At the conclusion of the busiest Spring Mack Days ever, Don Beville of Lakeside emerged as the top angler. Beville caught 1,551 lake trout this spring, earning the coveted champion jacket and $700 on the final day of the competition Sunday, May 20.
Overall, anglers caught 38,085 fish, breaking the old record set in 2010 by 3,735 trout. Over 1,000 anglers participated in the fishing competition this year. Although no one landed the $10,000 tagged trout, over 170 other cash fish were turned in during the event.
Tracy Powers from Missoula was the top woman with 444 entries. Connor Kowalski of Florence was tops in the youth 17-13 division, also catching 444 fish. Garett Vaughan of Charlo was the top 12 and under angler with 263.
Kalispell’s Ryan Shima finished with the largest lake trout with a 42.5 inch, 24.5 pound entry. Dan Smith from Columbia Falls had the smallest entry — 160 mm — along with Powers.
Chad Cottet of Polson won the Spirit of the Event Award, which is given to the angler who best exemplifies Mack Days.
Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The event is used to reduce non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.
Spring Mack Days Leaderboard
Final
Men
Don Beville, Lakeside, 1,551
Craig Morigeau, Polson, 1,270
Mike Benson, Lonepine, 1,265
Jason Mahlen, Kalispell, 1,236
Danny Smith, Hot Springs, 1,028
Steve Benson, Four Lakes, Wash., 1,055
Scott Bombard, Missoula, 1,080
Jerry Benson, Plains, 1,022
Terry Krogstad, Kalispell, 817
David McDaniel, Polson, 828Women
Tracy Powers, Missoula, 444
Susan Martin, Polson, 378
Nicole Peters, Missoula, 334
Deana Knipe, Polson, 213
Sharon Beville, Lakeside, 74Youth 17-13
Connor Kowalski, Florence, 444
Tanner Murry, Columbia Falls, 295
Kobe Cox, Charlo, 146
Garett Beville, Columbia Falls, 130
Roger Guillory, Kalispell, 88Youth 12 & Under
Garett Vaughan, Charlo, 263
Danner Shima, Kalispell, 92
Dylan Hodgson, Kalispell, 63