Devan S.

10-15 years ago we use to go down in the spring and catch them by hand "moving up" by the cooler full and have a boil. I started running traps and never did any better than we could with a butterfly net and wading.

I fished this morning....I'm still seeing some topwater but its really spread out. Did get a small little bit of close activity for a couple minutes but couldn't get anything to commit. 2 striper and 1 smallie was my tally. Both stripers combined wouldn't have weighed 8lbs and the smallie wasn't over 15" so no pictures. If I had a second person in the boat I think I'd catch more. If I just start blind casting 90% of the time I'll have activity nearby but you have to get right on it. No time to reel in 50 yards of line and cast at a swirl 15 seconds late. If you have a second person in the boat and they get a half cast offset then you have a better chance of getting on those active fish. Once the sun got up I spent about an hour trolling a big umbrella rig. No luck but have zero idea what I am doing there.

Anyone ever fished in Fort Robinson State Park in Nebraska?

Here is my updated list: Gila Trout Apache Trout NM trout slam Additionally picked up a Master Angler here. 1 level of Arizona trout challenge Actually completed both levels. 2 more Arkansas Master Anglers-I've actually caught 1 smallie that met the requirements but my original goal was for a new category(hoping at this point for Striper, Catfish, Trout, or Bream) 1 trout park lunker(not RR)-This just probably isn't going to happen this year. I've got a couple more want-to's on the list but I'm not sure how travel will work out.- Still TBD

Forecast isn't looking good.

Did they let you handle the fish at all or would they have? All their pictures on facebook shows the guide holding the fish which is fine but I'd prefer to at least have pictures of me holding it if I stumbled into a good one.

I've actually been pulling out closer to 8 and nearly 7:30 this morning. It's 99% over by that time. There was 3 boats just sitting waiting Sat AM at the ramp so I skipped even fishing there going and coming back there was still 1 there.

Launched both mornings at Indian Creek right at daylight. Its already too hot at daylight. Ran as far as point 5 just running my normal honey holes for top water activity. The majority of guide boats are between pt. 5 and Rocky Branch.....they were all bunched up pretty close in 1 spot today. Had one striper follow and take about 12 swipes at my bait and just would not connect until it got to close to the boat. Did catch several nice smallies and my PB striper so far(I'd estimate in the 12-15lb range). Caught another 4 striper that were much smaller.

I've always wondered if you could chum with liver and maybe pull some browns but never tried it.....seems like way too much work.

Fixed it 🤣

Chumming a hole for a couple days huh.......😁

Is that a liver eater?

I fished there in May. Local fly shop suggested midges and annelids and smaller the better. I asked about jigs and buggers and basically got laughed at. I caught fish on jigs no problem......seen a guy catching fish on a jerkbait too. At the end of the day they are fish.

As one of the positive lone voices on this thread here is my take: Many were negative about the trout slam at the beginning. However there has only been 200 some odd completers of any level for the trout side in 2+ years. Not exactly a number to write home about but not over running even the smallest of creeks. Even if we triple that number to 600 people it works out to 2 people per day. I know the math doesn't necessarily work that way but the smallest and hardest 2 streams on the trout side should at least be able to support that for catch and release angling for those kind of numbers. All the locations are already posted on MDC for both slams so the only real difference is someone like me looking to check a box at least for the smaller streams. The reality however is someone like "me" who is actually interested in this isn't going back to the blue springs creek or the barren fork. We just wont.....its not easy....its a notch in my belt been there done that and would be surprised if I go back in the next 30 years. Heck I probably wouldn't go if it was closer to me. There is far better places to go....If I am being totally realistic I haven't been to any blue ribbon trout stream since, including Crane which is just down the road. Why would I? I have better options in Taney and Beaver TW and I literally cannot imagine someone making those small locations a destination for anything other than the slam. FWIW isn't there a full blown resort of Blue Springs? I might go back to the 11 pt. or NFOW or maybe even the current river but all of them have additional draw. Well above and beyond the checking the box of the slam. In fact, in some form or fashion they were all on my list prior to the slam. It was just the rock I tripped over to get there. Crane is closest to me and I'll probably go back but it wont be yearly and may not be ever considering I have better options elsewhere. To add additional spin, most of the Smallmouth slam streams are larger and thus add some additional options as far as user base(Canoes, rafts, guides, ect.)

I really enjoy their series. @Johnsfolly I think the streams bounce back fairly well after fire. In fact, no better time to "start new" than after a big fire. Kill off the non-natives and transplant some natives. The bigger concern is the lower moisture levels and just not having enough water over time to sustain. The bigger issue is just planning and getting access cut off due to fires.

It was pretty deep maybe 1.5 inches but 100% healed up. You can see the fin was split too.

Yep always hit it going and coming.

I think I need a less stiff rod. It seems like bass stay hooked but the striper are strong enough to put the hooks without some give in the rod or super loose drag.

This is really cool! Is there any specific fish you could have caught to get you to second or first?

Put in on the big end early this morning. Hoping to find some top water. Had 3 fish on right off the bat. Nothing big but I assume those 8-10lb stripers. All 3 pulled off very aggressive blow ups so I assume they were face hooked. Then nothing as far as activity so I went for a boat ride......when I decided to pack it in they were busting right at the ramp....mostly small bass but these were the good ones. Check out that battle scar. I did hook what felt like a smaller fish.....then suddenly really big pulls.....like yank the rod out of my hand....then nothing just gone.

I'm all for it....add it to the list of goals.

It really seems to be getting better and better. Lots of fish the quality or better I caught showing up on facebook daily. I feel confident I could boat to the dam at the current level in my aluminum bass rig so everything is in play. Normally I have to wade the upper section and if generation comes on its game over....not now. I don't want to spoil things but I know a really nice one was caught the same day.....we will see if he shows up to post. The only better time to fish up there is during the walleye deal but it turns into a zoo.

Took a half day off work and headed to the river. Really wanted to go up top and look for big fish but got talked into trout. Probably had the best day for consistent size. Seems like FB is full of chunky fish right now. Guess the open gates and high water has really helped. I was able to run my boat all the way above the trophy section with some careful dodging. We lost several fish in the generation and barbless section with jerkbaits that were just as good quality.

Interesting thought. Could you instead stock some med-size flatties instead?

In my discussions with the AGFC, its fairly loose requirement and ultimately up to their fisheries biologist. I know they will accept length only measurements as well just not published so I wouldn't be afraid of submitting a fish on length alone using best judgement. Of course I carry a scale and tape measure and have most of my nets measured for quick checks.