Spring Mack Days sets a new record

Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, wrapped up Saturday, May 10, breaking the 2019 Spring Event record of 40,362 lake trout with a total of 60,138 entries turned in over the nine weeks of fishing.

A total of 206 anglers, out of the 562 registered for the event, turned in one or more lake trout. Friday’s total came to 2,522 and Saturday ended with 1,360. Total entries from the Friday to Sunday fishing is 48,393 and Monday to Thursday fishing came to 11,745.

Mack Days is a fish conservation effort used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout and increase the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat populations in Flathead Lake.

Coming in first in the Top Twenty anglers was Kalispell angler Kolton Turner with 2,320 entries and an 18-day average of 100. This is win number five for Kolton in the spring events, beginning with his triumph in 2021.

A close second place was claimed by Jason Mahlen of Kalispell with 2,243 entries and an average of 99.56. Jason is a seven-time first-place winner over the years. Bob Turner of Kalispell is third with 2,142 and 96.78 average; he’s followed by David Myers of Riverton, Wyo., with 2,182; Clint Speer of Kalispell with 1,586; Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 1,330; Jerry Benson of Plains with 1,517; Terry Krogstad of Kalispell with 1,447; Patrick Casey of Townsend with 1,456, and Steve Andrachick of Kalispell in 10th with 1,372.

Janet Myers of Riverton was first in the Ladies with 506, followed by Connie Jones of Kalispell, 251; Shaunda Albert of Ronan with 220; Laurie Bouley of Columbia Falls with 68; and Laurie Kreis of Huson with 26.

Veteran youth angler Brodie Smith of Kalispell took first in the 13-17 Category with a total of 796, followed by Fjord Borgen of Kalispell, 74, and David Gerspach of Kila, 5.

Up-and-coming angler Carter Lindsay was first in the 12 & Under category with 70; next was Mason Persico, Missoula with 59; and Allyvia Yang of Missoula, 32.

Largest lake trout entry was a 38.25-inch catch, weighing 22.66 pounds, turned in by Tristan Persico of Missoula on Friday. Tristan was met on shore for the weighing and released the older lake trout back into the lake.

Smallest lake trout awards went to Jim Flinchbaugh of Kalispell with a 156mm lake trout (6.5 inches) and Gene Corne with a 155mm lake trout.

Spirit of the Event custom-made knives by Bob Crowder of Thompson Falls were awarded to Janet Myers of Riverton and Patrick Casey of Townsend. This award is given to anglers who exemplify what the events are and show good sportsmanship.

Siberian coolers were won by Clint Speer, Claude Kaber and Jason Mahlen. Tagged lake trout the last week of the event were turned in by Ryker Bair, who caught two, Julie Perkins, Larry Karper and Weston Turner.

For a complete list of lottery winners and awards go to www.mackdays.com and click on 2025 Spring Event stats. There is a tab with a list at the bottom of the page.

CSKT offers a big thank-you to all of the anglers who helped make this event such a success. If you caught one fish or 2,320, every entry counts and is important!