Historic Finish to Flathead Lake’s Spring Mack Days Tournament

The scales have settled, the boats are docked, and the numbers are officially in!

HUGE WEEKEND TO WRAP IT UP

Cindy Benson, coordinator for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes' lake trout fishing tournament, Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake, tells us that the final weekend wrapped up on Saturday, May 9th, putting an exclamation point on a season defined by some seriously impressive hauls.

With a final push of 2,030 lake trout over the ninth weekend, the event reached a staggering grand total of 37,975 entries. This incredible effort marks the 2026 season as the fourth-best spring event in history, - a testament to the unwavering dedication of Flathead Lake's angling community.

Sponsored by the Confederate Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, this event is about more than just the catch; it’s about the spirit of conservation and the thrill of the chase.

THE LEADER BOARD LEGENDS

Taking the top spot for an incredible sixth time, Kalispell’s Kolton Turner dominated the field with 2,030 entries and a jaw-dropping 18-day average of 94.22 fish per day. Cindy reports that the competition was fierce right down to the final cast:

Category Highlights

• Ladies Champion: Shaunda Albert of Pablo surged into 1st place to finish with 620 entries.
• Youth Stars: Mason Persico took the 12 & Under title (229), while Wyatt Best led the 13-17 group.
• Senior Standouts: In the Over 70 category, Marty Herak claimed the top spot with 524.
• The Big & The Small: While Patrick Casey swept the “Small Fish” awards (160mm & 168mm), Richard Kreis took home the bragging rights for the largest lunker—a massive 42-inch lake trout released alive! Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

READ MORE: How a Bypass Channel Has Changed Fishing on a Popular Montana River

Mack Days Fishing Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The events began in 2002. This is the 48th Mack Days event, part of the effort to reduce the number of non-native lake trout and increase the numbers of native bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout in Flathead Lake.

You can see a complete rundown of winners with more thorough details here.

A huge congratulations to all the competitors, many of whom are no doubt preparing for Fall Mack Day starting in September!