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I know a red, trout, and flounder all in the same day is a pretty daunting task. I have noticed that some of the tournaments are setup, so that the largest stringer of red, trout, and flounder is the winner. So I was wondering for some of you guys that have pulled off the slam, and tournament guys who are actively trying to get a slam, how do you approch this? What order are you targeting each species? Do you have a game plan in mind when you set out or do conditions and location really determine the day? I have had days on the water where I have caught a ton of one species or another, and even a combination of two, but have never been able to pull off all three. That might be because I'm not really trying too. I don't fish tournaments, so if i'm on the fish, I'm generally not going to leave a spot where i'm catching good trout to try and go find some flounder or vice versa. I guess, i'm just curious as to how somebody who is setting out to catch all three would attempt it. If I were to attempt it, I think my approach would be to target red early in the morning. I think that I would try and transition to flounder as the day warmed up, and then finally go after trout as the day started to cool off again. Obviously if oppertunities arise, and a nice trout slick come my direction while fishing for a different species, I would jump on it, but I'm trying to get and idea of just a general game plan. Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

I haven't been a big catcher of slams in the not so distant past, my fishing buddy used to call me two thirds because I always got reds and trout but missed the flounder, but lately, I've been getting that elusive for me flounder or several of them and four things I changed were using a slower, jigging off the bottom retrieve. I typically jigged the tail in, but I have slowed it down and jig more. Second, I've been using Down South Tails. They resemble a Hackberry Hustler and ever since I started with them my flounder catching has really picked up. The third thing is I don't use topwaters nearly as much as I used to. People catch flounder occasionally on topwaters, but I never had and instead I have been focusing on my tail technique. The last thing is that I put more time into fishing moving water coming out of drains and up against obstructions, like pilings, reefs, and shelves next to deeper water. I love a marsh drain with a shell reef stuck in the channel and some deeper stuff right next to it.

We fished a tournament back in the first part of August that had money for the top 3 trout, reds, and flounder. Our plan was to focus on Flounder and Reds and maybe luck into a good trout. We started early getting reds on a shell and grass shoreline. Tops and tails both worked. Later on when the sun got up more, our plan was to hit marsh drains for the flounder and trout. The plan worked except for the winning the money part. This was a 150+ people bait and boat midnight to 6pm affair and nothing under 8# on the reds and 5# and 4# on the trout and flounder gets in the running. We caught all three species in numbers, we had some good reds on but due to a combination of bad luck and operator error some of the better reds got off. Still, our best reds topped 6# each. I missed a good flounder at the net and we both got some 2-2.5# fish. Our trout weren't big at all, but we caught a dozen each.

If I am going for a slam I usually throw topwaters over shell early and hope to nail a nice trout. Then I will work my way to the grass lines and mash areas throwing plastics for a chance at both species. If you have an area where there is a good early bite on any of the three I'd hit that species first and move on from there. Like you mentioned though, if it's just a normal day and I am on the trout I'm probably not going after the slam.

My tactic for achieving a slam is dead simple. I start my morning with a kolache and have a big ole cup of

I'm sure if I ever get one, DUMB LUCK will play a heavy role.

Def make a plan.

Plan you spots based on tide movement. If you can't focus your redfish time on outgoing current you'll maximize your ability to catch reds. Trout...in or out is good. Flounder probably best on 'out' but as long as its moving then you got a chance. It's super early in the run so flatties are still going to be in marsh cuts and staging.

Plan it out and work your plan. I'd probably go for trout, floun then redfish but like I said above plan it based on what the tide is going to do.

There was a guy in florida that did a slam on video... tarpon, permit, bonefish... took him like 20 trips (I could be wrong)... LOL. was a cool little video.

JP... go show us how it's done brotha while your in FL

I'd target flounder and reds in the marsh and hope to luck in to a trout. Some of those marsh trout are slobs!!!

I fish mostly trout tourneys. The slam tourneys I have fished have been late spring or summer. I always go for the trout first. Topwaters early. In fact my first trout tourney this year is Nov. 15 and be doing them til middle of March.

I have never fished a slam tourney, although I would like to. I often pursue the slam though, usually when I have 2/3 and need one more. Once I get 3 I sometimes try for the super slam with a black drum or snook if I'm down in the Llm. Someone above nailed the technique. Planning is key, especially for the flounder part of it. The Key to the planning is the use of a map or thorough knowledge of the area. Set up a plan and make movements from spot to spot with a purpose in mind. If I was in a tourney I would try for the trout early while keeping an eye out for reds. Early in the day you stand a decent chance of catching a random flounder too. I would concentrate on the flounder later but I would never pass a spot with moving water, depth, rock/shell/pebble bottom etc without jigging the bottom for a flatfish. After catchin the red and trout I would concentrate on such flounder spots and fish them thoroughly. I have also found that I also catch a good number of trout while targeting flounder later in the day when the trout seem to have stopped biting. Also, when I intentionally fish for flounder I almost always get out of the yak. It's easier to keep the jig in the strike zone that way and easier to land the flounder without the dreaded hook-spit at yak side.

jgj5533 wrote:If I am going for a slam I usually throw topwaters over shell early and hope to nail a nice trout. Then I will work my way to the grass lines and mash areas throwing plastics for a chance at both species.

Pretty much what I'd do if I was fishing a tournament for all three. Hopefully the tides would be in my favor.

Thanks everyone for the replies. The willingness to share on TKF is outstanding.