Kalispell angler Jason Mahlen is breaking old records in the 2018 Spring Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake. The old records were his own set in 2016 for the events best 18 day average-85.5 and for the most fish entered by an angler-1,818. There is one weekend left in the 2018 Event and Jason has an average of 90.56 for his eighteen day average-which is the anglers best eighteen days out of all of the days they fished. So far he has fished all twenty four weekend days. He has a total of 1,857 lake trout entries. Total entries for the weekend were 70-Friday, 96-Saturday, and 74-Sunday. Two days are left in the top angler competition Friday and Saturday. He can add onto his total and up his average if the fishing is good. The last day May 13^th is a separate day in the event with its own prizes.

Up to $225,000 in Cash and Prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will be awarded on May 13^th. To enter in the lottery drawing for cash or merchandise prizes an angler has to enter at least one lake trout entry. Mack Days are used as a tool to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake. The event includes all of the lake.

Anglers have turned in a total of 33,393 lake trout entries. Weekend totals were 1,127-Friday, 1,148-Saturday, and 923 on Sunday. The 2017 total was 449 more with 33,842 entries at this time last year.

The $10,000 tagged lake trout, 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 and over 6,000 with values from $500-$100 are still out there. Angler Travis Banyai of Kalispell turned in a $500 tagged lake trout on Sunday. One hundred dollar tags were turned in by Steve Benson-Spokane Valley WA, Kalispell anglers-Matt Guckenberg Sr. and Luke Smith, Lisa Cloo of Missoula, and Sam Cusker of Bigfork.

Larry Karper of Florence has a total of 835 in the 70 and over category. Second through fourth places will be competing hard the last two days to keep their placing-2^nd John Gauci of Florence-339, 3^rd Gary Perleberg of Bigfork-320, 4^th Larry Ashwell of Missoula-302, and Conn Hodgson of Kalispell with 102.

There is a new leader in the Ladies category-Julie Perkins of Kalispell has a total of 270, 2^nd Brandy Hilde of Bigfork-239, 3^rd Julie Woolley of CA with 209, 4^th Nicole Peters of Missoula with 94, and 5^th Debbie Paine of Polson with 56.

Top Angler category leader is Jason Mahlen with 1,857 and 90.56 18-day average, 2^nd Mike Benson of Lonepine 1,533 and 77.94 average-46-11-26, 3^rd Steve Benson with 1,205-62.44-61-53-25, 4^th David McDaniel of Polson with 1,195-63.06-87-perfect 100-78, 5^th Felix Gauci of Stevensville with 1,130-58.17-50-58-63. Setting in 6^th is Sam Cusker with 1,068 and 56.89, 7^th Bob Turner of Kalispell with 1,039 55.89, 8^th Kolton Turner of Kalispell-996 and 53.11, 9^th Matt Guckenberg of Kalispell with 907 and 46.44, Ken Varga of Kalispell is 10^th with 858 and 45.89.

Tyler Varga of Kalispell is 1^st in the 13-17 group with 797, 2^nd Leah Banyai-Kalispell with 63, Abby Hodgson-Kalispell has 25 for 3^rd, Rylan Koch of Butte is 4^th with 20, and Logan Lang of Kalispell is 5^th with 15. Matt Guckenberg Jr. is 1^st in the 12 and under category with 352, 2^nd Brodie Smith of Kalispell with 50, Tripp Bick of Arlee has 31, Emmett Ludahl of Kalispell 25, and Fjord Borgan of Columbai Falls has 15.

Weekend drawing winners of $100 are: Sam Cusker, Bob Stewart of Kalispell, Tyler Varga, Bob Turner, and Jim Kirwan of Missoula.

Entry is free and you can enter up until the last day of the event.

Sunday May 13^th all fish entries have to be in by 3:00. The fish fry for families and friends will begin at 3:00 and awards will begin at 4:00 at the Blue Bay Campground.