Up-and-comer leading into last week of Mack Days
One week is all that remains of the 2017 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Eighteen-year-old Danner Shima is leading the anglers with a total of 1,529 entries and a 74.33 fish 15-day average. Danner grew up fishing Mack Days and now competes in his own boat fishing by himself and is giving pointers on where to catch the evasive lake trout to his dad and grandfather. Danner caught and turned in 71 on Friday, 66 on Saturday, and limited out with 100 fish on Sunday. That is the third 100 lake trout limit for him. Veteran angler Jason Mahlen is chasing Danner with 1,302 entries and a 65.06 average. Jason has won the past four Spring Events and holds the current record of 1,818 entries and 85.8 average in the 2016 Spring Event. Mahlen caught 85 fish on Friday, 42 Saturday, and 68 on Sunday. Jason has two 100 fish limit days during this event. Coming in third is Ryan Shima with 1,246 fish. Ryan has caught the limit of 100 lake trout once and also has a 98 fish day in his total. In fourth place is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 1,246 fish and catches of 61, 49, and 31 and average of 59.33. Mike has three 100 limit days along with Danner. David McDaniel of Polson moved into fifth place with 1,097 and an average of 55.39 with catches of 81, 67, and 73. Steven Benson of Four Lakes, Wash., is in sixth with 1,118 fish. Felix Gauci of Stevensville is seventh with 1,044. Sam Cusker of Whitefish is eighth with 986 fish. Scott Bombard of Missoula is ninth with 986 fish. Scott has turned in 100 fish twice during this even. In tenth is Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 905 and. Mike Shima, Felix Gauci, Steven Benson and Terry Krogstad all limited out once during the event so far. Anglers will continue to compete on Friday and Saturday to increase their totals and averages to move up in the Top 10 category.
Julie Vacca of Florence is leading the ladies division with a total of 302 fish. Connie Jones of Kalispell is in second with 161. Brandy Hilde of Whitefish is third with 156. Janine Kowalski of Missoula is fourth with 153, and Nicole Peters of Missoula is fifth with 135.
Larry Karper of Florence leading the age 70 and older group with 792 fish, followed by Bob Christensen of Missoula with 370, Gary Perleberg of Bigfork with 107, Ralph Johnson of Columbia Falls with 61, and Bill Violette of Missoula with 52.
Tyler Varga has 437 in the 13-17-year-old category with Leah Banyai of Kalispell in with 91, and Abby Hodgson of Kalispell with 75. Matt Guckenberg of Kalispell is leading those 12 and under with 89 fish.
Sunday’s bucket of fish competition was won by the Mitts and Rogers boat with a catch registering 21.45 pounds. The overall winner for the three-day competition was the boat of Brian Sailer of Missoula with 16 pts and 50.25 pounds. In second place was Peterson/Gyles of Stevensville with 41.9 pounds and 16 points and also the most years of experience fishing. In third place was Mike and Chris Shae of Kalispell with 12 pts. and 34.9 pounds.
Total entries for the event are at 33,842. If the numbers continue to come in over the next week it could add up to being the second largest event in Spring Mack Days history. The highest number of 38,085 was in the 2012 Spring Event. Friday’s total was 1,376, Saturday’s was 1,187 and Sunday totaled 1,139.
Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded on May 14 during the fish fry and awards, which begin at 3 p.m. at the Blue Bay Campground for friends and families. Anglers can fish Tuesday through Sunday with totals from Sunday counting for the bonuses and tagged fish. All competition categories will end on Saturday night. Tagged fish and bonus totals continue through Sunday fishing. All fish entries are to be turned in by 3:00.
There is still a $10,000 tagged lake trout out in Flathead Lake somewhere -- along with three $5,000 fish, four $1,000 fish and over 6,000 with values ranging from $100-$500. Turning in $100 tagged entries the past week were: David McDaniel of Polson, Bob Stewart and Matt Guckenberg of Kalispell, Larry Karper of Florence, Sam Cusker of Whitefish, Bob Syrvud of Polson, Jerry Benson of Plains, and Felix Gauci of Stevensville. Danner Shima of Kalispell turned in a $200 tag.
Entry is free and entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Go to www.mackdays.com for information or telephone 406-270-3386.