Slovenian Native Slam.
The Slovenian Native Slam, is a challenge made for trout fisherman and challenges you to catch four native Salmonidae (salmon family) species of Slovenia in their native range, learn about the different species found there and support the conservation and recovery of species within their native habitat.
Why should you do the challenge.
Off course it is fun to challenge yourself but next to that you are also learning about a less known species found in Slovenia. everybody knows brown trout which is native and the rainbow trout which is introduced but not everybody knows about huchen or marble trout and Adriatic grayling.
And as a bonus, part of the registration fee will contribute to conservation and restoration projects of native species. And when you complete the challenge, you’ll get a certificate with drawings of the four species with the dates and locations you caught the fish as a nice reminder.
How to enter and complete the challenge.
Everyone who wants to participate in this challenge can enter by filling in the form at the bottom of this page. After receiving the application we will send a conformation email with instructions on how to pay the entry fee. Your application will be valid after payment is confirmed.
How to complete the challenge.
To complete the challenge u will need to send an email with a word document for each species. This document should contain the following information:
-A sharp picture of the fish (this picture should be taken with the fish above water and with the fish it’s health in mind.)
-The date on which the fish was caught.
-The river where the fish was caught.
Optional information:
-Fishing rod (spinning rod, fly rod, else)
-Type of fishing (streamer, nymphing, dry fly, spinner, jerk bait, else)
-Bait type/name.
-Fish weight.
-Fish length.
Species.
Slovenia has five native species. The brown trout, European grayling, Adriatic grayling, marble trout and huchen.
The brown trout (Salmo trutta).
The most common trout in Slovenia is the brown trout. It is native to the rivers which are part of the Danube basin. It is also introduced to the rivers of the Soča basin and de rivers of the Adriatic rivers basin where it hybridised with the marble trout.
The European grayling (Thymallus Thymallus).
In Slovenia the grayling is native to both the Danube River basin. In appearance the Danube basin grayling is darker grey with spots on the head and a more reddish tail.
The Adriatic grayling (Thymallus Aeliani).
The Adriatic grayling was native to the Soča River basin but sadly only hybridised grayling are found there at the moment, therefore we excluded this species from the challenge.
The marble trout (Salmo Marmoratus).
The marble trout was once nearly extinct due to the introduction of brown trout into its native range,
with which it hybridised. Due to hard work of the Tolmin angling club and the fishery research institute of Slovenia 8 pure populations were found in hard-to-reach streams. With these populations breeding farms where started and reintroductions started. And now brown trout and hybrids are rare and marble trout once again rule the Soča River. The marble trout is a big species with a maximum length of 120cm and a maximum weight of 22kg. and its head will take up about 22% to 25% of its length. Large marble trout of 70+ cm are piscivores so larger fish are almost only caught on streamers.
Huchen or Danube salmon are the biggest species in the Danube basin and called the fish of a thousand casts. Being a close relative to the taimen of Mongolia, this is a big species with lengths of up to 140cm and 22kg. this species is only permitted to be caught in the winter and fish might only feed when conditions are right. This makes catching this fish a hard task. Populations in Slovenia are getting bigger and this makes Slovenia probably your best chance of catching this giant.
River basins of Slovenia.
The fish species native to the Danube River basin are.
brown trout (Salmo Trutta), European grayling (Thymallus Thymallus) and huchen (Hucho Hucho).
The fish species native to the Soča basin and Adriatic River basin are the
Marble trout (Salmo Marmoratus) and the Adriatic grayling (Thymallus Aeliani).
Adriatic grayling are currently excluded for this challenge.
rules
1. We ask participants to register before they start the challenge. We want you to read the information and rules. And have fun while learning and pursuing unique species in beautiful landscapes. And help conserve and restore populations.
2. Know the rules and regulations that apply to the rivers you intend to fish.
3. No fish caught prior to 1-9-2024 can be counted to this challenge.
4. Fish registered for this challenge must be caught in their native watershed.
5. Fish caught for this challenge must be caught barbless and trough catch and release principles.
6. There is no time limit to complete the challenge.
7. All photo’s submitted for this challenge may be used for content by the European Native Trout challenge.
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