While a heart attack may have slowed Kalispell angler Jason Mahlen in his quest to win the 2017 Spring Mack Days fishing event, he has come back stronger than ever.

Mahlen battled what turned out to be two blocked veins a year ago.

“I was very tired last spring and it was late July last year when I wasn’t feeling too good and when I went to the doctor. They took blood and when they saw the results, it wasn’t long before I had surgery to put two stents in,” Mahlen said.

Despite enduring the serious health issues, Mahlen still finished second in the 2017 fishing tourney. This spring he returned to the top of the mountain with a runaway first-place finish in the Top Ten Angler category of the recently completed 2018 Spring Mack Days.

Mahlen’s triumph was his fifth in the past six years.

“Winning this year after going through everything last year was extra special,” Mahlen said. “Winning one of those jackets means everything. There is so much work involved, so much time.

“You are fighting Mother Nature. You’re fighting your gear some times. You have to find the fish and then you have to catch them. This spring, we battled a lot of ice, wind and extreme conditions.

“I have so much respect for all the guys out here. I know what they go through.”

Mahlen set a new record in the event, catching a total of 2,028 lake trout in 27 weekend fishing days, and earning a best 18-day average of 91.56.

Mahlen also held the old record of 1,818 lake trout entries and a 85.8 average, set in 2016. He turned in perfect 100-fish days eight times, 96 fish entries on two days, 92 twice for his highest 12 days.

Mack Days fishing events are aimed at reducing the non-native lake trout numbers and increase the native bull trout and westslope cutthroat numbers in the lake. Anglers turned in a total of 36,318 lake trout entries from March 16 through May 13. There were a total of 51 fishing days.

The youth categories had some very impressive performances as well, including Kalispell’s Tyler Varga winning the 13-17 age group with 794 fish.

Abby Hodgson, of Kalispell, was second with 68, and Leah Banyai, of Kalispell, was third with 63.

In the 12-and-under age group, Matt Guckenberg Jr., of Kalispell, was first with 358 fish; Brodie Smith, of Kalispell, was second with 51; and Tripp Bick, of Arlee, was third with 34.

Ken Varga said he started his son, Tyler, fishing when he was just 3 years old.

“He put his foot in a hole when we were ice fishing, so it was a pretty short trip,” Ken said with a chuckle.

For Tyler, this year’s win is his third.

“Getting to know people who know how to do it and them sharing their knowledge has been very helpful,” Tyler said.

“The Shimas are our neighbors and Jason Mahlen has been very helpful too,” Ken said. “They have always been willing to help teach others how it works.”

The Shima family, Mike, his son Ryan, and Ryan’s son Danner, have long been top-notch competitors in Mack Days competition.

Here are the other place-winners in the Top Ten event.

Mike Benson of Lonepine was second in the Top Angler category with 1,622 fish and 77.94 average; Steve Benson, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was third with 1,411 and 68.56; David McDaniel, of Polson, was fourth with 1,317 and 65.44; Felix Gauci, of Stevensville, was fifth with 1,259 and 60.72; Sam Cusker, of Bigfork, was sixth with 1,137 and 57.5; Bob Turner, of Kalispell, was seventh with 1,053 and 55.89; Kolton Turner, of Kalispell, was eighth with 1,011 and 53.11; Matt Guckenberg, of Kalispell, was ninth with 971 and 47.39’ and Larry Karper, of Florence, was 10th with 932 and 47.06.

Karper placed in the Top Ten advanced. John Gauci, of Florence, was first in the 70-and-over category with 386, and second place went to Larry Ashwell, of Missoula, with 356.

Julie Perkins, of Kalispell, won the ladies category with 308. Julie Woolley, of Calif., was second with 266; Brandy Hilde, of Bigfork, was third with 251; Nicole Peters, of Missoula, was fourth with 116; and Debbie Paine, of Polson, was fifth with 60.

Also, there were two $1,000 lottery winners, including Sou Thao, of Florence, with 152 fish entries, and Karper with 932 entries.

According to information from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resource Department, up to $225,000 in cash and prizes was sponsored by the tribe.

Overall the event is the third highest in fish entries of the 16 Spring Events that have been held since 2003. The 2012 Event had the highest total of 38,085 and 2017 the total was 37,195.

The most valuable, tagged lake trout were not caught, including a $10,000 laker, as well as three $5,000 and five $1,000 tagged fish.

There were 101 tagged lake trout turned in during the event with the most valuable being $500. Several had values of $200 and there were many valued at $100.

The 2018 Fall Event kicks off Sept. 21 and running through Nov. 11.

Lottery prize drawings are posted on the website at www.mackdays.com.

The event ended with a fish fry and awards at the Blue Bay Campground that was attended by many friends and families of the anglers.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.