Four weeks in, Kolton Turner leads Mack Days leaderboard

The Spring Mack Days fishing event wrapped up week four of the nine-week event last weekend, and it was cold, windy and rough out there. Strong wind began Friday night and continued throughout the weekend with wind advisory warnings all day Saturday and on Sunday afternoon on into the next week, plus snow was added in along the way.

Friday’s total for lake trout entries was 774, with 240 Saturday and 560 Sunday. The total count for the event so far is at 11,014.

Anglers in the Top Ten category are ranked by their best 18-day average from weekend totals. Several have the full 12 days in so far. Eleventh through 20th places are placed by fish totals. Leading is Kalispell angler Kolton Turner with 745, followed by Jason Mahlen of Kalispell with 639, Bob Turner of Kalispell with 607, Steven Benson of Spokane Valley, Wash. with 368, Mike Benson of Lonepine with 349, Jerry Benson of Plains with 315, Larry Karper of Florence with 314, Travis Banyai of Lakeside with 282, Sam Cusker of Bigfork with 281, and Clint Speer of Kalispell with 263.

Julie Perkins of Kalispell is leading the ladies with 97 entries. Connie Jones of Kalispell has 64, Rebecca Spring of Alberton has 18 and Ia Thao of Missoula with has 11.

Leading the 13-17 anglers are Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 29, Matt Guckenberg Jr. of Kalispell with 12 and Karson Cox of Charlo with six.

Mike Benson is leading in the 70 & Over category with 349. Larry Karper is second with 314.

The drawing weekend winner of $200 was Nick Dauenhauer of Polson and $100 winners were; Jason Mahlen (Kalispell), Larry Karper (Florence) and Brian McDowell of Columbia Falls. Connie Jones of Kalispell turned in the only tagged lake trout over the weekend, with a $100 tag.

The second day of the Bucket of Fish competition is Saturday, April 16. Anglers put their four largest lake trout under 30 inches in a bucket. Heaviest bucket wins a $200 award.

Entries are taken until the last day of the event and there is no entry fee. Mack Days are used to reduce the numbers of the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Be weather alert while out on the lake. Blustery winds come up fast. Check weather forecasts before going out and have your safety equipment on board. For More information, visit www.mackdays.com or call Cindy Benson at 406-270-3386.