California Flyway
Elite Refuge Member
With the talk about Specklebelly calling history I thought I would add a little about RedBone calls.
I think it was in 2004 or 2005 I was befriended by Nathan Wright as part of his effort in fielding Speck call prototypes and the potential California market. Nathan said he wanted to send me prototypes to get feedback. I explained I am just a regular Duck hunter with no plans to be a competition caller. He said that is exactly why he wanted my feedback. So Nathan began sending me Speck calls. These were delrin with red toneboards hand carved out of delrin I believe. I would try them and say things like too much or little back pressure etc. He also sent instructional stuff. This was a year or two before he started the RedBone Call company. At one point he sent me a brass gutted call and that changed everything. I realized this was a big, big jump in Speck call design for sound and especially durability. It was not long before brass gut RedBone calls were sweeping state, regional, and world championships, repeated again this year with Bronson Lasley's great wins. I worked very hard using Nathans superb instructional CD's to become a good Speck caller. It payed off. In return for his help I "hot rodded" some Shimano 200 reels for him to use for Redfish to cast small weights long distances. I only met Nathan once at a Kittle's Duck Days event. I brought him some of my smoked Salmon which he ate with gusto, not having had that quality where he lived.
One of my favorite things to do is on a day with say 35 yards of visibility is to get out of the blind, stand on the check and call Specks down through the fog for friends to shoot. I have scored some nice invites from folks that are in good speck areas but do not know how to call them.
Thanks again Nathan.
Above are prototype calls Nathan sent. The second one from the right was a very very good light air,
soft finishing call. I eventually was able to learn enough air and back pressure control to cover that range. At that time this call was a killer for me. Sadly all these calls were stolen out of my duck camp trailer.
Above a standard acrylic, brass gutted RedBone. Call on the right is a brass gut Hedge barrel Nathan specially built and tuned for me. With that call I can do it all. There are times when I forgot to lock my truck and when I got in I reached to make sure that call was there before checking for my wallet.
So for folks considering to upgrade their Speck calling I recommend you spend the money, get a brass gutted RedBone and start practicing now for next season.
I think it was in 2004 or 2005 I was befriended by Nathan Wright as part of his effort in fielding Speck call prototypes and the potential California market. Nathan said he wanted to send me prototypes to get feedback. I explained I am just a regular Duck hunter with no plans to be a competition caller. He said that is exactly why he wanted my feedback. So Nathan began sending me Speck calls. These were delrin with red toneboards hand carved out of delrin I believe. I would try them and say things like too much or little back pressure etc. He also sent instructional stuff. This was a year or two before he started the RedBone Call company. At one point he sent me a brass gutted call and that changed everything. I realized this was a big, big jump in Speck call design for sound and especially durability. It was not long before brass gut RedBone calls were sweeping state, regional, and world championships, repeated again this year with Bronson Lasley's great wins. I worked very hard using Nathans superb instructional CD's to become a good Speck caller. It payed off. In return for his help I "hot rodded" some Shimano 200 reels for him to use for Redfish to cast small weights long distances. I only met Nathan once at a Kittle's Duck Days event. I brought him some of my smoked Salmon which he ate with gusto, not having had that quality where he lived.
One of my favorite things to do is on a day with say 35 yards of visibility is to get out of the blind, stand on the check and call Specks down through the fog for friends to shoot. I have scored some nice invites from folks that are in good speck areas but do not know how to call them.
Thanks again Nathan.
Above are prototype calls Nathan sent. The second one from the right was a very very good light air,
soft finishing call. I eventually was able to learn enough air and back pressure control to cover that range. At that time this call was a killer for me. Sadly all these calls were stolen out of my duck camp trailer.
Above a standard acrylic, brass gutted RedBone. Call on the right is a brass gut Hedge barrel Nathan specially built and tuned for me. With that call I can do it all. There are times when I forgot to lock my truck and when I got in I reached to make sure that call was there before checking for my wallet.
So for folks considering to upgrade their Speck calling I recommend you spend the money, get a brass gutted RedBone and start practicing now for next season.
