Turner continues to lead Mack Days catch

The fifth weekend of 2026 Spring Mack Days closed with a Friday total of 1,418, a Saturday catch of 1,336 and a Sunday total of 1,289.

Friday was a good day on the water, especially for those fishing on the north end of the lake; Saturday was a cold relentlessly rainy day which was a limiting factor since, although fish aren’t bothered by the rain, some people are.

At this point in the event, the overall Friday-to-Sunday total is 17,460 and the Monday-to-Thursday total is 3,067, with the cumulative total perched at 20,527. This compares to robust 2025 with a total of 34,179 at this point; 2024 was at 22,241, and in 2023 anglers posted 18,508 by the fifth weekend. So far, 143 out of 376 registered anglers have turned in one or more entries.

Mack Days events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are used as a management tool in this native fish conservation effort on Flathead Lake. Enter at any time up until the last day of the event at www.mackdays.com; there is no entry fee. The website is also a good source for information on the event, fishing ID, and safety tips.

There will be 20 lottery drawings at the end of the event starting at $2,000 and going to $600. Anglers earn bonus dollar amounts once they reach 11 fish entries. As the fish total goes up, the dollars go up too.

The $10,000 tagged fish, Chase, is still swimming in the depths of the lake, evading anglers. There are also three tagged at $5,000, and five for $1,000, plus more than 10,000 with values from $100-$500.

Ted Stewart and Gene Corne of Kalispell each turned in $100 tagged fish over the fifth weekend.

Kolton Turner of Kalispell continues his first-place lead in the event with 1,195 entries; he’s followed by Robert Turner of Kalispell with 1,017, Patrick Casey of Townsend with 968, Larry Ashwell of Missoula with 786, and Devon Bukowski of Kalispell with 750.

Brodie Smith is first in the 13-17 age category with 351 and Charles Hogensen of Polson and Ellis Stammers of Charlo each have two.

Mason Persico of Missoula has 79 in the 12 & Under category, followed by Lincoln Gauci of Florence with 45, Carter Lindsay of Pablo with 38, Allyvia Yang of Missoula with 11, and Wyatt Best of Florence with nine.

Julie Perkins is first in the Ladies with 621; next is Angie Morrow of Kalispell with 259, Shaunda Albert of Ronan with 215, Laurie Kreis of Huson with 83, and Connie Jones of Kalispell with 15.

Among the Golden Oldies (70 & Over), Larry Ashwell is first with 786; he’s followed by Jerry Benson at 736, Terry Krogstad at 720, Jack Kirkland at 633, and Mike Benson at 576.

Patrick Casey turned in two small lake trout on Saturday to take over the smallest category; they measured 160mm (6.5”) and 168mm.

The event continues until May 9. There are four weekends left to come out and be involved in this native fish conservation effort.  Anglers can enter up until the last day.