Tagged fish were the excitement of the Spring Mack Days fishing event during the ninth weekend and May 10 was a winning day for Steven Benson of Four Lakes, Wa. He is one of the 850 anglers competing in the 2013 event. Benson turned in 43 lake trout, which was the high number for the day and one of them was a $1,000 tagged lake trout. The high dollar tagged fish was the third tagged fish he has caught since the beginning of the event.
Saturday was another banner day for the tagged fish entries. David McDaniel and Susan Martin had four on their boat when they docked at the end of the day. Each of them worth $100 but made it an exciting day for them. Other $100 tagged fish were turned in by Chad Cottet of Polson, Jeff Cox and Don Beville of Lakeside, Jerry Benson of Plains, Doug Hodgson and Kevin Burns of Kalispell.
Mack Days are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Up to $150,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded on May 19 at a fish fry and awards banquet beginning at 4 p.m. at the Blue Bay Campground.
Jason Mahlen of Kalispell continues to lead with 1,403 entries and a 63.67 average. Second place is Mike Benson of Lonepine with 971 and 44.17. Benson is third with 884 and 40.5. Craig Morigeau of Polson is fourth with 804 and 40.67. Danny Smith of Hot Springs is fifth with 745 and 36.89.
Ladies category leader is Susan Martin of Polson with 267; second is Julie Vacca of Florence with 202; and third is Nicole Peters of Missoula with 196.
The 13-17 age group leader is Danner Shima of Kalispell with 303. Connor Kowalski of Florence is second with 178. Roger Guillory of Kalispell is third with 171 and Tanner Murry of Columbia Falls is fourth with 139. In the 12 and under division, Garett Vaughan of Charlo leads with 331, followed by Matt Guckenburg of Kalispell with 37 and Cole Gilleard of St. Ignatius with 35.
Jim Hoover of Whitefish leads the 70 and over group with 147. Ralph Johnson of Columbia Falls is second with 103 and Bill McIntyre of Conrad is third with 40.
A new smallest lake trout was turned in by Dan Long of Columbia Falls with a 158mm laker. Jason Mahlen continues to hold the other smallest entry with a 160mm lake trout.
Anglers are fishing the last ten days of the event and will finish on May 19th. Entries continue to be taken up until the last day of the event. Go to the Mack Days website for information or call the tribal Blue Bay headquarters at 406-982-3142.