pring Mack Days week 6 results announced
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FLATHEAD LAKE — Fish on, fish on, and fish on! 2025 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 on Saturday, May 10, with all fish entries in by 3 p.m. Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to many of the hard-working anglers. The 2019 Spring Event holds the record of 40,362 lake trout entries turned in by two hundred nineteen anglers over the 51 days of competition. The current total for this year’s event is at 40,343, just nineteen fish short of breaking the 2019 record.
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, and fishing tips information. There are many ways to win - every entry counts and gets you entered in the lottery drawings that begin at $2,000.
Mack Days fishing events are an important tool used for lake trout reduction in Flathead Lake. Lake trout were introduced into the lake system in 1904 but their population did not explode until several years later when mysis shrimp were introduced into the Flathead system. Lake trout found a banquet at the bottom of the lake in the small mysis and their population multiplied by thousands and took over the fish populations of the lake. The native bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations dramatically declined. Bull trout and westslope cutthroat are now protected. Both native species are important to Flathead Lake and the river system. For information about past years of fisheries management go to the management page at: www.mackdays.com and click under Fisheries Management, A Changing Lake - then click Summary of Lake Trout Suppression Activities. This report has a lot of information for everyone.
The $10,000 tagged lake trout has continued to elude lake trout anglers. He, along with three - $5,000, four - $1,000 and over 9,000 trout with $100-$500 tag values, are still out there in the depths of Flathead Lake. Turning in $100 tagged lake trout this week were: Shaunda Albert of Ronan, Patrick Casey of Townsend, Nate Salmonsen of Kalispell, Dan Deutschman of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Julie Perkins of Kalispell. Clint Speer of Kalispell caught a $200 tagged lake trout. Information from the tagged fish caught includes age and growth from the time of tagging to the time of capture, and movement. Information on tags when they are inserted includes date of tagging, length, location, and depth.
Top Angler placings will probably not be decided until the end of the event. It is a close competition for the placings. Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is in first place with a total of 1,712 entries. He turned in three limits of 100 fish per day over the weekend. 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 100.0 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 Mack Days Spring Event Top Angler award four times. The race for the 2025 Top Angler first place standing will likely continue till the last day of competition, which is Friday, May 9. The last day has separate prizes, but numbers of entries will be added to the bonus totals of the anglers.
Bob Turner of Kalispell and David Myers of Riverton, Wyoming, are also still in the mix. Both of them have several 100 fish days. Coming in second is Kolton with 1,698 - 94.33 avg. - Fri.-52, Sat.-78, Sun.-100; in third place is Bob Turner with 1,571 - 87.28 avg. - Fri.-48, Sat.-56, Sun.-54, in fourth is David Myers with 1,550 - 86.11 avg. - 3 X 100; in fifth place is Jerry Benson of Plains with 1,179 - 65.5 avg. - Fri.-64, Sat.-78, Sun.-47, in sixth place is Clint Speer of Kalispell with 1,163 - 64.6 avg. - Fri-46, Sat.-24, Sun.-37; in seventh is Patrick Casey of Townsend with 1,039 - 57.7 avg. - Fri.-72, Sat.-48, Sun.-35; in eighth place is Gene Corne of Kalispell with 966 - 53.6 avg. - Fri.-45, Sat.-28, Sun.-25; in ninth place is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 959 - 53.2 avg. - Fri.-55, Sat.-41, Sun.-61; in 10th place is Steve Anderchick of Kalispell with 950 - 52.7 avg. - Fri.-16, Sat.-51, Sunday-43; Larry Ashwell of Missoula is in 11th place with 856; in 12th place is Larry Ludahl of Kalispell with 850; in 13th place is Bob Stewart of Kalispell with 841; in 14th place is Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 815; in 15th place Jack Kirkland of Lolo with 796; in 16th place is Devon Burkowski of Kalispell with 719; in 17th place is Michael Stevenson of Kalispell with 709; in 18th place is Larry Karper of Florence with 639; in 19th place is Julie Perkins of Kalispell with 634; and in 20th place is Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 612.
Julie Perkins is leading the Ladies with 634; in second place is Janet Myers of Riverton, Wyoming, with 419; in third place is Shaunda Albert of Ronan with 166; in fourth place is Connie Jones of Kalispell with 150; and in fifth place is Laurie Bouley of Columbia Falls with 44.
Jerry Benson leads in the 70 & Over category with 1,179; in second place is Michael Benson with 959; in third place is Larry Ashwell with 856; in fourth place is Terry Krogstad with 815; and in fifth place is Jack Kirkland with 796.
The younger anglers are doing a great job. They are the future of these events and will be future decision makers on native species management issues. They are all helping in this event. Carter Lindsay of Pablo is in first place in the 12 & Under category with 24; in second place is Benjamin Dieterich of Kalispell with 22; in third place is Allvia Yang of Missoula with 19; in fourth place is Mason Cusker of Bigfork with 6; and Wyatt Best of Florence has 3.
In the 13-17 Category Brodie Smith of Kalispell continues to bring in large numbers of entries. He has a total of 612. In second place is Fjord Borgen of Kalispell with 14; David Gerspach of Kila and Sawyer Clark of Columbia Falls are tied for third with 3 each.
The smallest lake trout entries are from Gene Corne of Kalispell with a 155mm (6”) lake trout and Korey Heindahl of Kalispell with a 162mm small lake trout.
Matt Brazda of Missoula still holds the largest fish category with a 36.25” 20.5 pound lake trout. The largest lake trout qualifies by the heaviest over 36” and 20 pounds.
The Heaviest Bucket of Fish on the second day was a 25.1 pound bucket of 4 lake trout turned in by Britton Salois of Ronan, Shaunda Albert of Ronan, and up and coming angler, Carter Lindsay of Pablo. They win $200 for the first place heaviest bucket of lake trout. Rick Skates of Big Arm had a 24.17 pound bucket, and Dave and Janet Myers turned in a 20.75 pound bucket. The third day of Bucket of Fish competition will be Sunday, May 4.
Weekend drawing winners - $200 - Clint Speer; $100 - Mike Benson, Jack Kirkland, Bryan Long of Kalispell, and Ken Varga of Kalispell.
Good luck and tight lines everyone.
