I Finally Got a Slam

[Ham]

I had Big plans for fishing this weekend BEFORE the rains started. The more it rained, the less viable options I had.

I chose to go up river and fish below the dam on Bull Shoals. I ended up choosing the Marion County ramp and had to scramble to find parking. I guess it was a popular idea.

It was still drizzling as I started. Water flow had been reduced and continued to pull slowed as I fished. Cloudy and cool. I felt like Browns were going to be chewing. 

I started out catching Big, Fat Rainbows. Which is not surprising in a Total Catch and Release area. 

My third fish was a Brook trout which was surprising. They don’t stock many and I thought that it is usually in October. I immediately thought maybe I could get a White River Grand Slam. 

I continued to make runs up towards the dam stopping well below the No Fly Zone. Some guys from TN and MO ran almost to the dam face. Clearly fishing illegally. I would flow right edge, Center, and left edge. 

I lost a really Beautiful Brook trout trying to net it, but I kept catching the little guys. I ended up catching 10 of them! 

Then I got a Cutthroat trout. I was really hopeful, but I have had three of the four many times. I felt like I could just trust the process. Keep slinging the Zig Jig and one would eat eventually...right? Except all I could catch was Bows, Brookies, and Cutts. 

Starting to press a bit and growing concerned about my 1/4 of fuel remaining in the tank, I opted to drift down through the State Park. I fished hard with minimal results. I had a stretch of bank in mind. 

I got down there and about 1/3 of the way thru my drift I got the bite I was looking for. A Big angry Brown on a barbless jig in high current. Took a while, but I got the net under him. 

I was very Happy to catch what I needed for the Slam. Eric P can’t hold that over my head anymore. 

Ham got his Slam. A fair number of Rainbows, 10 Brookies, 2 types of Cutthroat, and a 22 plus inch Brown Trout. 

I did see a Creamsicle Trout, but that paranoid sucker would not bite. 

 

[Ham]

[Ham]

[Gavin]

Very nice! One of the few places on earth were you can do that. THAT, plus a walleye and a smallmouth is your next challenge.😉

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

That’s a real achievement.  Way to go!  

I’ve only had a couple on the white but a bunch back in the day on the Norfork when McClellans was open.  

[N9BOW]

2 hours ago, Ham said:

I had Big plans for fishing this weekend BEFORE the rains started. The more it rained, the less viable options I had.

I chose to go up river and fish below the dam on Bull Shoals. I ended up choosing the Marion County ramp and had to scramble to find parking. I guess it was a popular idea.

It was still drizzling as I started. Water flow had been reduced and continued to pull slowed as I fished. Cloudy and cool. I felt like Browns were going to be chewing. 

I started out catching Big, Fat Rainbows. Which is not surprising in a Total Catch and Release area. 

My third fish was a Brook trout which was surprising. They don’t stock many and I thought that it is usually in October. I immediately thought maybe I could get a White River Grand Slam. 

I continued to make runs up towards the dam stopping well below the No Fly Zone. Some guys from TN and MO ran almost to the dam face. Clearly fishing illegally. I would flow right edge, Center, and left edge. 

I lost a really Beautiful Brook trout trying to net it, but I kept catching the little guys. I ended up catching 10 of them! 

Then I got a Cutthroat trout. I was really hopeful, but I have had three of the four many times. I felt like I could just trust the process. Keep slinging the Zig Jig and one would eat eventually...right? Except all I could catch was Bows, Brookies, and Cutts. 

Starting to press a bit and growing concerned about my 1/4 of fuel remaining in the tank, I opted to drift down through the State Park. I fished hard with minimal results. I had a stretch of bank in mind. 

I got down there and about 1/3 of the way thru my drift I got the bite I was looking for. A Big angry Brown on a barbless jig in high current. Took a while, but I got the net under him. 

I was very Happy to catch what I needed for the Slam. Eric P can’t hold that over my head anymore. 

Ham got his Slam. A fair number of Rainbows, 10 Brookies, 2 types of Cutthroat, and a 22 plus inch Brown Trout. 

I did see a Creamsicle Trout, but that paranoid sucker would not bite. 

 

 Hey Dude! CONGRATS!!!!!

I'd never hold anything over your head.

I'm assuming I'm the Eric P you are mentioning (I'm the only one I know  )....... Seriously. You are the trout whisperer and its always a pleasure to get a chance to fish with you! 
Great Job Man!!!!

BTW I did not know that you had never gotten a Grand Slam...Truth. I was caught up in the moment that you guiding and me and Rob both got Slams same day and you were one brown shy of a Slam yourself...That would have been EPIC to get three slams same boat same day!

Kudos.

[Mississippi Man]

Congrats Ham on that accomplishment.

 

[N9BOW]

Well...I guess you just need to set the bar higher and catch a White River SlamSicle! 
I'm coming down at the end of the month in September. Lets fish!

Eric

BTW - I am trademarking the White River SlamSicle, just in case you get any ideas!

 

[JestersHK]

Congrats buddy!  Was a fun journey with ya, just wish I could of been there in person.  I was shocked too you'd never had gotten one before.  Some beautiful trout too.  They were all very pretty.  A great day on the water for sure.

[netboy]

Cool.. looks like a great trip.

I probably saw you up there this morning as I was the only wader up there. Couldn't believe they were running minimum flow. Saw the trailer parking lot was full when I left. Those rainbows up there are studs.

Wade fishing was great until they blew the horn at 10 am and then I moved down to Cotter.