Spring Mack Days: Turner extends perfect streak to five days

Four weeks into the 2021 Spring Mack Days fishing event, Kolton Turner of Kalispell is in first place in the Top Twenty Angler category with 892 entries and a tagged fish worth $10,000 is still swimming free in Flathead Lake.

Turner has turned in the limit of 100 lake trout the last five days he has fished. Last weekend he had 100 Friday, chose not to fish Saturday, and turned in another 100 Sunday.

A total of 14,068 lake trout have been entered, with 12,683 coming during Friday-to-Sunday fishing and 1,385 coming in Mondays to Thursdays.

Friday’s total was 1,060. A very windy and cold Saturday had a total of 64 entries. Most anglers did not go out on the water; several drove to boat ramps and anxiously watched and waited for calmer waters that never came. Sunday was a much better weather day, and 1,498 lake trout were turned in.

Just behind Kolton Turner is Jason Mahlen of Kalispell in second place with 855 entries. He also has five 100-fish days, with the last coming on Sunday. Bob Turner is third with 734, followed by Sam Cusker of Bigfork (434), Steven Benson of Spokane Valley, Wash. (421), Mike Benson of Lonepine (416), Ken Varga of Kalispell (403), Tyler Varga of Kalispell (382), Scott Bombard of Missoula (370) and Travis Banyai of Kalispell (308).

Jack Kirkland of Missoula leads the Golden Oldies (age 70 and over) with 256 lake trout entries, followed by Larry Karper of Florence (213), Larry Ashwell of Missoula (194), Marty Herak of Polson (119) and John Gauci of Florence (63).

Julie Perkins of Kalispell continues her lead in the Ladies category with 183, followed by Connie Jones of Kalispell (50), Debbie Paine of Polson (27), Laurie Kreis of Huson (26) and Lisa Cloo of Clinton (25).

Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell has a total of 158 for the lead in the age 13-17 category, followed by Abby Hodgson of Kalispell (26), Josey McIlhargey of Kalispell (23), Colton Spacht of Culbertson (13) and Bryce Harvey of Kalispell (10).

Brodie Smith of Kalispell leads the age 12 & Under with category with 159, followed by Tripp Bick of Arlee (5) and Gage Spring of Alberton (2).

Jaws the fish worth $10,000 is still swimming in the lake, along with three fish worth $5,000, five worth $1,000 and more than 9,000 worth $100 to $500.

So far, 34 tagged fish have been turned in. Matt Guckenberg Sr of Kalispell was lucky enough to bring in a $100 and a $500 lake trout last week. Travis Banyai of Kalispell was another lucky angler with $200 and $100 tagged lakers. Chris Shae and Bob Turner of Kalispell each had $100 tagged lake trout.

Winners of the weekend random electronic drawing of $100 each were: Larry Karper, Matt Guckenberg Jr., Mike Benson, Sou Thao of Missoula, and Jason Mahlen.

Bucket Day No. 2 is Saturday April 17. Anglers put their four heaviest lake trout under 30 inches into a bucket and a weight is recorded. The heaviest bucket claims $200. Shore anglers and boat anglers alike enjoy this competition. Points are given, and overall prizes after the third bucket day are awarded.

The event is sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of the fishing event on May 16.

For more information visit www.mackdays.com.