The 2022 Spring Mack Days sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes wrapped up the fourth of the nine-weekend event, which ends on Sunday May 15. Up to $225,000 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded.

Wind warnings have almost become an everyday occurrence this spring. Winds began Friday night and continued throughout the weekend with wind advisory warnings all day Saturday and on Sunday afternoon on into the next week plus snow was added in along the way. It was cold, windy and rough on Flathead Lake. Friday’s total lake trout entries were 774, Saturday’s total was 240 hard-caught entries, and Sunday was another rough day on the water with 560 entries. The total lake trout caught for the event is 11,014.

The top 10 anglers are ranked by their best eighteen-day average from weekend totals. Leading is Kalispell angler Kolton Turner with 745, second is Jason Mahlen of Kalispell with 639, third Bob Turner of Kalispell with 607, fourth is Steven Benson of Spokane Valley, Washington, with 368, in fifth is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 349, sixth is Jerry Benson of Plains with 315, seventh is Larry Karper of Florence with 314, Travis Banyai of Lakeside is in eighth place with 282, ninth is Sam Cusker of Bigfork with 281, and Clint Speer of Kalispell rounds out the top 10 with 263.

The ladies are also working hard and turning in some good numbers. Julie Perkins of Kalispell is leading with 97 entries, Connie Jones of Kalispell has 64, Rebecca Spring of Alberton is third with 18, Ia Thao of Missoula has 11, and Amanda Hoback of Arlee has turned in 5 lake trout entries.

Leading the age 13-17 anglers is Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 29, Matt Guckenberg, Jr., of Kalispell has 12, Karson Cox of Charlo 6, and Michael Palmer of Kalispell has 2. The 12 and under leader is Wyatt Best of Florence with 6, Gage Spring of Alberton has 4, followed by Tripp Bick of Arlee, Martin Phan of Kalispell and Allydia and Ava Yang of Missouls, all with two each.

Mike Benson is leading in the age 70 and over with 349, second is Larry Karper with 314, and third Larry Ashwell with 261.

The second day of the Bucket of Fish competition is Saturday, April 16. Anglers put their four largest lake trout under 30 inches in a bucket and a weight is taken. Heaviest bucket wins $200.

Entries are taken until the last day of the event and there is no entry fee. Mack Days are used to reduce the numbers of the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. For More information, visit http://www.mackdays.com.