Kalispell angler leads Spring Mack Days

Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes continues with the third week total of 3,963 lake trout entries, which is the highest so far in the event. The lake trout final total for three weeks is at 11,125 with 168 anglers turning in at least one entry.

It was a great Easter weekend for leading angler Kolton Turner of Kalispell. His basket was full with his limit of 100 fish all three days. His total is at 692. Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is second with 662 entries and Bob Turner of Kalispell is third with 557 total entries. The rest of the top 10 includes: 4, Sam Cusker, Bigfork, 377; 5, Steve Benson, Spokane Valley, 366; 6, Ken Varga, Kalispell, 350; 7, Mike Benson, Lonepine, 348; 8, Tyler Varga, Kalispell, 336; 9, Scott Bombard, Missoula, 326; 10, Travis Banyai, Lakeside, 269.

In the ladies category, Julie Perkins leads with 161, Connie Jones of Kalispell is second with 33, Laurie Kreis of Huson is third with 20, in fourth place is Lisa Cloo of Clinton with 15 and Rebecca Spring of Alberton is fifth with 14.

Larry Ashwell of Missoula leads the age 70 and over category with 183. In second is Larry Karper of Florence with 180, Jack Kirkland of Missoula is third with 134, Marty Herak of Polson is fourth with 108 and John Gauci of Florence rounds out the top five with 63 entries.

Among youth anglers, Matt Guckenberg, Jr., of Kalispell is first in the age 13-17 category with 93, second is Josey McIlhargey of Kalispell with 23, third is Abby Hodgson of Kalispell with 20, Colton Spacht of Culbertson is fourth with 13 and Bryce Harvey of Kalispell is fifth with 10.

Up to $225,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the fishing event which ends on May 16. The events in fall and spring are used by CSKT as a management tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event and there is no entry fee. For more information, go to http://www.mackdays.com.