For those of you who have completed the Blue Ribbon Trout Slam…

[ElkHairCaddis]

…what was the hardest stream?

I spent nearly all summer of 2022 trying to catch something at Barren Fork. The name is pretty accurate. It was very, very tough.

[ColdWaterFshr]

44 minutes ago, ElkHairCaddis said:

…what was the hardest stream?

I spent nearly all summer of 2022 trying to catch something at Barren Fork. The name is pretty accurate. It was very, very tough.

I'm not sure the rules of the contest, but I've caught fish in all the blue ribbon streams at one time or another.  Barren might've been the easiest, if only because it was my most recent along my journey of exploring all these places.  2nd or 3rd cast, no joke.  The biggest challenge on Barren was just getting there.  Access is difficult.  Some work involved, probably some trespassing.  But once on the stream, with the right cast at the right spot . . .the wild fish are usually willing and eager.  

I would say the summer months are the most difficult possible time to attempt these small streams, if only for your suffering of bugs, heat, thorny brush, and poor water conditions.  

[Phil Lilley]

Seth and Becky Garrison are attempting to do the slam in 6 days (?).  They did Barren yesterday or the day before.  I know the resort has shared his posts.  They're only using jigs.  I tried to get him to join and post here... maybe he will soon.

 

[Phil Lilley]

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I was curious if either one was a member.   I'm following their journey.  Very good camera they have.  

[ElkHairCaddis]

14 hours ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

I'm not sure the rules of the contest, but I've caught fish in all the blue ribbon streams at one time or another.  Barren might've been the easiest, if only because it was my most recent along my journey of exploring all these places.  2nd or 3rd cast, no joke.  The biggest challenge on Barren was just getting there.  Access is difficult.  Some work involved, probably some trespassing.  But once on the stream, with the right cast at the right spot . . .the wild fish are usually willing and eager.  

I would say the summer months are the most difficult possible time to attempt these small streams, if only for your suffering of bugs, heat, thorny brush, and poor water conditions.  

I went first in March 2022 after two days of heavy rain and didn’t see any while fishing the section near the cemetery. I spent most of last summer returning again and again until I finally caught a nice rainbow (16" or so) on the fifth attempt. It felt great.

[ElkHairCaddis]

7 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

Seth and Becky Garrison are attempting to do the slam in 6 days (?).  They did Barren yesterday or the day before.  I know the resort has shared his posts.  They're only using jigs.  I tried to get him to join and post here... maybe he will soon.

 

That’s tough if only because of the amount of driving. 

[Ik314]

I think barren fork is the hardest but north fork of the white isn’t exactly easy if you’re looking for a wild rainbow 

[Gavin]

I’ve probably done it, but really don’t care to fish some of them again. All you need is a bit of rain, some color in the water, and a globall. 

[Skeeter ZX190]

To complete the Slam, I still have Barren Fork, and the North Fork of the White River.  Been to both once and got skunked.  So I vote for those being the toughest!  😁. 

My trip to Barren Fork was a cluster.  I will try it again this fall or winter and see if I fair better.  I'm a wade fisherman and found the NFWR to be tricky to find viable spots on public access.  If I can get Barren Fork checked off, then maybe I'll try the NFWR again.