., is first in the 12 and under category with 352, second is Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 50, Tripp Bick of Arlee has 31, Emmett Ludahl of Kalispell 25, and Fjord Borgan of Columbia Falls has 15.

Weekend drawing winners of $100 are Sam Cusker, Bob Stewart of Kalispell, Tyler Varga, Bob Turner, and Jim Kirwan of Missoula.

Entry is free and anglers can enter up until the last day of the event.

All fish entries must be in by 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 13. The fish fry for families and friends will begin at 3 p.m. and awards will begin at 4 p.m. at the Blue Bay Campground.