Unexpected opening
A rare event. Last minute slot for an amateur angler: the Denver Trout Unlimited #CarpSlam 9/23/2017
If you’d like to master or show off your skills against the most difficult fresh water fish in your own back yard, here’s your chance. For just a $500 entry fee you’ll be paired with a seasoned pro in Carp Slam 2017 – Sept 23, 2017. Lunch, AfterParty, goody bag, and more. Chance to win an $800 Abel custom reel.
Only 15 teams. Register here. https://carpslam.org/register-now/
Recap of Carp Slam X 2016
Recap of Carp Slam X 2016 Tenth Anniversary
Weather was gorgeous and flow at the Denver Gage was a steady 150 cfs the entire day and had been steady for a week. The new moon did not provide enough light for the carp to gorge overnight but they were wiley and difficult to spot for some none the less.
But they were home and ready to play. Not, of course, for the nervous Slamateurs who were all skunked by the carp in the morning session, except for Joe Marr. In the afternoon, Galvin’s slamateur fishing buddies, Naake, Davis, and Richards all scored carp. Hmmm. This may be the secret to Slamateur success. Twenty two carp were caught by competitors, a new record along with four trout and many bass.
Chris Galvin, defending champ from last year, hooked into one of the MileHigh Stadium carp under the I-25 bridge and carefully moved it downstream in order not to disturb the pod. Then ten minutes later tricked another for a masterful 2 fish within a few minutes. He added another only ten minutes before the morning session ended to take the lead going into the lunch break at Black-Black Cafe. In the afternoon session he left his amateur, James Davis, alone while he scouted for more carp. When he returned he found that Davis, the last slamateur to register and initially classified as an alternate, to have landed two carp!! With 5 carp for a total of 113.75 inches, the Galvin/Davis team defended the title and brought home the coveted Carp Cup awash in Upslope beer. The total inches of carp was the largest team total since Carp Slam record keeping got organized.
Second place was snatched by Trevor Tanner and Kyle Richards on Beats F and L, the exact same beats that Bever and Davenport fished but with a different outcome. Incredibly, they caught identical twin carp, 20.000 inches, only 15 minutes apart in the afternoon. It takes both skill, karma, and celestial intervention to pull off that feat.
Third place went to the team of Frank Smethurst and rookie Vernon Naake with 3 fish for 70.38 inches. Fourth place was nailed down by Scott Wells and Joe Marr, both Carp Slam veterans with a strong morning on Beat K.
The team of Jake Mckittrick (esteemed donor of Carp Slam awards and swag) and Ronnie Crawford (revered unofficial Riverkeeper of the Denver South Platte) had huge success at MileHigh. Jake landed a monster rainbow (21.5 inches) taking top prize in the largest non-carp category, and Ronnie landed a nice rainbow (19 inches) as well. Jake took top prize for largest carp with a near yard long carp on the Dartmouth beat. Meanwhile Ronnie the Riverkeeper was on the phone with potential donors. With one hand he cast and landed fish with the other bringing in an astounding $4,306 to win the Grand Prize of Carp Slam X in the Slamateur Fund Raising Competition.
Five Slamateurs, including Alan Rivoir, winner in Carp Slam 8 with $8,000, raised more than $1,000. Our amateurs brought in a total of $16,675 to help the aquatic restoration of Denver South Platte. This total was exceeded only in 2014, Carp Slam 8. Well done Slamateurs.
The volunteer Controllers did a grand job keeping all the competitors in their beats, off the bridges, out of the construction zones, and hydrated. Their measurements to 1/8 of an inch of a species know for its aversion to measurement, were masterful.
The afterparty on the top floor of DaVita was spectacular in view, venue, music, food, beer, and wine. Those not finishing in the money during the carp slam reclaimed their honor with high quality winnings in the silent auction.
Randall Paetzold professional photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/MTE8vMpzo6j9gPiX8
Participants photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/zygWg8vVfxrrdMN4A
Plants and wildlife of the Denver South Platte:
https://goo.gl/photos/7fbqsDvKFApFYTE59
Fish caught along the Denver South Platte:
https://goo.gl/photos/6Sy4pTizU5Jk6oLn9
For more details see:
Giants of Carpin at the Skylark 6/9/2016 @7 Co-hosted by DTU & The Greenbacks
Giant of Carpin – Makes Triumphal Appearance. Divulges secrets of Carpin.
Clint Packo enthralled the crowd of beer buzzed carpers at the Skylark June 9th. Those that didn’t make it can READ MORE: … but not all of the secrets shared by this giant of carpin. #CarpSlam @denvertu
Co-hosted by The Greenbacks:
CarpSlam X sells out in 6 days.
All 15 spots and the alternate for Carp Slam X have been filled by these committed Slamateurs. Many were former volunteers. Others have competed 3 or more years. All love fishing for big fish (past years have averaged 26 inches) and helping restore the Denver South Platte, our home water.
Slamateur Competition has STARTED. The fund raising event has started to determine which of these 15 loves the South Platte the most and who has the most REAL friends, relatives, and friendly clients. The winner will grab the CARP SLAM X grand prize, an item beyond their fondest dreams.
These Professionals will be matched with the Slamateurs by random draw on Sept 9th upstairs at the Skylark Lounge. Don’t miss the intense excitement of this annual phenomenon exceeded only by the mass hysteria accompanying the drawing of the teams morning and afternoon Denver South Platte beats.
