Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

Montana’s spring weather has finally made it for the 2022 Spring Mack Days. Anglers were relieved to have some nice sunny calmer days for fishing on Flathead Lake during the sixth weekend of the event.

There are three weeks left of 2022 Spring Mack Days. The event will end on May 15. There is up to $225,000 in prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, which uses the event as a tool to reduce the number of lake trout in Flathead Lake and allow native bull trout and westslope cutthroat to increase their populations.

A total of 14,671 lake trout entries have been received. Leading the age 13-17 anglers is Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 37 lake trout entries, Matt Guckenberg Jr of Kalispell has 12 entries, Karson Cox of Charlo has 6 entries, and Michael Palmer of Kalispell has two entries. The 12 and under leader is Wyatt Best of Florence with 6 lake trout entries, Gage Spring or Alberton has four entries, Tripp Bick of Arlee, Martin Phan of Kalispell, Allydia Yang and Ava Yang of Missoula all have two entries, Henry Phan of Kalispell and Bridgett Reed of Kalispell each have one lake trout entry.

Leading the lady anglers is Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 164 entries, Connie Jones of Kalispell is in second with 69 entries, Rebecca Spring of Alberton is in 3rd place with 18 entries. Ia Thao of Missoula is in 4th place with 11 entries, and Amanda Hoback of Arlee is in 5th place with 5 fish entries.

Larry Karper of Florence has 426 lake trout entries to lead the 70 & Over Golden Anglers, in 2nd place is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 408 entries, In 3rd place is Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 334 entries, in 4th place is Jack Kirkland of Missoula with 248 entries, and in 5th place is John Gauci of Florence with 44 Lake Trout entries.

The Top Twenty Angler Category is a close race of experienced anglers vying for the top spots. The top two anglers have each been in first place before and each have won the event. Kolton Turner won in 2021 with Jason Mahlen in second. Kolton was second in 2019 and third in 2020. Jason is a seven-time first place winner in Spring Mack Days Events. He has also been in second place twice and has also taken home a fourth place. Kolton Turner of Kalispell has 975 entries and is currently sitting in first place. Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is sitting close in second place with 970 entries, Bob Turner of Kalispell has 773 entries and is 3rd, 4th place is Steven Benson of Spokane Valley, Washington, with 509 entries, 6th place is Clint Speer of Kalispell has 461 entries, 7th place is Jerry Benson of Plains with 442 entries, 8th place is Sam Cusker of Bigfork with 425 entries, 9th place is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 408 entries, 10th place is Travis Banyai of Kalispell with 362 entries.

For more information, go to http://www.mackdays.com.