November 3, 2001
Big Manistee River Float

Chucking and Ducking for Steelhead

What an incredible weekend. This was one of the most enjoyable weekends of the entire season. The weather was perfect, the campsite divine, the weather spectacular and the nights star-filled and full-moon-fat.

I arrived in Cadillac after dark and decided to take the left turn on M-55 instead of my usuall favorite route through Mesick and past the backwaters of Hodenpyle Pond. I was headed for John Poland's place in Wellston to ask for a Sunday pick-up at the M-55 bridge in Manistee so I woudn't have to hitchike back to my truck at Tippy Dam on Sunday. When my lights pulled on to their driveway, I saw the silhoutte of Beckie's big Chevy. I was wondering if Darrin and Beckie would be up for the weekend but did not expect they would be there so early. I was invitedin and spend a few minutes talking to the Poland/Braska crew and got

Here is the test. This is a late season canoe trip covering approximately 24 to 27 miles. We will put in early Saturday morning at Tippy Dam and float the river to M-55 in Manistee. Most all of the river is National Forest public land so camping spots are plentiful. Although we may have to do a little bank scrambling to get up above the river channel.

We will stop at all the good runs along the river for Steelhead. This is an easy all day float that can be run in one day. So breaking it up over two days will make it very leisurly. If we catch a steelhead on the river, we'll grill it over a fire at our campsite on Saturday night.

Please let me know if your are interested in coming along. I suspect I will be alone for this trip becuase its so EXTREME! RFN!

The world is made of water - Enjoy!

PS. Chucking and Ducking refers to the technique of steelhead fishing where you use light rods - fly rods and noodle rods to cast heavily weighted spawn sacks. The extra weight is needed to bring the spawn down to the steelhead laying in the holes of swiftly running rivers like the Big Manistee. But the extra weight is often tough to bring out of the water on the cast. If you aren't careful, you ended up casting a chunk of lead into the back of your head - Chuck and Duck.