Mack Days spring tourney starts

By Cynthia Bras

For the Bigfork Eagle

After a long, cold winter Spring Mack Days 2014 began on March 14 with a total of 1,055 lake trout entered by 58 anglers excited to be outdoors and fishing on Flathead Lake.  

Saturday’s fish total came to 1,167 and on a windy and blustery Sunday 650 lake trout were turned in. There were 181 anglers turning in a total of 2,872 lake trout throughout the 3-day weekend.  The 2013 Spring Event fish total for the first three days came to 2,228 lake trout entries turned in by 160 anglers.  

Jason Mahlen of Kalispell leads the anglers with a total of 190 lake trout entries. Jason had the highest total on Friday with 96 and Sunday with 57, 2nd Scott Bombard-Missoula-180, 3rd Mike Benson-Lonepine-132, 4th Jerry Benson-Plains-127, 5th Kevin Burns-Kalispell-100, 6th Steven Benson-Four Lakes, WA., 7th Robert Turner-Columbia Falls, 8th Scott Mahlen-Kalispell-89, 9th Ryan Shima-Kalispell-82-high total for Saturday, and 10th Larry Karper-Florence-79. Larry also leads the 70 and Over Category.

Youth anglers 13-17 leaders are Garett Vaughan-with 45, 2nd Kobe Cox-Charlo-40, 3rd-Danner Shima-Kalispell-28, 4th-Connor Kowalski-Florence-24, and 5th-Roger Guillory-Kalispell-21.The 12 & under category leaders are Abby Hodgson-Kalispell with 8 and Matt Guckenbery-Kalispell-5.

Julie Vacca leads the women with nine fish. Paul Soukup of Ronan turned in a $200 tagged lake trout and Dave Cik, Nick Bennett, Conn Hodgson, Al Troutt, Ryan Shima, Larry Ashwell, Matt Caldarone, Garett Vaughan, Scott Bombard (2), and Robert Turner turned in $100 tagged fish.

Smallest lake trout entries are held by Chris Demmons of Missoula-191mm (7 ?”) lake trout entry and Scott Bombard-Missoula-208 mm (8 ?”).

For more information you can go to mackdays.com.  Fishing tips and rules can be found there or telephone 883-2888, ext. 7294.