My Last Report Till October

[duckydoty]

Got an unexpected trip down to Taney today. Been real busy packing for my summer of guiding up in Alaska and figured I was done fishing Taney till I return in October.

Yesterday afternoon, a friend (Matt) called and explained he was going to the Kenai Peninsula in Mid June and wanted some advice on how to fish and what to fish with. I thought it was best for him to just meet me down at Taney and I would give him some flies that I like to use in Alaska and teach him how to "Chuck and Duck" (one of the easiest and most productive ways to fish in Alaska).

We met at the Pavillion parking lot just after noon and visited for a while. There was 1/2 unit running and the water was at a perfect flow for "chucking and ducking". The flow was very simular to many of the rivers I fish in Alaska. I decided it was best to just head over to Lilley's Landing to get my buddy set up with all the line and terminal tackle he would need. We walked in the door and Darren was there to help. He knew right where the 20# Amnesia line, Lead Master Pliers, Pencil Lead, size 10 Barrel Swivels and Snap Swivels, 2x and 5x tippet was and had us out the door in less than 10 minutes with everything Matt needed for "Chucking and Ducking".

Back at the Pavillion parking lot, I proceeded to show Matt how to fill the fly reel with the Amnesia line, attach about 5 feet of 2x tippet as a "leader", slide on the snap swivel, attach the barrel swivel, attach 30-36 inches of 5x tippet and how to cut, punch, and attach the pencil lead with the Lead Master Pliers. Once rigged up for fishing Taney with the chuck and duck method, I proceeded to explain the difference in rigging for Alaska. In Alaska the 2x tippet that is used as a 5 foot leader would be replaced with 18-20 pound test, and the 30-36 inch piece of 5x tippet would be replaced with 2 or 3x tippet. We were now ready to fish and headed for the water.

Just below outlet #2 I spent a little bit of time showing Matt how to cast the chuck and duck rig and explained while showing him how to cast just a little up stream and lead the fly down stream with the rod. I also showed him how to always set the hook down stream while fishing this method. Within just a few cast, I felt my buddy had the hang of it, so we headed down to the rebar hole, where there was some faster water. It was just a couple of cast's and "Fish On!" Now I was fishing pine squirrel sculpins on a sinking leader and Matt was fishing the pine squirrel sculpins aslo. I was getting a few hits and only one or two hook ups to every ten fish caught by Matt with the chuck and duck rig. I was being out fished BAD! I spent a little more time with Matt explaining to him how he needed to feel the bottom while fishing this method. If he cast out in front and did not feel the bottom on the drift, then he needed to cast futher up stream. If this did not allow him to feel the "ticking" of the bottom, he then needed to add more lead to the rig. If he felt the bottom too much and was getting hung up alot, he needed to take some weight off.

We fished till around 5 pm before calling it a day. Back at the truck, I gave my buddy a dozen or so of my favorite rainbow and char flies that I like to use in Mid-June and explained to him what materials they are made of and how to tie them. I ended up catching 6 or 7 fish stripping the pine squirrel on a sinking leader, but Matt.......I think he ended up with 40 or more fish to hand. He was pretty excited about learning a new method of fly fishing and I'm sure his confidence is pretty high for his up-coming Alaskan adventure.

Hope ya'll have a great summer!

[Nighthawk]

good report Duckster. see you in Oct. have a great summer!

[Chief Grey Bear]

Nice work Duane. Great pics too!!!!!!

[tho1mas]

Ducky - Thanks for all of your great posts. Have a safe summer.

Saw a bunch of Wood Ducks on lower Taney yesterday.