2014 Spring Mack Days Final Update
By angelamontana

Posted: May 19, 2014

2014 Spring Mack Days concluded May 18th with a fish fry and awards at the Blue Bay Campground. The Mack Days Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and used as a managment tool to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

A total of 30,875 lake trout entries were turned in during the 34 day event. That compares with 28,310 in 2013 when top angler Jason Mahlen of Kalispell won the event with 1,635 entries and a 65.8 eighteen day average. Jason was top angler again in 2014 with a total of 1,801 entries and a 70.1 eighteen day average which are both new records for the event. Second place went to Ryan Shima of Kalispell with 976 and 52.0 average, 3rd-Scott Bombard-Missoula-1,231 and 49.7, 4th-Mike Benson-Lonepine-1,254 and 48.2, 5th-Danny Smith-Hot Springs-1,055 and 46.5, 6th-Robert Turner-Kalispell-1,009 and 44.7, 7th-Terry Krogstad-Kalispell-938 and 43.9, 8th-Danner Shima-Kalispell-831 and 43.3, 9th-Kevin Burns-Kalispell-1,024 and 43.2, and 10th-Steven Benson-Four Lakes, WA. with 1,044 and 41.2.

The 13-17 category was won by Danner Shima of Kalispell with 831 entries, 2nd-Garett Vaughan-Charlo-447, 3rd-Roger Guillory-Kalispell-253, 4th-Kobe Cox-Charlo-245, and 5th-Austin Shima-Kalispell-182. Matthew Guckenberg of Kalispell won the 12 and under category with 228 lake trout entries, 2nd-Abby Hodgson-Kalispell-132, 3rd-Aaron Lang-Kalispell-95, 4th-Leah Banyai-Kalispell-78, and 5th-Dylan Hodgson-Kalispell-15.

First place in the ladies category went to Tracy Powers of Missoula with 182, 2nd Abby Hodgson-Kalispell with 132, 3rd-Julie Vacca-Florence-125, 4th-Leann Guillory-Kalispell-102, and 5th Deana Knipe-Polson with 73.

Larry Karper of Florence won the 70 and over with 564, Conn Hodgson of Kalispell came in second with 270, 3rd-Jim Hoover of Whitefish with 120, 4th-Ralph Johnson of Whitefish with 102, and 5th-Jens Gran of Polson with 90.

Largest lake trout winner was Danner Shima with a 40.5 inch 25 ½ lb. lake trout. Smallest lake trout winners were Chris Demmons of Missoula with a 191mm (7 ½ inches) entry and Felix Gauci of Stevensville with a 173mm (6 ¾ inches).Terry Krogstad and Chris Steen won the overall bucket competition with 20 pts and overall weight of 51 ½ lbs., 2nd went to Bob Christensen of Missoula with 10 pts and 42.2 lbs, 3rd place Shima, Shima, and Shima of Kalispell with 8 pts and 30lbs. 9ozs. Last day winner of heaviest fish under 30 inches went to Randy Hovet of Charlo with 6.19 lbs and second place Darren Borgen of Kalispell with 5.55lbs. Top lottery winners were Jason Mahlen, John Gauci-Florence, Matt Guckenberg-Kalispell, Scott Bombard-Missoula-goto www.mackdays .com for a listing of prize winners.

Mack Days are made successful by the great group of men and women anglers- young and old- who fish the event. They have spent many days-good weather and bad-out on the water bringing in lake trout to enter in the event and they love what they do. Thank you to each and every one.

(Report via Cynthia Bras-Benson)

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