Carp Slam 2025 set another fundraising record, bringing in $70,500 to support cleanup, restoration, and protection of the Denver South Platte River. Competitors, sponsors, and volunteers came together to create the largest prize pool in tournament history and the most money ever raised for this event.
Conservation Impact
With this year’s success, $1,000 has already been allocated to the Cleaner Clear Cleanup in October, and $10,000 has been committed to Protect Our Rivers to continue the DSP River Cleanup Series into 2026. More than 8,000 pounds of trash have already been removed from the river this year.
Funds also support water releases from the Environmental Pool at Chatfield Reservoir, advocacy and education programs, and the possible installation of a permanent trash removal device on the DSP. In addition, Denver Trout Unlimited and EarthJustice continue litigation challenging Suncor’s Clean Water Act discharge permit, which they argue sets PFAS levels too high, provides inadequate monitoring, grants excessive compliance time, and allows groundwater seepage of contaminants into Sand Creek and the Burlington Ditch.
Tournament Highlights
The 2025 Carp Slam covered 39 miles of river, from Oxford Avenue to E470, with 15 Pro-Am teams competing across morning and afternoon sessions. Amateurs of all experience levels were paired with DSP “Slambassadors,” creating teams designed to highlight the technical challenge of carp fishing and to build camaraderie on the water.
Despite good clarity, fish proved selective. Eight carp were landed for a total of 218.25 inches, along with 25 bass (17 smallmouth, 8 largemouth). For the first time, the field included an all-female team, Brittany Nicholas and Sam Voncannon.
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1st Place: Trevor Tanner & Steve Maldonado – 78.75″
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2nd Place: Patrick Mapes & Elijah Senior – 55.5″
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3rd Place: Nate McCord & Natasha Blayney – 30″
Biggest pro carp measured 28″, landed by Patrick Mapes (tied with Maximilian Bush, with the tiebreaker going to Mapes). Slamateur Natasha Blayney took the $1,000 Carp prize with her first ever DSP carp, an exact 30″ fish.
Fundraising Leaders
Fundraising remained the cornerstone of the event, with contributions reaching $70,500.
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1st Place Fundraiser: Steve Maldonado – $7,040
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2nd Place Fundraiser: Bill Bianco – $4,000
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3rd Place Fundraiser: Jackie Myler – $3,700
The top three raised more than $14,700. Slamateurs collectively contributed more than $36,000, another record. Sponsors including Anglers All, 25 on the Fly, Orvis, and Abel added over $10,000. Abel Reels also donated four custom reels engraved with Carp Slam XIX artwork for the top fundraisers.
Sponsors
Carp Slam XIX was made possible through the support of a wide sponsor network: Riversmith, Anglers All Fly Shop, Orvis, 25 on the Fly, Abel Reels, 3D Fly Reels, Umpqua, the Drake, MFC, Echo Fly Rods, Tried & Trout Nets, Fishpond, Drift Belt, BoonFly, Decked, Rocky Mountain Anglers, Charlie’s Fly Box, Sage, Rio Products, RepYourWater, Denver Trout Unlimited, Fish Print Shop, River North Brewery, Urban Anglers USA, American Carp Society, Nervous Water Flies, Cheeky Fishing, Locke + Co, Stranahan’s, OnWater App, Backcountry Skinz, and Scientific Anglers.
About Carp Slam and DTU
Carp Slam is Denver Trout Unlimited’s annual fundraiser designed to protect and enhance the Denver South Platte River. Past support has enabled cleanup events, Trout in the Classroom programs in local schools, and advocacy against regulatory changes that could increase industrial pollution.
Denver Trout Unlimited is the Denver chapter of Trout Unlimited, working to conserve the DSP from Chatfield Dam to 120th Avenue through improved fishery health, water quality, and river access. More at denvertu.com and carpslam.org.
