Kolton Turner leads Spring Mack Days heading into final week

Kolton Turner of Kalispell leads all anglers with 1,725 lake trout entries and an 18-day average of 86.89 as the Spring Mack Days 2021 event heads down the home stretch. Jason Mahlen, also from Kalispell, is in second place with 1,629 entries and an average of 83.06.

One week remains, and a total of 25,051 lake trout entries have been entered. Friday’s total was 824, there were 359 Saturday and 977 Sunday.

Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded, and it is not too late to enter the lottery-style drawing that begins at $1,000 and goes to $50. All it takes is one lake trout for entry.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Bob Turner of Kalispell (1,379 and 7067), Mike Benson of Lonepine (845 and 41.61), Steve Benson of Spokane Valley, Wash. (779 and 40.89), Ken Varga of Kalispell (735 and 38.33), Sam Cusker of Bigfork (721), Larry Karper of Florence (703 and 38.17), Travis Banyai of Kalispell (689 and 36.83) and Tyler Varga of Kalispell (704 and 35.72).

“Jaws,” a tagged fish worth $10,000, is still out there in Flathead Lake, and there are three tagged fish worth $5,000, five worth $1,000 and more than 9,000 with values ranging from $100 $500.

Turning in $100 tagged fish last week were Felix Gauci of Stevensville, Ryan Cloo of Clinton, Kolton Turner and Julie Duncan of Polson. Jason Mahlen and Mike Benson turned in tagged fish worth $200.

Larry Karper’s lost fishing rod was caught Saturday by Sam Cusker. Sam had heard about Larry losing his fishing rod the previous week and left it for Larry to ID. Sure enough, it was his.

Julie Perkins leads the ladies with 287 entries, followed by Connie Jones of Kalispell (74), Nicole Peters of Missoula (44), Lisa Cloo of Clinton (39) and Laurie Kreis of Huson (33).

The 70-and-Older category is led by Larry Karper with 703 entries. Trailing Karper are Jack Kirkland of Missoula (553), Larry Ashwell of Missoula (391), Marty Herak of Polson (1410 and John Gauci of Florence (73).

Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell leads the 13-17 age group with 269 entries. Brodie Smith of Kalispell leads the 12-and-Under age group with 209 entries.

Winning Week 8 $100 drawings were: Waxi Thao of Missoula, Travis Banyai, Tristen Persico and Felix Gauci. Winners of the special Mother’s Day drawing winners were: Connie Jones of Kalispell, Siberian cooler; Ken Varga, electric fillet knife; and Gene Corne of Kalispell, stadium chair.

Mack Days are used as a tool to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

There will be no fish fry or awards ceremony on May 16, the event’s final day. Drawings will be held electronically after the conclusion of the event.

For more information, visit www.mackdays.com or call 406-270-3386.