2025 Spring Mack Days-Week 2 Update

Two weeks of the 2025 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake are complete. There are seven more weekends left for anglers to come out and enter before the last day on May 10^th. Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a tool to reduce the non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. There is Up to $225,000 in Cash and Prizes that will be awarded at the conclusion of the event. 

There are many ways to win in the competition. You can compete as many days as you like. One, five, or every day-your choice. All it takes is one lake trout entry to get your name in the lottery drawings for prizes from $100 to $2,000. As your total number of entries goes up you earn bonus dollars to help pay for the expenses of fishing this big beautiful lake and helping to restore a balance in the fisheries population for native bull trout and weststlope cutthroat trout. 

The big question being asked is will “Willy” the $10,000 lake trout be caught?  Willy is still in the deep, dark, depths of the lake. Tagged fish have been released all around the lake. There are 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 and over 9,000 with values from $100-$500. Turning in tagged fish the past week were: Cole Burger-Columbia Falls-$100, Devon Bukowski of -Kalispell-$200 and $100, Dave Myers-Riverton, WY-$100, Tristan Persico-Missoula-$100, Kolton Turner-Kalispell-$100, Michael Stevenson-Kalispell-$100, Larry Ludahl-Kalispell-$100, Bob Bouchee-Missoula-$200, and Julie Perkins of Kalispell-$100. 

The Flathead Lake Mack Days anglers are the best of the best—weekend weather was pretty rough on the them. Cold winds, rough water, rain and snow—typical Montana spring weather hampered them all weekend long. That didn’t slow the big numbers of lake trout from coming in. Total number of lake trout turned in is at 12,769. Friday total was 1,434, Saturday 1,564, Sunday 1,573 and the Monday to Thursday total is 2,736.  

Leading these hard-core anglers is Bob Turner and his son Kolton Turner. They have fished together from the same boat for years. They are doing amazing, with seven 100 fish days in a row starting on the first day of the event and then each Friday-Sunday since. They are tied in first place in the Top Twenty Category with 600 each. The Thursday fish do not count on the weekend totals, but are added to their bonus total at the end of the event.  Jason Mahlen of Kalispell is also doing very will with a total of 581 lake trout entries, he has five 100 fish days. Coming in 4^th place is Clint Speer of Kalispell-489, 5^th Jerry Benson of Plains-455, 6^th David Myers-Riverton Wy-426, 7^th Mike Benson-Lonepine-397, 8^th Gene Corne-Kalispell-377, 9^th Larry Ludahl-Kalispell-347, 10^th Terry Krogstad of Kalispell-344, 11^th Patrick Casey of Townsend-320, 12^th Larry Ashwell of Missoula-273, 13^th Ken Varga of Kalispell-247, 14^th Julie Perkins of Kalispell-234, 15^th Steve Andrachick of Kalispell-220, 16^th Travis Banyai of Lakeside-219, 17^th Bryan Long of Kalispell-215, 18^th Jack Kirkland of Lolo-207, 19^th Brodie Smith of Kalispell-205, and 20^th Bob Stewart of Kalispell-200. 

The youth anglers are also tough going out in the unpredictable spring weather putting their skills to the test catching lake trout. Brodie Smith of Kalispell in the 13-17 Category leads with 205 and David Gerspach of Kila has 3. Benjamin Dieterich of Kalispell is first in the 12 & Under with 20 and Carter Lindsay of Pablo has 1. 

Veteran lady angler Julie Perkins of Kalispell has 234 for 1^st in the Ladies Category, 2^nd Janey Myers of Riverton WY-103, Connie Jones of Kalispell is 3^rd with 52, Laurie Bouley of Columbia Falls is tied at 24 lake trout entries with Shaunda Albert of Pablo for 4^th and 5^th. They are all amazing lady anglers!

Smallest lake trout entries are Missoula’s Mike Colyers 164mm lake trout (6.5”) and Dave Myers 194mm (7.5”). Largest lake trout is the 38” 20.35 lb. laker turned in by Phil Sanger of Austin TX. 

First day of the Bucket Fish competition is Friday March 28^th. Anglers put 4 of their heaviest lake trout in a bucket and a weight is taken. Heaviest bucket wins $200. 

Weekend winners for the 2^nd week were Erick Weber of Kalispell-$200 and $100 winners were Jason Mahlen, Travis Banyai, Shawn Halstad of Missoula, and Larry Ludahl. 

For information on the event go to the website www.mackdays.com. Enter the event from the events tab, or enter when you come in at the end of the day. Check out the fish ID page, fishing tips, etc.  We remind everyone to think safety first and be prepared.  Keep informed of weather conditions and always have a plan and let someone know your plan. 

Tight lines and good luck everyone!

–CSKT–

Feature photo credit: Jason Kollmer of Missoula with a large lake trout entry. His entry was just a little shy of .15 lb. of the largest lake trout fish entry! 

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