Kalispell angler finishes in top spot in Mack Days

Kalispell angler Jason Mahlen won first place in the Top Ten Angler category of the 2018 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event for the fifth time in the past six years. Mahlen, who took second last year, set new record highs for the event, catching 2,028 lake trout in 27 fishing days and earning a best 18-day average of 91.56.

No one caught any of the higher-valued tagged lake trout. The $10,000 tagged lake trout got away, along with the three $5,000 fish and five $1,000 tagged fish. There were 101 tagged lake trout turned in during the event with the highest dollar amount being $500. New high-dollar tagged fish will be caught before the 2018 fall event, which runs Sept. 21 through Nov. 11.

Mike Benson of Lonepine was second in the Top Angler category, third went to Steve Benson of Spokane Valley, Washington, fourth was David McDaniel or Polson, fifth was Felix Gauci of Stevensville, sixth went to Sam Cusker of Bigfork, Bob Turner of Kalispell was seventh, eighth was Kolton Turner of Kalispell, ninth was Matt Guckenberg of Kalispell, and Larry Karper of Florence was tenth.

John Gauci of Florence was in top spot in the 70 and Over category with 386 and second place went to Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 356.

Julie Perkins of Kalispell won the Ladies category with 308, second was Julie Woolley of California with 266, third went to Brandy Hilde of Bigfork with 251.

Tyler Varga of Kalispell won the 13-17 group with 794, second was Abby Hodgson of Kalispell with 68, third place went to Leah Banyai of Kalispell with 63. Matt Guckenberg, Jr., was first in the 12 and under group with 358, second was Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 51, and Tripp Bick of Arlee was third with 34.

Mack Days is sponsored by Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The fishing events are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout numbers.